For Immediate Release

April 1, 2005

First Igo 50 in UK is Ladybird’s 50th Potain

Potain Igo 50

T&B (Contractors) Ltd choose Ladybird’s Igo 50 self-erecting crane for prestigious new school building in Hertfordshire. Fast growing Ladybird Crane Hire of Rubery is quickly finding success with its newest Manitowoc Crane Group addition, a Potain new Igo 50. Ladybird, which began its crane-rental business two years ago, now has 50 Potain cranes in its fleet.

The first job for the new flagship model of the Igo range was a long-term rental to T&B (Contractors) Limited of Wheathampstead, which is constructing a major new £2m building at a leading English private school, the Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls near Elstree, Herts.

T&B’s contract includes the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of a new junior school building, designed by IID Architects to accommodate 12 classrooms and support facilities. The building comprises a reinforced concrete and steel framed structure, clad in both brickwork and aluminum curtain walling, with a curved standing-seam roof.

T&B chose the Igo from Ladybird instead of a tele-handler for the project, because of the Igo’s attributes as a quiet, compact crane since the construction site was very congested and because work would take place during the school year.

At a rental cost of around £800 per week, the Igo 50 provides a maximum lift capacity of 4 t (4.4 USt) and a jib-end capacity of 1.1t (1.2 USt) at maximum reach of 40 m (130 ft). This means that on the Elstree site, it can handle practically all incoming material, including concrete, blocks, bricks, scaffolding, timber, and even some of the structural steel-work, most of which is palleted or packed in units of about 1 t (1.2 USt).

The 40 m (130 ft) jib can reach all parts of the site, so the crane can place material direct from the delivery truck to either its storage or final installation position.

“We have used many different types of tower cranes before, but this is the first time we have used a compact crane of this sort,” said project manager Andrew Todd. “It has not only performed impeccably and reliably, it has been an eye-opener in terms of general efficiency around the site – with less nuisance and disruption than having mobile handlers moving around. It has achieved better management of materials, is an invaluable service to the sub-contractors, and by minimizing site traffic within the school grounds has been marvelous from the site logistical and safety point of view. Undertaking this contract without the crane would have been very difficult at site level, and it has proved to be very cost effective.”

About The Manitowoc Company
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. is one of the world's largest providers of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes,tower cranes, mobile telescopic cranes, and boom trucks. As a leading manufacturer of ice-cube machines, ice/beverage dispensers, and commercial refrigeration equipment, the company offers the broadest line of cold-focused equipment for the foodservice industry. In addition, the company is a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and conversion services for government, military, and commercial customers throughout the U.S. maritime industry.

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