Four topless Potain cranes delivering stunning Sky Views over Lyon

• Contractor Fontanel is using an MDT 248, MDT 268, MDT 269 from its fleet plus an MDT 389 L16 leased from Potain local dealer Valente Grue Assistance.
• With heights under hook up to 78 m, three of the cranes are using the Potain Cab-IN elevator system.
• The cranes are handling all materials and helping pour over 60 m3 of concrete each day.

Four Potain topless tower cranes are lifting heavy loads and pouring concrete to keep construction on schedule at the complex Vues Ciel (Sky Views) development in Lyon, France. Longstanding Potain customer and local contractor Fontanel has deployed three cranes from its fleet – MDT 248, MDT 268 and MDT 269 – while a fourth, the MDT 389 L16 has been leased from Valente Grue Assistance. These cranes are driving progress on the €9.8 million project, led by Groupe SERL. The initial phase of the six-tower  project involved a detailed crane placement study to optimize costs, safety, and site productivity.

The Potain MDT 389 is working at a 78 m height under hook with a 70 m jib; the MDT 269 is working at a 62 m height under hook with a 55 m jib; and the MDT 268 is working at a 57 m height under hook with a 40 m jib. These cranes are all fitted with the Potain Cab-IN elevator, to give the operator faster and more secure access to and from the cab. The MDT 248 has a more compact set-up, being erected to a height under hook of 38 m and with 40 m of jib. All the cranes are equipped with cameras and an interference system to further enhance security on-site.

There is over 60 m3 of concrete poured each day by the cranes and they also handle a range of loads including prefabricated balconies, which weigh over 8 t. Vues Ciel will eventually comprise housing, commercial buildings, a supermarket, cinema, and car park, covering over 61,000 m² of floor space. Work should be concluded in early 2027, three years after the first groundworks.

The project’s location in a ZAC (Concerted Development Zone) in the Gratte-Ciel (Skyscraper) district requires the creation of a harmonious, well-designed space that serves the community’s needs. The six towers – the highest of which reaches 59 m – and nine houses incorporate stepped architecture, terraces, and white-plastered facades, to complement the style of the first buildings in the area, designed by Môrice Leroux in the 1930s. Environmental concerns are a priority, so the project is using organic and geo-sourced materials such as hemp concrete and raw earth, and the concrete foundation from one of the cranes will eventually be removed to allow new trees to take root.

CONTACT

Dominique Leullier
Marketing Director Europe 
Manitowoc
+ 33 4 72 18 21 60
dominique.leullier@manitowoc.com