In the northern province of Sinop, the $1bn Boyabat Dam, once complete, will help to meet the growing demand for electricity and expand Turkey's power generation capacities. It is expected to generate 1.5bn kWh of electricity per year.

Due to the scale of the project, four of the most powerful and largest Potain cranes are being used—two MD 1100 and two MD 2200 cranes—which were custom manufactured to meet the demands of such a project. The former have a maximum capacity of 40t and are working with 55m jibs; one MD 1100 will eventually reach a working height of 120m. The MD 2200 special application cranes have a maximum capacity of 64t and are working with the full 85m jib; both will climb as the project ensues, reaching heights of 104m and 225m respectively.

Do?u? ?n?aat, the main contractor for the project purchased the cranes specifically for the creation of the Boyabat dam; construction is being undertaken on behalf of Turkish utility firm Boyabat Elektrik Üretim.

Thibaut Le Besnerais, vice president of special application cranes at Manitowoc, said: "Each project is different, and we often modify our designs to achieve the best performance for the given application. We also send a highly experienced team of engineers for each installation to supervise the erection and ensure customers get the most benefit from their Potain cranes."

To maximize efficiency, the work is being undertaken in sections, with the cranes working in a conveyor system to move the huge amount of concrete the dam requires.

The cranes are working in tandem with the conveyor trusses for pouring concrete, and are lifting reinforcement bar, penstocks and other components.

The cranes can lift loads of up to 20t across the construction site, including pouring concrete and working with 6 m³ and 9 m³ buckets.

The Boyabat dam will stand 195m tall and span more than 262m across the Kizilimark River. It will include 2.7m m³ of poured concrete.

Source: Cranes Today Magazine