A new Raimondi MRT152 was erected on the jobsite of the Novotel Expo Sharjah Hotel in the United Arab Emirates, over a period of two and a half days. “The MRT152, with its small footing size and mast size relative to its capacity, has been a huge bonus. This crane’s positioning has been less intrusive on the building it is being used to construct. The free-standing height of 44 meters provides the contractor considerable structure to build without having to worry about ties,” explained Günther Hinterberger, Managing Director, Klampfer Middle East. “We opted for the MRT152 due to its easy erection – with no large mobile crane needed to assist in the installation – and because both the maximum load and the tip load are suitable for the project of this size.” Tasked with the load lifting of shuttering materials, steel reinforcement, curtain wall components, pallets of blocks and cement, bags of sand, and scaffolding, the MRT152 is scheduled to be erected onsite for a period of 12 months, added Hinterberger.

“The Middle East is a very important market for Raimondi, so during the design phase we take into consideration all the aspects related to cranes operating optimally in extremely hot climates. The electrical motor was designed and produced to be able to perform well at high temperatures. Using climate-appropriate materials, the motors are equipped with an intelligent cooling system under the monitoring of the crane control system,” said Eng. Domenico Ciano, Technical Director, Raimondi Cranes. “One good example of how our control system adapts to the heat is that the fans continue to work even when the movement is stopped until the motor reaches a safe temperature. In the event that the fan motor malfunctions for any reason, the operator can advise by an alarm and the crane ceases movement in a safe manner,” continued Ciano.

The MRT152, one of Raimondi’s most popular models, ensures strong performance in terms of load charts and working heights due to the three different types of tower sections available. Ground obstructions can be reduced using the special plinth design, allowing the crane to be positioned very close to buildings. Additional notable climate-specific features of the MRT152 include the gear box, electrical box and electrical components, together with the steel frame itself. The gearbox is filled with special oil that assures good lubrication despite high temperatures, and the electrical box and electrical components are installed inside a cooled box done by simple fans or by an air conditioning system. From structural point of view, the MRT152 Raimondi crane is built using steel that guarantees safety and stability in temperatures exceeding 50°C.

Awarded to Klampfer Middle East in July 2016, the Novotel Sharjah Expo is the most recent addition to Sharjah’s hospitality and tourism industry comprising 200 rooms that fall under three categories, in addition to a business center and two meeting halls. Novotel is an international upper-midscale brand for business and leisure travelers with 471 hotels worldwide. Strategically located in Sharjah’s Al Taawun business district, the hotel is currently under construction at an estimated project value of AED120 with a projected completion date of September 2018.