A Potain Igo MA21 self-erecting crane from Shawmut Equipment, a local Potain dealer, has been instrumental in overcoming job-site challenges during the renovation of a high school in Elkton, Md.

Joseph Rizzo & Sons of New Castle, Del., a masonry subcontractor, had anticipated a straightforward plan to build a cement block addition onto the school. However, the existing structure blocked access to two of the addition’s walls limiting the contractor’s ability to deliver bundles of cement block to workers.

In addition, the general contractor would not allow any type of equipment onto the addition’s cement slab foundation. This ruled out the option of using rough-terrain forklifts or other material-handling equipment to deliver the bricks.

The Igo MA21 proved to be the right crane for the job’s tough restrictions. With approximately 63 ft. (19.3 m) of height under hook and a 85-ft. (26 m) radius, the Igo MA21 provided the necessary reach to access the entire job site. The self-erector’s small footprint did not take up much space on the already crowded site.

According to Kevin O’Connell, Shawmut’s self-erecting crane product manager, there are many features that made this crane a perfect fit for the job.

“School was still in session during construction of the addition, so the crane’s electric drives allowed for quiet operation,” O’Connell said.

“Because the Igo MA21 can be operated with 220-volt, single-phase power, the contractor tapped into an existing power source on the site, eliminating the need and expense for a three-phase generator. The Igo MA21 only took approximately an hour and a half to position, erect, and complete its required checkouts,” he explained.

The radio-control feature of the Igo MA21 also was beneficial on this job, particularly for delivering brick bundles to masons working on scaffolding. The radio control allowed the crane operator to stay with the load the entire time to position the bricks exactly where they were needed to be.

O’Connell explained how the radio-control feature added efficiency and safety on the job.

“Even with picks that traditionally would have been blind with a hydraulic crane, the operator was able to reposition himself and stay with the load at all times,” he said.

The Igo MA21 offers a maximum capacity of 2 tons (1.8 t) and has a maximum radius of 85 ft. (26 m). Its tip capacity is .75 tons (.7 t). The crane runs on either 480-volt, three-phase or 220-volt, single-phase electricity.

This story also appears on Crane Equipment Guide.

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