Liebherr 81 K.1 Crane Towers Over Vancouver Island

An apartment complex is being constructed near Departure Bay in Nanaimo, Canada, with the Liebherr 81 K.1 fast-erecting crane supplied by Bigfoot Crane Company Inc. The crane was used in tight conditions typical of the area, demonstrating its capabilities in Vancouver Island’s second largest city. The project presented challenges due to the complexity of the structure and site conditions. Detailed planning and precise execution were key to the crane's effective operation.

“It's easy to get a crane onto site when there isn't a building yet. But additional challenges arise once the building is erected because of its structure. When we're planning a project, we always start by looking at how to remove the crane at the end.” said Cale Anderson, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Bigfoot Crane.

The site’s access road was used for assembling the fast-erecting crane. But disassembling the 81 K.1 proved to be a tougher challenge. “The completed building was in the way as far as normal dismantling was concerned,” explained Anderson. “This meant the fast-erecting crane had to be lifted over the newly constructed building. A large Liebherr mobile crane was used to safely set the 81 K.1 down on the other side of the building.” This job was all about flexibility, technical expertise and being able to think outside the box. “As well as the challenges on site requiring the right equipment, we also needed a team willing to find creative and innovative solutions,” added Anderson.

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