Potain supplies tower crane fleet for new Egypt development

Manitowoc-owned tower crane specialist Potain has sold over 35 units through its Egyptian dealer, International Development Programmes (IDP), to a mega project on Egypt’s northern coast.

The cranes are working on the construction of the urban development called New El Alamein City, a high-profile project that will accommodate a population of over 3 million across an area of 21,000 hectares. The project includes hotels, universities, sports clubs, entertainment outlets, residential units, business centres and even a scientific research centre, said Manitowoc.

The models included in the fleet of Potain cranes onsite are the MCT 85, MCT 205, MC 235 C and MC 310 K12, all built at the Potain factory in Zhangjiagang, China, and selected for their reliability and performance, added a statement from the company.

Two of the preferred choices for the site are the MCT 85 and MCT 205, both topless models. The MCT 85 is the successor to the popular MCi 85 A. It offers a maximum jib length of 52m and a tip load of 1.1t. Its maximum capacity is 5t. The MCT 205 is a topless crane with a maximum capacity of 10t. It can lift 1.75t at its maximum jib end of 65m.

Manitowoc added that the cranes began arriving on site in 2018 and are configured at working heights of between 40-180m, with jib lengths ranging from 50-70m. The cranes work round the clock, rotating between three shifts daily, lifting loads from 5-12t and are expected to be on site for at least five years.

Noreen Soliman, marketing and communications manager at IDP, said: “Using Potain cranes gives the contractors the confidence they need to complete a project of this scale. To date, the feedback on their performance has all been positive. Potain is a trusted brand in Egypt, with the range, reputation and performance to keep a high-profile project like this on track. We also pride ourselves on the parts and service support that we provide to our customers and that means there’s one less thing to worry about on the job site.”

Contractors on site include Redcon and Red Sea Construction, SIAC Construction, The Arab Contractors, CRC Dorra, Orascom Construction and a joint venture between Hassan Allam Construction and Consolidated Contractors Company. The New El Alamein City is the first in a new generation of millennium cities in Egypt.

IDP has been a supplier of Potain cranes to projects in Egypt for the past 44 years. Established in 1974, it is one of Egypt’s best-known companies in the supply and service of heavy construction and industrial equipment.