Potain self-erector performs on hospital job

Waggoner Construction is managing the cast-in-place concrete work on a four-story addition to Chambersburg Hospital in Pennsylvania using a Potain HDT 80 self erecting tower crane. The Potain HDT 80, with a 15 foot by 15 foot footprint, provided an effective lifting solution to the limited space of the job site.

"We use the crane to lift materials for our concrete work," said Byron Waggoner, owner of the company. "We lift items including gang forms, lumber, rebar and even some structural steel. The crane works six days a week from the time we get to the job at 6 a.m. until we go home at 5 p.m. The crane has performed well the entire time."

Waggoner said the Potain HDT 80 has also reduced labor costs. "The operator can see the load the entire time while he's in the cab," he said. "We do not need to rely on a dedicated signal man to direct lifting operations."

The crane has been on the Chambersburg hospital project since March 1 and is expected to work through the end of August.

The Potain HDT 80 is a 6.6-ton capacity self-erecting crane. Its maximum working radius is 147.6 feet and maximum hook height is 112.2 feet. The crane's telescoping mast and 10 different jib configurations help maximize jobsite flexibility. It runs off electrical power.

Also on the job is a Grove RT650E rough-terrain crane that Waggoner Construction is also renting from Stephenson Equipment. The 50-ton crane is primarily unloading rebar from trucks that arrive at the job site.