SECTOR REPORT Ӏ MODULAR CONSTRUCTION
reduced construction time, often enabling projects to be completed in half the time compared to traditional methods. This reduction in time not only saves labour costs but also accelerates the project's time to market.
This also minimises the time spent disrupting the area around the construction site. Not only does this minimise negative public perceptions of a project whilst it is being built, it can also lessen disruptions caused by transporting materials and construction. Delays due to weather, late
change orders, and reliance on third party suppliers can be greatly minimised with modular construction methods, leading to increased productivity and improved cost predictability. It also offers enhanced quality
control. Since modular units are constructed in a controlled factory environment, they undergo stringent quality control measures. This leads to a higher quality finished product, as conditions can be optimised for construction, minimising the variability that can occur on traditional job sites. Modular buildings can be found
across all construction sectors including offices, institutional and educational facilities, residential buildings and hospitals. Reflecting this diverse range of building types are the range of cranes that may be utlised in the construction of modular buildings, from tower cranes to mobile cranes – even mini and spider cranes may be used depending on the circumstances.
TOWER POWER Tower cranes, for example, are particularly suitable for the construction of high rise building that use modular construction techniques – such as the residential blocks found in South East Asia. For example, several high capacity Potain topless tower
cranes, (a mix of MCT 565A and MCT 1005 models) purchased by Singapore headquartered heavy lift specialist and service provider Tiong Woon Corporation (TWC) are currently being used on a new government housing project in western Singapore. The country’s increasing shift
to precast construction in housing projects is fuelling demand for high-capacity cranes to lift heavy concrete elements, says Potain brand manufacturer Manitowoc. The Singapore government has
also actively legislated the adoption of more productive construction methods like PPVC for certain public sector projects and selected government land sales sites. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance construction productivity in the country. Local government regulations
require all new Housing & Development Board (HDB) apartments to be fitted with PBUs (bathroom units pre-assembled off-site). On the Jurong West N4C22 project, the cranes will handle all precast components including its 22t dual-PBUs. In addition to the Potain cranes
already operating on the jobsite new cranes are being installed – each working on a different tower block. All will be assembled to a height under hook of 45m. The MCT 565A cranes are working with jibs from 30m to 35m, which gives them tip capacities of 22.5t to 18.3t. Meanwhile, the MCT 1005 will operate with either 40m or 45m jibs, corresponding to tip loads of either 28.2t or 24.8t. The MCT 1005 cranes have a
maximum capacity of 50t and can lift 25t loads at speeds of up to 31m/min. The MCT 565A cranes have a maximum capacity of 32t and can lift 24t loads at up to 22m/ min. All cranes can handle the 22t dual PBUs. The PBUs speed construction by arriving on site
The Potain MR
418 working on 2FA in London
partially tiled and pre-assembled with copper piping, sanitary ware, window frames, ceiling, bathroom cabinets, and a waterproofing system. This means they can be quickly lifted and installed with minimal finishing work. “Jobsites in Singapore are often space constrained so the compact and topless design of the MCT 565A, paired with its short counter-jib, is well-suited for our projects,” said Michael Ang, group CEO of TWC. “We are also deploying the MCT 1005 with a short counter-jib configuration, which provides good reach in our key projects. We are confident that both cranes will serve the project’s requirements effectively.” It's not just pre-assembled
bathrooms that TWC is tasked with installing; the company recently
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