In Brooklyn, N.Y., there are dozens of reasons why crane operation is difficult, but it usually isn’t an overabundance of trees. Pinchas Leitner, president of Lifting Solutions, was recently challenged with delivering a skylight through dense vegetation to a new extension at a home in Brooklyn.
“This particular street was full of trees, and there was no way to set up a regular hydraulic crane,” he said. On top of that, the Lifting Solutions’ crew only had 1.5 hours to complete the job. “Otherwise you have to get an expensive permit, which takes about three weeks to get, and you can only close the streets on the weekend,” Leitner added.
Using Lifting Solutions’ Palfinger PK 200002 L SH knuckleboom crane, the delivery became much easier. The long-boom design of the PK 200002 L SH is intended for operations with a high reach. Its hydraulic lifting height is 160 feet, and its maximum hydraulic outreach is 84 feet that extends to 157 feet with the fly-jib added. The knuckleboom crane has a maximum lifting moment of 1,090,030 foot-pounds and a maximum lifting capacity of 88,200 pounds.
To deliver the skylight, Leitner said there was only one opening in the trees where he was able to scope out the boom. Using 32-foot nylon slings, the 500-pound skylight was lifted over the trees, and the boom swung 125 feet to the back of the house. “I landed the skylight and had my guys take off the rigging on the roof, then came back through the same opening in the trees,” he said.
A Fassi knuckleboom crane from Lifting Solutions’ fleet delivering trees to a rooftop garden.
Knuckleboom Niche
Lifting Solutions is one of those rare companies that operates only a fleet of knuckleboom cranes. Leitner opened the business in 2004 after running knuckleboom cranes for nearly 20 years. Today, he works with several crane companies in the city. “When I need something big, I can pick up the phone and give them the job,” he said. “If they need a knuckleboom, I’m their go-to guy. It works as a two-way street.”
The company operates Palfinger, Effer, and Fassi knuckleboom cranes on projects where these machines are advantageous. “We do a lot of rooftop gardens, delivering trees and plants,” he said. “Today, my guys are delivering four trailers of top soil on a condominium project. We also lift swimming pools, plenty of hot tubs, and lots of glass.”
