Lift Roundup: 4/25 - 5/1

Allegheny Crane Rental is in a real groove right now. The team is in perfect unity, the shop is getting repairs done efficiently, and our operators are killing it out in the field. From the outside it might seem like running a crane company shouldn’t be much of a challenge. Wrong. There’s a reason there are only a few successful crane companies on the market.

This last week we had a particularly diverse and busy week. We were right in the middle of a high-level project with a chemical plant. Despite that, the individual lifts kept coming in. We completed lifts for construction companies, HVAC companies, chemical plants, roofing companies, mechanical contractors and even a tree company. Every lift went over without a single hitch.

Tennis Roofing Lift

The first lift of the week was for Tennis Roofing Company. They needed some roofing materials hoisted up over two different levels of a roof. The load wasn’t too heavy so we were able to send the 50 ton and swing the jib to the spot we needed. Allegheny Crane is always working to make sure we use the smallest crane while still ensuring total safety. This is where the expertise of our estimators come in. There’s much more to a lift than what shows up on the charts. Anyone can look at a chart. It’s the real world experience that makes an estimator valuable. Using the most efficient crane is the number one way we save our customers money.

Southwestern Veterans Center Generator Lift

We had a very different type of lift that very afternoon at the Southwestern Veterans Center. The building needed a new set of generators. Instead of a far reach and low weight, this lift had a maximum weight of 22,000lbs. Because we could set up pretty close to the unit, we were able to send another 50 ton to get the job done.

Just to be sure everything was as safe as possible, we sent out an extra rigger to the site. This was a worthwhile precaution because we had to use a spreader bar for these units. The spreader bar helps separate the cables at the top of the load so no damage can come to the unit. This unit was nearly 20’ long so the bar was definitely a necessity. In this case, the extra operator did cost more money. But here at Allegheny Crane, we believe that’s worth it if it guarantees total safety and gives our customer peace of mind.

Schenley Place Drywall Lift

The last particularly tricky lift was for Burchick Construction who is working on a job in Oakland. They are part of the construction of a brand new seven-story office building within walking distance to The University of Pittsburgh, UPMC, and Carnegie Mellon. Allegheny Crane was called on to lift drywall all the way up to the 7th floor. The tough part was we had to fit it through a window just 5’ tall and 32” wide! There is absolutely no room for mistakes in this situation.

Our estimator visited the site the week before and came up with a lift plan that gave the operator as much flexibility as possible. Along with a 40 ton crane, we sent out a set of articulating forks. These attach to the end of the crane’s boom and rotate to the left and right. The operator lifted the material up 95’ feet, rotated the load, and slid it right through that 32" wide window.

Allegheny Crane believes in putting in the time to get the job done safer, cheaper, and faster. This is only accomplished when every member of the team is in harmony. The estimator has to know what to do and make sure the operators are completely clear on the lift plan. This can only be done by putting the time in and not cutting corners. Allegheny Crane has a perfect safety record for a reason. Next time you need a crane, no matter how difficult the lift, Allegheny Crane will deliver personal and professional service unlike any you’ve ever experienced!

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