Imperial Crane Services, Bridgeview, Ill., worked with A & H Mechanical, East St. Louis, Ill., to lift an air handling unit onto South Shore High School, a George Solitt project. The unit, weighing 35,000 pounds and running 32 feet long, was lifted by Imperial’s 500-ton Liebherr LTM-1400, all-terrain crane with luffing jib. The job was done during one of Chicago’s winter snow storms. Fred Pierce, Imperial’s operator, successfully did the eight-point pick in the blind while using a communication system to keep in constant contact.
“Due to economic times the project had several bidders, but at the end of the day, price is as important as safety and confidence in getting the job done,” stated Ryan Carley, senior account executive for Imperial. And despite the weather and a tight jobsite, Imperial was able to finish on schedule.