10.07.2013

Rising from the waters

Construction work at New York’s Ground Zero, where once the Twin Towers stood, was halted last October by Hurricane Sandy, which flooded the site, submerging around 30 aerial lifts, including a Liftlux scissor lift.

The new Freedom Tower is rising on the location and includes an underground museum to commemorate the victims of the September, 11th 2001 attacks. The museum has ceiling heights approaching 30 metres and required a special platform to cope with the height and capacity, not only in the basement, but also on parts of the structure’s external façade.

A 2002 Manlift-Liftlux SL 260-25 owned by DAM equipment was acquired with this work in mind and has been on rent to Island Diversified for three years carrying out work on this contract.

Last October’s flooding was made worse by the fact that it was largely salt water and completely submerged the 30 units, which included both scissors and booms. It took three weeks to pump out, which put an end to most of the equipment, and we understand that all of the lifts were written off as total losses - except one – you guessed it the Liftlux.
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The repair work begins

With the brand now under JLG ownership, the manufacturer made contact with Liftlux veterans Frank Thierer and Gerhard Ziegler. They inspected the unit and declared that it could be economically repaired. The machine was lifted from the basement by crane and taken to DAM’s premises in Holbrook for the repairs.
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The unit needed new electrics and hoses

The machine’s engine, entire electrical system, hoses, control box and a few other items had to be replaced. Thierer organised the replacement parts and damaged documentation and with all the items in place and ready go by May, the unit was repaired and refurbished over a four day period. It was ready to go back into service on May 29th - its second birth date. The machine is now back at work on the project and said to be performing like new.
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Construction has restarted on the basement museum