UK-based heavy engineering company Sheffield Forgemasters has taken delivery of the first of 11 planned overhead cranes at its new machine shop, a key part of the Ministry of Defence-owned company’s £1.3bn ($1.75bn) recapitalisation programme.
The crane, supplied by GH Cranes from its manufacturing base in northern Spain, arrived this week at the facility on Weedon Street, Sheffield.
The arrival of the crane marks a significant stage in the construction of the 30,000m² machine shop.
The building, which topped out in July, stands on a 16-acre brownfield site and reaches 10m above nearby commercial landmarks.
Once operational, it is expected to house some of the largest five-axis vertical turning lathes globally and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028.
GH Cranes was selected for the contract to design and supply the full overhead crane package required for the workshop, beating four other bidders in a competitive tender.
The first unit delivered is one of two cranes with a 150t/40t lifting capacity. Further deliveries from GH Cranes will include four service cranes of 200t/40t, five cranes of 250t/50t, and a tandem lifting beam capable of handling up to 400t.
The remaining cranes are expected to be delivered weekly, with all units scheduled to arrive by the end of the year.
For installation, Sheffield-based Professional Lifting Services has been appointed to fit the cranes within the facility.
Sheffield Forgemasters recapitalisation project manager Harry McClean said: “With our New Machine Shop building now being clad, it is incredibly exciting to see the first overhead crane arrive on site, ready for installation.
“The cranes are the first working elements of the new machine shop following installation of crane rails and electricity feeds and will be operational and in use as we work to assemble the new machines when they arrive.”
The wider project team includes McLaughlin & Harvey as the main contractor, Arup for ecological and travel assessments, Bond Bryan Architects, JLL managing the site acquisition and planning submissions, and Turner & Townsend providing delivery support.
