Ten metres between jibs: Potain MC 480 trio builds bridge pylons in a Sichuan canyon
Three Potain MC 480 tower cranes have completed the 262.8 m and 255.8 m pylons of the Luding Dadu River Bridge in China, working in a wind-scoured canyon with only 10 m of clearance between their jibs.
A ten-year-old fleet on a four-year job
Three Potain MC 480 tower cranes have wrapped up their part in the construction of the Luding Dadu River Bridge, a 1,060 m crossing on the Sichuan–Tibet Railway. The cranes were bought by dealer Xiamen Vigors Mechanical Equipment in 2016, went to work on the bridge in November 2022 and completed the pylon phase in May this year.
Main contractor China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group selected them for stability and lifting performance in conditions that punish both. The bridge is intended to improve connectivity across mountainous terrain where existing routes are slow and indirect.
Canyon, wind and no tie-offs
The site sits in a deep V-shaped canyon that channels strong winds — the single biggest constraint on tower crane availability on a job of this kind. The three cranes were rigged with jib lengths between 40 m and 60 m and worked to their full 25 t maximum capacity.
Two further complications shaped the method. A 21 m steel formwork section offered no tie-off points, so the cranes had to work around it as the pylons climbed. And because the cranes were staggered for multi-crane operation, only 10 m separated adjacent jibs, leaving very little margin for slew coordination in gusty conditions.
Despite that, the two main pylons — 262.8 m and 255.8 m tall — were completed on schedule, and Manitowoc reports no unplanned downtime across the period.
Support at distance
Parts, service and technical support during the project came from the Potain factory in Zhangjiagang together with local expertise from Xiamen Vigors. For cranes almost a decade old at the start of the job and operating at the limit of their charts in a remote location, that combination is arguably the more interesting part of the story: the machines were bought long before this project existed and were still able to deliver a four-season programme without interruption.
“This project highlights the reliability and performance that customers expect from Potain cranes. The MC 480 continues to deliver the lifting capability and durability required for demanding infrastructure applications.”
— Wang Zhiwei, head of engineering, Manitowoc China
Source: Manitowoc — Photos: Manitowoc
Crane facts
- Model: 3 x Potain MC 480 tower crane
- Maximum capacity: 25 t
- Jib lengths: 40 m to 60 m
- Clearance between jibs: 10 m
- Purchased: 2016, by dealer Xiamen Vigors Mechanical Equipment
Project
- Structure: Luding Dadu River Bridge, Sichuan–Tibet Railway, China
- Span: 1,060 m
- Pylons: 262.8 m and 255.8 m
- Crane work: November 2022 to May 2026
- Main contractor: China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group