Singapore-based company Presscrete Engineering Pte Ltd has been providing specialist engineering services since 1987. These include ground engineering, tunnelling, and civil & special engineering. The company was recently engaged to carry out maintenance work for Singapore’s Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS).
DTSS is being developed by the national water agency PUB to meet Singapore’s long-term needs for used water collection, treatment, reclamation and disposal. Phase 1 of the project, which serves the eastern part of Singapore, was completed in 2008. Phase 2, which will connect Phase 1 to the southern and western part of the country, is ongoing and set to be completed by 2025.
In this project, Presscrete Engineering was entrusted to handle the maintenance of the DTSS Phase 1. To help deliver the job, the company deployed a Sennebogen 653 E telescopic crawler crane. The machine is designed to operate on difficult terrain, thanks to its strong undercarriage traction.
The Sennebogen 653 E is easy to transport and set up, ready to use in minutes even in tight spaces. The crane also operates quietly, making it ideal for construction projects in areas where noise levels are a concern.
The DTTS system runs underneath major roads, so maintenance work can be quite a challenge. It requires the lifting and moving of people, material, and equipment throughout the DTTS conveyance system composed of link sewers, deep tunnels, and industrial tunnels. Here, some of the obstacles Presscrete Engineering had to overcome included narrow spaces, tight work schedules, noise level limitations, and multiple overlapping underground infrastructure.
The Sennebogen 653 E, with its maximum lifting capacity of 50 t plus two heavy-duty hoisting winches that work side by side, could perform tasks safely such as lowering man cages, mini excavators, and outfall pipes for maintenance work.
The crane’s decoupled engine mounts and soundproofing enables it to operate quietly, keeping the sound pressure level in accordance with 2000/14/EC. Its strong, full-power boom, which can be telescoped from 9.4 m up to 30.4 m even under load, allows flexible use on any construction site.
Another challenge on the jobsite lied on the skill and teamwork of the operator and signalman to manoeuvre around the multiple overlapping underground infrastructure, such as underground power cable and water pipes. The electronic assist and build quality of Sennebogen 653 E made it highly stable during lifting operation, which allowed the operator to fully rely on the machine and focus his attention on the signalman and their surroundings.
The crane’s cab offers an unblocked panoramic view with a sliding door and wide door opening. Ergonomically designed consoles and joysticks, including push buttons and switches are all easily accessible on the optimised control panel.
