Five WOLFF cranes modernize Oslo’s Ulven district

With a total of five WOLFF cranes of type 7534.16 Clear, Wolffkran Norge AS is significantly involved in the urban modernization of the eastern Oslo district of Ulven.

In parallel with the rebranding of Wolffkran Norge AS into a wholly owned subsidiary of Wolffkran Holding AG, Wolffkran is involved in two building projects in Norway’s capital, Oslo, which are now nearing completion. With a total of five WOLFF cranes of type 7534.16 Clear, Wolffkran Norge AS is significantly involved in the urban mod-ernization of the eastern Oslo district of Ulven, which has long been known more as an industrial suburb, on behalf of Nor-way’s largest construction company, Veidekke.

Two WOLFF 7534.16 Clear cranes have been used over the past two years to build the “Ulvenkroken” residential complex, an apart-ment building with 180 units, on behalf of Veidekke. The cranes, each with a maximum lifting capacity of 16.5 tons, a point-bearing capacity of 5.0 tons and a jib radius of 60 meters, were used to transport heavy prefabricated parts, steel and concrete. In just eight days, the cranes poured five elevator shafts using a slipform con-struction process. While the formwork self-climbed upwards, each crane poured concrete into one shaft around the clock – even at night. Thanks to their powerful 75 KW hoist winch and the resulting high operating speed of 185 meters/minute, the WOLFF cranes were the perfect choice for this job.

The WOLFF cranes were positioned on foundation anchors, which were directly embedded into the building’s foundation. “Thanks to our two-part foundation anchor system, where only the cost-effective anchor part remains in the ground and the high-quality part can be reused, this solution is particularly sustainable and economical for the customer,” explains Sindre Aamodt, service technician at Wolffkran Norge AS. A challenge arose from the neighbouring construction site, where five tower cranes were operating, with two of them swinging into the working area of the WOLFF cranes. The Wolffkran team success-fully coordinated the anti-collision systems of the WOLFF cranes with those of the neighbouring cranes. “In addition, the working radii of the WOLFF cranes had to be coordinated with the adjacent rail-way tracks, pedestrian paths and roads, and several restricted zones had to be programmed,” says Sindre Aamodt. After 22 months in operation, the cranes successfully completed their work in Oslo. The residential complex is expected to be ready for occupancy from Jan-uary 2025.

As part of the district’s modernization, three of the WOLFF 7534.16 Clear cranes are currently constructing Veidekke's new headquarters just a few kilometres from Ulvenkroken. The build-ing project, which is also nearing completion, is characterized by sustainable materials and a modern energy supply, and even prompted Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon to visit the construction site last year and climbed one of the cranes for a test drive. 

For the construction company Veidekke, the two Oslo projects mark the first collaboration with Wolffkran Norge AS. “Wolffkran has sup-ported us extensively throughout the entire project phase,” says Morten Opstad Aarseth, Project Manager at Veidekke. “Whether during the planning phase, in obtaining permits through the railway authorities, setting up the construction site in coordination with the neighbouring site, managing the complex logistics during the crane assembly, or handing the demanding night shifts – the team was al-ways by our side with competence and professionalism. A success-ful debut,” says Morten Opstad Aarseth.