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Ainscough Crane Hire’s Immingham depot has this week worked with Access North Structures on a complex technical lift, to fit a new window pane for The Deep aquarium in Hull, East Yorkshire.
The full contract lift was carried out using an LTM 1040 2.1t crane. The building’s uniquely angular design meant that access was significantly restricted meaning Access North Structures had to source specially designed glass ‘suckers’ to enable the 300kg pane to be carefully lifted up the 28m tall building by a team of experts.
The Deep, located adjacent to the Humber Estuary, was built in 2002. It was designed by world class architect Sir Terry Farrell and Partners and is now the most commercially successful Millennium Commission project in the UK. Operating as an education and conservation charity, the centre is an international player in marine conservation and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the region.
The building’s position close to the estuary made this a challenging task due to the slim walkway around the structure, which meant there was little margin for error. However, by using a VarioBase crane, which allows for increased flexibility.
Access North Structures rope access project manager, Paul Crawford, commented: “Manoeuvring the 300kg pane of glass into position with such difficult access was challenging. However, good communication with all parties, and great weather conditions, meant the job was completed without a hitch.”
Laura Thompson, area sales manager, Ainscough Crane Hire, said: “This was a particularly challenging lift given our drivers’ narrow window of opportunity and the community importance of the site we were operating upon.
“Thankfully, our expert team worked closely with Access North’s rope access specialists in employing state-of-the-art technologies capable of managing the restrictions of the terrain. Thanks to the flexibility of a VarioBase crane, the teams were able to complete works whilst preserving the beauty of the surrounding natural landscape.”
