Masonry Magazine May 2007 Page. 36
MAST CLIMBERS
Many modern construction projects have
proven that finishing a contract on time
and within budget can be achieved only by
using mast climbing work platforms.
Hydro Mobile. "We know that the whole construction
industry now feels the pressure from an increase in com-
petition, stricter time constraints, and workforce shortage.
It is getting harder for contractors and subcontractors of
any size to be profitable; and this context is driving growth
in the mast climber market as [mast climbing systems]
considerably improve productivity, safety and working
conditions."
In fact, many modern construction projects have proven
that finishing a contract on time and within budget can be
achieved only by using mast climbing work platforms. One
good example is the Columbian, a residential masonry sky-
scraper in downtown Chicago.
This 507-foot-tall building is to become the tallest handset
masonry structure in Chicago, with 49 stories. In fact, with 20
P-series platforms in use, this project moves forward at the
impressive pace of 10,500 square feet of concrete floor every
two days. It even drew the attention of the National Geograph
ic Channel; it was featured in a show titled "MegaStructures:
Science of Brick."
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The facade work of the Columbian presented great techni
cal challenges, as Erwin Bernhardt, project manager at
Garth/Ceisel Joint Venture LLC, explained: "We originally
planned to use precast for the facade, but because of the large
and complex footprint of the building, we did not have enough
room for a second crane and realized that we needed to find
another solution. That's when Hydro Mobile's R&D team came
up with a customized solution involving 20 P-series, enabling
us to access the whole facade, up to 500 feet in height, and to
lay 315,000 bricks in total."
Whether used with single or twin-mast setups, resting on
the building's concrete base or on cantilever beams, those
P-series platforms carry up to 9,750 pounds each, and provide
safe and stable work areas. As the owner's representative from
the Davis Group LLC, Rick James, explained: "I was very
pleased with the safety, quality and adaptability that Hydre
Mobile platforms provide.... The strength and integrity of this
access equipment allowed the masons the security and confi
dence to place face brick up to the 47th floor with no problem
and with the weather enclosure, they basically worked all win-
ter long."
Hydro Mobile is a privately owned corporation. The com
pany is mainly involved in the design, manufacturing and dis
tribution of mast climbing work platforms for the construction
industry. Hydro Mobile platforms are distributed throughou
North America and Europe, with more than 5,000 platform
on the market.
Dunlop Mastclimbers
DUNLOP MASTCLIMBERS of New York has bees
installing mast climbers in North America since 1984. Its firs
project involved the use of nine mast climbers to aid in the
removal of the exterior and to install a new facade at Clyc
Towers, a residential project in Rhode Island. The project toow
one year to complete and saved the contractor, Lusi Constru
tion, considerable time and costs.