Aecon-Flatiron-Dragados-EBC Partnership (AFDE), the construction group in charge of the project, acquired the Potain MD 3200 crane specifically for penstock installations on this job. The crane arrived at the job site in February last year and started working in August, after being reconditioned to meet the group?s standards by EnCORE, Manitowoc Cranes - Tower Crane Division.

According to Nathan Johnson, Deputy Intakes and Penstocks Manager at AFDE, the company needed a crane with the ability to receive oversized loads, like large steel penstock sections ? many of which weigh over 45.4 t (50 USt) ? at one location and move them with ease into place. The MD 3200 was erected on the Site C job site with its base attached to a custom rail track system that can move it along the length of the dam work site, nearly 107 m (350 ft). ?The MD 3200 is the tool we needed to perform the work. The job would have been far more challenging without this crane,? he said.

Important features on the crane include its 101.1 m (331.7 ft) max height, 85 m (278.9 ft) jib, a capacity of 80 t (88.2USt), and a full extension lifting capacity of 26 t (28.7USt). To complete lifts up and over the height and length of the dam from a given point, AFDE requested the crane to be designed and configured at 78 m (255.8 ft) height, 70 m (229.6 ft) jib, with 64 t (70.5 USt) and a full extension capacity of 37 t (40.8 USt).

There are seven other Potain tower cranes working on site: two new MD 689 and five MD 560 cranes.