News Release

06/06/2006

First MC 115 B units in Brazil at work in Sao Paulo

Three Potain tower cranes are playing a central role in the construction of the new hi-tech El Dorado business tower in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil. The three cranes are working for project management company Gafisa. Potain dealer Locabens supplied the cranes. Constructing the main El Dorado tower are two MC 115 B units – the first in Brazil – while an MCi 85 B is constructing an eight-story parking garage adjacent to the new building.

At present the MC 115 B models are working at free-standing heights of 42 m (138 ft) and 35 m (115 ft) and with jibs of 50 m (164 ft) and 30 m (98 ft) respectively. André Zaidan, manager for Gafisa on the project, said the fact that Locabens could offer the latest tower cranes was crucial in their decision to choose Potain on this job.

“We chose to work with Locabens because we knew we would be getting brand new cranes,” he said. “Other companies in this area don’t offer that. These Potain cranes are faster, more efficient, and – most crucially – they can handle the 5 t (5.5 USt) precast concrete sections that are central to this construction project.”

Lifting the heavy precast concrete sections forms the majority of the workload for the MC 115 B cranes, along with handling steel reinforcement and pouring concrete. Overseeing much of this work is Jandrey Pliscari, structural engineer for Gafisa, who explained their importance to the building.

“El Dorado tower will be one of the biggest buildings in the area, accommodating 7000 people and also acting as the headquarters for some of the biggest names in local business,” Pliscari said. “The design of the tower requires the placement of large structural elements, so we rely heavily on the cranes. The project will sit in an exposed part of the city susceptible to high wind speeds. Because of its location, we have tested the design of the building in a wind tunnel.”

The new building will rise to over 160 m (525 ft) and will comprise 36 stories, with a floor-to-ceiling height of 2.85 m (9.4 ft) and with each covering an area of 2200 m2 (23,680 ft2). There are three clients on the prestigious new project – Gafisa, a major project management company; Modal and Sao Carlos. The structure is using advanced building technology, including state-of-the-art glasswork and an integrated security system which will be coordinated with the building’s elevators.

Potain dealer Locabens is providing two of its operators to the project and handles all erection and maintenance duties. In total, the job will use 36,000 m3 (471,000 yd3) of concrete and 4500 t (4960 USt) of steel. Work started on the project in December 2004 and will finish in October 2007.

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 US maritime industry.

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