First Potain luffers in Egypt

Two Potain MCR 295s go to Orascom for construction of high-profile mixed-use development.

Egyptian contractor Orascom Construction has purchased the country’s first two Potain MCR 295 luffing jib tower cranes from local dealer IDP.

The cranes are being used by Orascom to develop the Maspero Triangle district in downtown Cairo. The 75-acre area, by the River Nile, is already home to many important buildings including the Radio and Television Union Maspero building, the Foreign Ministry building, the Dar al-Maarif building, the Italian Consulate, and the Ramses Hilton Hotel.

Space was limited so Orascom Construction needed cranes that were not only reliable, consistent, and high performing but which could also work efficiently on a confined jobsite, helping to meet delivery deadlines, Manitowoc said.

With a 60 m jib length and load capacity of up to 16 t, the two Potain MCR 295 luffing jib cranes were well suited to the job. The compact and versatile design with near-vertical luffing capability

enables multiple cranes to be positioned on site and avoids oversailing existing buildings.

IDP and Potain erected the cranes with an initial 37 m height under hook and they will reach a final height under hook of 150 m. The cranes will remain on site for approximately three years.

The project, estimated at LE10 billion (US$400 million), is part of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's development plan and aims to transform the area into a thriving hub for living, working, and relaxing. The western side of the project has been allocated for administrative and commercial purposes, while the centre will be an entertainment area. There will also be hotels and tourist attractions facing the River Nile.

“The Potain brand’s reputation for quality and innovative technology gave us the trust and confidence to expand our fleet with the new MCR 295 cranes,” said Hossam Mounir, equipment deputy director at Orascom Construction. “We are proud to have the first units in Ai cập working on this prestigious project.

“We were impressed by the speed and professionalism with which the IDP field service team and Potain technicians erected the cranes on site, and they have since been proving their worth on this upscale project as world-class machines.”

Oracom Construction’s history dates back to 1950. Today the company employs around 65,000 people and is currently working on more than 200 projects across Africa, the Middle East, and the USA.