100ton Suspended Crane Base Removal
In early 2024 Accelerated was engaged by Delta Group on a fixed price contract to remove a 100ton Suspended Crane base and associated piles.
The 7m x 7m x 1.8m thick crane base, had originally been buried at the Flinders St site, however as the 5 story basement was constructed it became suspended under the ground floor slab standing on 4x 1m diameter concrete piles that extended 40m down to solid ground under B5.
The ground floor slab had been poured tight to the tower crane structure, meaning 70% of the crane base was covered by the ground slab. Method for removal involved cutting the center out of the crane base, and then dragging the remaining “Donut” into the middle onto a steel platform in 5ton sections that could then be craned out.
Due to the thickness of the donut, it was required to be cut into 3x equal size blocks horizontally so it could be lifted out safely.
Large amounts of 1 to 2m deep core holes were completed to enable us to wrap wires around the sections and pull though using our Hilti Wire saw. This involved cuts passing through the 75-100mm thick steel plates that had once anchored the tower crane sections.
One of Our Hilti Wire Saws completing a 1.8m thick 2m long cut to enable the center of the cranes base to be removed
First of The 5 ton Blocks to be removed.
Last two remaining sections of crane base center ready to lift
Centre of crane base and catch deck scaffolding removed ready for steel grillage to be installed.
First 5 ton section of Donut being dragged onto grillage for removal by crane
One of the last sections of the donut being removed from on top of it’s pile foundations
Top section of the first pile foundation being removed, these were wire cut off in 2-3m sections and removed by chain blocks from b1 down to b5.