Canada — a land of extremes. From the snowy peaks of the Rockies to the sweltering summer humidity of the Great Lakes, our nation’s varying climates shape not only its landscapes, but also its transportation policies.

In the frigid winters, roads can freeze and heave, while the summertime sun can soften asphalt, creating a patchwork of conditions across the country that demand thorough regulations.

In provinces like Alberta, where the ground shifts dramatically with the seasons, axle weight restrictions are crucial for maintaining infrastructure. Trucks loaded beyond their limits can accelerate road damage, leading to costly repairs and unsafe conditions.

From A to Boom

So, how do crane companies navigate these regulations when transporting their all-terrain cranes across the country? It begins with a boom dolly — a specialized trailer designed to be towed behind the crane, equipped with a cradle that supports the boom.

The operator then “floats the boom,” which involves turning a series of valves to release the hydraulics of the boom hoist cylinder and swing gear. This technique allows the boom to move freely, ensuring smooth handling over uneven terrain and during turns – essentially, when you turn, it turns. As a result, the crane achieves proper weight distribution, enhancing safety and compliance on the road.

Boom dollies are effective for mitigating the transport needs of smaller to mid-sized cranes, but what happens when your crane has a capacity of 400 tons or more? In those cases, the process can become more cumbersome.

Companies may need to remove the boom completely, and sometimes the outrigger beams, in order to comply with provincial weight restrictions. This additional step often requires an assist crane, leading to increased costs and a larger set-up area. So, what if there was a way to streamline this process and eliminate the need for an assist crane?

Your prompted intrigue leads us to the boom launcher— an even more specialized transport trailer designed to not only haul the crane’s separated boom, but also remove and reattach it on location. While the term ‘launcher’ might sound like it’s all about speed, removing and reattaching the boom is a controlled process requiring meticulous care.

Setting up for success

James Bunning, supervisor for Mammoet Crane & Rigging, and his crew demonstrated this entire process firsthand while commissioning their brand-new Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1. This behind-the-scenes look demonstrated all of the steps involved in setting up a crane with a boom launcher system, highlighting the importance of teamwork and planning.

When the launcher and crane arrived at the site, the first order of business was all about alignment: “We have to be fairly picky with this step to assure the boom will align where it needs to be once it’s back at the slewing circle,” said Bunning. Think of it as a puzzle where every piece has to fit just right – like any crane set-up, this is the foundation for everything that follows.

With the alignment dialed in, Bunning and his crew removed the transport chains, with the launcher setting up on its outriggers while the crane does the same. With both stabilized, it was time for the magic to happen.

Bunning explained, “Once both are set up, we will lift the boom with the launcher assist cylinders and begin travelling it back towards the machine.” By the end of this step, the crane was starting to take form.

Launch time

Once the boom was in the right spot, the next step was engaging the heel pins. These pins lock the boom in place and ensure the rest of the connections will align properly. Afterward, the crew moved on to the cylinder pins, pushing them into place, before the final action of connecting the hydraulic hoses. This series of steps ensures the crane’s stability and enables the boom hoist cylinders to raise and lower the boom during operation.

With everything fully connected and operational, the time had arrived for the crane to “boom up” just enough to take the weight of the boom— so the crew could remove the travel pins from the launcher. At this point, the launcher was essentially free, and the crane could continue booming up to its operating position. Each step builds upon the last, ensuring the crane is ready to lift safely.

According to Bunning, “On average, this process takes between 1 to 1.5 hours. We have done it in 45 minutes, but everything was perfect to make that happen.”

From here, the rest of the crane build was business as usual – the crew reeved the block and installed the back outrigger beams.
After the launcher disengages from the crane, their transport driver can bring it back to their yard or keep it in a laydown area on-site if they’re working on a long-term project.

Another notable feature of the boom launcher system is its versatility. The crew can repurpose it to load the counterweights for the LTM-1650. With a capacity of up to 125 tonnes, this helps streamline site moves by reducing equipment, time and costs – a huge bonus for project efficiency.

Although setting up a crane may seem straightforward, using the boom launcher system is a complex process that requires comprehensive knowledge of the equipment and crane. It takes crane operation to a whole new level, integrating the vehicle regulations that apprentices learn in school into real-world applications.

Not only does this technology ensure regulation compliance and streamline operational processes, but it also provides a significant competitive edge in the workforce. The minimal space required to assemble a 700-tonne (770-ton) crane is impressive, allowing for greater flexibility and efficiency on tight job sites. This compact set-up saves valuable time and reduces logistical challenges, giving companies an advantage in both cost and speed.

I want to thank James Bunning and the entire Mammoet crew for the opportunity to observe and learn about their boom launcher. Their expertise and willingness to share insights were invaluable. I also want to thank Michael Parkinson from Liebherr Canada Ltd. for his practical training on the boom dolly and the knowledge he provided, which contributed to this story.