October 2, 2013 — ALL Crane Rental of Pennsylvania, LLC was on the spot on the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pa., for the first U.S. visit of artist Florentijn Hofman’s globe-hopping giant rubber duck. The duck, which is custom built under Hofman’s supervision for each city it visits, required the assistance of a Grove TMS9000 hydraulic lift to be set afloat.

Thus far the duck has toured New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Holland, Hong Kong, and France on its goodwill tour of the world.

Because the duck is customized for each location it visits, the lift equipment required can vary. In Pittsburgh, the duck was inflated to a height of 40 feet, demanding the services of the TMS9000, a 110 USt hydraulic crane. Set on 14,000 lb. pontoons with a generator to keep it inflated, the duck will remain in Pittsburgh for a month.

“It’s definitely one of the more unusual lifts we’ve accomplished,” says Michael L. Liptak, president of the ALL Family of Companies. “We always say we’re prepared for any type of job, and we are. I’m so glad we had the chance to participate in an event that is bringing joy to so many people. We’ve done a lot of lifts over the years, but this was one of the most fun, by far.”

While other cities around the country vie for the duck’s attention, Pittsburgh is enjoying a little extra attention. Thousands attended its inaugural launch on Friday, September 27, 2013. Meant to promote peace, Hofman himself says, “The Rubber Duck knows no frontiers, it doesn’t discriminate between people and doesn’t have a political connotation…The rubber duck is soft, friendly and suitable for all ages!”

About ALL

Since 1964, the ALL Family of Companies has grown to become one of the largest crane and equipment rental companies in North America. The company offers its fleet of cranes, aerial work platforms, boom trucks, material handlers, and other lift equipment from strategic locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, providing rental, sales, service, and jobsite analysis to help customers get the right equipment for the job. An important measure of their commitment is meeting or exceeding all pertinent regulatory and safety standards. For more information, contact ALL Erection & Crane Rental at 4700 Acorn Drive, Cleveland, OH 44131. Phone: 216-524-6550. Toll free: 800-232-4100. Fax: 216-642-7633. On the Web: www.allcrane.com.

This story also appears on Crane Equipment Guide.

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