Grove GMK5150XL Cranes Team for Tandem Lift at UK's Gatwick Airport

Thu February 13, 2025
Manitowoc

Major engineering work close to the main control tower at the UK's London Gatwick Airport caused no disruption to flights, due to a pair of Grove GMK5150XL mobile cranes owned by Southern Cranes & Access.

Clive Sadler, director, Southern Cranes & Access, explained how the company selected the Grove cranes for the installation of the 22-t substation:

"We had to ensure all work was carried out below a 25-m height so the airport would not have to suspend aircraft movements," he said. "Because the substation has eight lifting points, we would have needed an extra longitudinal spreader beam to lift with a single crane. So, it seemed logical to share the load between two cranes. We chose the GMK5150XL cranes because they can carry a large amount of counterweight (30.9-t within a 16.5-t per-axle limit), meaning we only needed one support vehicle, saving us time and money. The cranes also have a compact footprint and look great in our new livery."

All onsite members of Southern Cranes & Access had to be fully accredited to work by Gatwick Airport prior to the lift. In addition, the GMK5150XL cranes underwent intensive screening before accessing the site through a special security gate.

Prior to installation of the substation, Southern Cranes & Access collected it from manufacturer B&S Group's factory, where it had been fitted with Schneider electronic equipment on behalf of UK Power Networks. Along with an additional load of steel legs, stair, and walkways, the 22-t module was transported to the site under escort due to its 4.1-m width (it also is 12.8-m long and 3.6-m high). The substation was too wide to enter the airport via the normal security gate, so arrangements had to be made to use another gate and then escort the substation along the main taxiway in between aircraft movements.

Despite the project's complexity, the installation was completed without incident and on schedule. It is the third installation of this kind Southern Cranes & Access has completed at Gatwick Airport in recent months.