Tadano all-terrain powers Milwaukee’s new 44-story skyscraper
12 November 2024
In a feat of engineering and efficiency, major Wisconsin contractor Findorff Construction utilized a Tadano AC 7.450-1 mobile crane from Reynolds Crane Rental & Rigging during the construction of Milwaukee’s newest 44-story mixed-use building. This development, consisting of over 300 apartments, retail space and parking, features a design with 708 precast panels, most of which were set using a tower crane.
However, after dismantling the tower crane, Findorff faced a challenge: setting the final eight precast panels where the tower crane had been tied into the structure. The solution was already on-site: Reynolds’ Tadano AC 7.450-1, which had previously been used for the tower crane’s dismantling. This decision saved significant costs and time, the company said.
“We explored numerous options for setting these panels, most of which required costly modifications or high equipment expenses,” said Kurt Erickson, supervisor, Findorff. “With Reynolds’ 500-ton Tadano all-terrain crane already present, we only had to extend the timeline by 1-2 days. Its automatic boom and luffing adjustments minimized deflection, essential given that the hook was often less than a foot from the structure. The crane’s radius, capacity and height configurations handled everything seamlessly, and reconfiguration required a smaller, faster crew.”
The Tadano AC 7.450-1 was tasked with a critical pick: a precast panel weighing around 7,600 pounds (3,447 kg) lifted at a 135-foot radius and a height of roughly 380 feet.
Nate Reynolds, Executive Vice President at Reynolds Crane, emphasized the crane’s versatility and why it was added to their fleet. “A jobsite like this demonstrates the value of our Tadano crane, with 263 feet of main boom and a maximum tip height of 419 feet. It’s optimal for setting tower cranes in the Midwest and perfectly aligns with customer needs. Our collaboration with Findorff optimized efficiency and benefited everyone involved, from our customer to the community.”