English - MTU Onsite Energy

The company’s TG2300-B tower gantry cranes are
leased to Falcon Steel Corporation, a Delaware
company in charge of fabricating and erecting
the steel structure. Each TG2300-B crane has a
minimum 230-ton lifting capacity and a maximum
boom length of 240 feet. The cranes employ
a modular design so they can be modified for
individual project needs. As a building grows in
height, the crane can grow, too—by hoisting and
stacking an additional tower structure on itself.
Improvements all around
After the first test engine was installed, Garrahan
said there were immediate improvements in
performance, noise, exhaust emissions and fuel
efficiency. “In today’s world you need a today
engine and we found the Tier 3 Series 60 to
be that. We maintained the power and muscle
requirements to do the work, and also increased
the fuel efficiency—we’ve almost cut it in half. On
this job with three cranes, that’s a fuel savings
of approximately $500 per day or upwards of
$90,000 to $100,000 annually,” he said.
Engine noise was also a concern—especially since
these cranes operate for eight or more hours a
day in densely populated Manhattan. The Series
«It feels good to know that we worked together to make
cleaner air. And not to mention it gave them a step up on
the competition. »
Bob Shomo, Senior Vice President Engine Sales Johnson & Towers, Inc.
60 Tier 3 engine is significantly quieter than the
old Detroit Diesel 2-Cycle 12V71T engines. “This
engine operates within acceptable noise levels
in the city. It almost makes the crane feel brand
new. It’s been a very positive experience,” says
Garrahan. “You’re always trying to operate at
levels below typical street noise, or less, so that
people don’t notice it. These engines do that.”
A huge commitment
Repowering three cranes was one thing, but
repowering a whole fleet of 18 cranes was quite
another in terms of investment by Cornell &
Company. Because the repowering project would
have a significant, positive impact on air quality at
construction sites in New York and around the
Northeast, Johnson & Towers decided to help
Cornell & Company apply for a federal grant
as part of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
(DERA). This federal program set aside $150
million to help subsidize the replacement of older
diesel engines in marine, rail and industrial
equipment throughout the United States. Of 251
proposals submitted to DERA in 2010, Cornell &
Company’s application was one of only seven in
the country that were approved.
The grant covered 75 percent of the cost of the
new engines and paved the way for repowering
Cornell & Company’s total fleet of 18 gantry tower
cranes. By repowering its entire fleet, Cornell &
Company expects to reduce NOx emissions by
30 tons/year and particulate matter by 1.5 tons/
year. Shomo says, “Cornell & Company is the
only crane fleet in America to make this kind of
environmental commitment. It feels good to know
that we worked together to make cleaner air. And
not to mention, it gave them a step up on the
competition.”
Going above and beyond
The repowered cranes are currently hard at
work, erecting the steel structure at 3 World
Trade Center five days a week, sometimes
working double shifts. The cranes can hoist
steel components weighing more than 50 tons.
Garrahan says, “The work is relentless. An eightto
ten-hour day is expected. If it’s down, people
are screaming and yelling. So reliability is key. The
crane is the lifeblood of the job. It sets the pace
of the entire project. Uptime is critical.”
After starting the job in the fall of 2012, two of
the three cranes will continue until the last beam
is set in place in the winter of 2013. So far, the
results are very favorable, according to Garrahan.
“Every aspect of this project has been a win.
I can’t say enough about how happy we are to
have hooked up with Johnson & Towers and MTU.
Their expertise and support have been excellent.
It’s been a really good experience. Since we
repowered, our clients have gone with this
engine upgrade again and again. It’s been a very
successful thing for us and for MTU.”
In the bigger picture, there’s a sense of
accomplishment that can’t be measured.
Everyone at Cornell & Company is honored to
work at the Manhattan site. After all, they’re not
simply building a skyscraper; they’re helping to
rebuild the hopes and spirits of many Americans.
“We’re very proud to be affiliated with the
project,” says Garrahan. “For me to get involved
is a great privilege. And for Delor Cornell, it’s a
bit stronger because she was across the river,
on a jobsite when it happened. And now we’re
restoring that piece of our country.”
Words: Chuck Mahnken
Pictures: Cornel Company, Fotolia, Getty
Images
To find out more, contact:
David Combs
david.combs@tognum.com
Tel. +1 248 560 8182
MTU Report 03/12 I 33