End-to-end lifting and installation for landmark project.
Radius Group has successfully completed the erection of four tower cranes on a major new data centre development in London Docklands, marking the first milestone in the delivery of a fully integrated lifting and plant installation solution for Ada Infrastructure and McLaren Construction.
The project demonstrates Radius Group’s ability to coordinate complex lifting operations across multiple disciplines, supporting clients from the earliest stages of construction through to the installation of critical infrastructure through one integrated delivery team.
The crane package comprises three brand-new Manitowoc Potain MDT 569 M25 tower cranes, delivered directly from the manufacturer’s facility in Moulins, France, together with a Potain MDT 809 M25 supplied from Belgium.
The erection programme presented a number of complex logistical challenges. Two of the four cranes required their entire top kits to be erected within the operational restrictions of London City Airport, with works carefully coordinated between Saturday 1.00pm and Sunday 10.00am to accommodate airport operations.
Complex logistics. Carefully coordinated.
Adding to the complexity, crane components were sourced from multiple locations across Europe, with mast sections arriving from France, Belgium, Ireland and Northampton, alongside counterweights transported from Germany. Coordinating these deliveries while meeting critical installation windows demanded close collaboration across suppliers, logistics and site teams to keep the programme on track. With the tower crane installation now complete, Radius Group’s role continues as the project moves into the next phase of construction.
From crane erection to critical plant installation.
Our Plant Installation division will deliver the installation of the critical mechanical and electrical infrastructure that will power the completed facility, including transformers, generators, switchgear, UPS systems, chillers, CRAH units and other specialist plant. As the project progresses, Radius Group will provide the specialist lifting expertise required to safely position and install this critical infrastructure, ensuring every major lift is planned, coordinated and delivered safely as part of one integrated service.
By bringing together our Tower Crane, Plant Installation and specialist lifting divisions, Radius Group provides clients with a single point of responsibility for every stage of a project’s lifting requirements. This integrated approach reduces interfaces, improves programme certainty and ensures complex lifting operations are delivered safely and efficiently from the first crane erection through to final plant installation.
, Tower Crane Division Manager, said:
“Projects like this demonstrate the value of involving specialist lifting expertise from the very beginning. Successfully erecting all four cranes was a fantastic achievement by everyone involved, but it’s only the first stage of our role on site.The level of coordination behind the project has been exceptional, from managing equipment arriving from across Europe to delivering critical crane erections within the operational restrictions of London City Airport.
Now that the cranes are in place, our Plant Installation and specialist lifting teams will continue supporting the project through the installation of the critical infrastructure that will bring the facility into operation. Being able to deliver that complete service through one coordinated team is what sets Radius Group apart, and we’re looking forward to continuing our work with McLaren Construction and Ada Infrastructure as the project progresses.”
As data centre developments continue to increase in scale and complexity, clients are increasingly looking for partners who can manage specialist lifting operations from start to finish. By combining expertise across tower cranes, plant installation and specialist lifting, Radius Group continues to provide fully integrated lifting solutions that reduce risk, improve coordination and support the successful delivery of some of the UK’s most technically demanding construction projects.
