Eight Potain MDT 389 cranes speed construction of cutting-edge medical research facility

Eight Potain MDT 389 top slewing cranes are pouring the concrete and assembling prefabricated elements for all the buildings on the site of the new Servier Paris-Saclay Research Institute in France.

Contractor Solumat chose the 16 t version capacity cranes, which are configured with 75 m of jib, for their strong productivity and return on investment.

Key to the cranes’ success are the Manitowoc Crane Control System and Ultra View cab, which boost speed, accuracy and comfort. In addition, the new Cab-IN two-person elevator improves safety and convenience in the long term.

Solumat, part of VINCI Construction France, has deployed eight Potain MDT 389 top slewing cranes to help build the new Servier Paris-Saclay Research Institute in the Paris-Saclay innovation cluster. The contractor purchased seven cranes and hired the eighth from Uperio to work concurrently on the site, as there is much work to be done and it all must be completed quickly. Because the cranes are topless, they can safely overlap on the busy job site.

The complex’s main structure will consist of a central core with three connected buildings, accommodating laboratories, breakout areas and a business center. The 46,000 m2 landscaped campus will also house an auditorium and multi-story car park. The cranes were erected in October 2019 and over the course of a year, will pour the concrete and assemble the prefabricated elements for all the buildings on site — lifting a maximum load of 3.3 t at the tip of their 75 m jibs.

Solumat chose the Potain MDT 389 cranes for their high levels of comfort and ergonomic control, which translate to greater productivity and a better return on investment.

The MDT 389 is equipped with the new Manitowoc Crane Control System (CCS), which – thanks to a superior redundant sensor design – continuously monitors and controls all crane movements and structural stresses in real time. This precise information exchange and analysis empowers the operator to maximize lifting capacities and safely increase the pace of work.

Meanwhile, the Ultra View cab takes comfort, ergonomics and functionality to new heights. The design makes it easy for the operator to take advantage of all the features of the CCS and limits fatigue. All commands are launched from the joysticks and a jog dial provides easy on-screen navigation. The speed limiter function improves control and accuracy by adjusting the speed of all crane movements in 25 percent increments. Operators have the option to customize the speed and dynamic settings of the crane’s movements if they choose.

Solumat’s MDT 389 cranes also came equipped with the new Cab-IN two-person elevator for top slewing cranes. The elevator provides safe and easy ascent to the cab without blocking access to the mast ladder, it does not affect erection times, and is easy to transport since it is contained inside the crane mast. Since January 2019, French regulations require all tower cranes with a mast taller than 30 m to include elevator access to the cab.

Where operators are working on a long-term jobsite, such as the Servier Paris-Saclay Research Institute where the cranes will be used for a year, having elevator access makes a big difference to their comfort and safety.

Servier is the second-largest pharmaceutical company in France. The new Servier Paris-Saclay Research Institute will bring 600 researchers, currently spread across four locations in France, onto a single site, with the aim of improving collaboration and accelerating decision making. The dedicated research facility will also host a unique incubator for French medical start-ups, who will have the opportunity to draw on Servier’s resources and expertise. It is hoped that the Servier Paris-Saclay Research Institute will speed up research efforts, especially in oncology, which is a strategic priority for the company – and strengthen the influence of French research on a global stage. The facility is scheduled to open in 2022.