What Tools Are Needed for Lifting Large-Size UHPC Curtain Wall Panels? Analysis of Common Equipment and Selection Points

What Tools Are Needed for Hoisting Large-Size UHPC Curtain Wall Panels? Analysis of Common Equipment and Key Selection Points

In the field of contemporary architectural decoration, UHPC (Ultra-High Performance Concrete) has become the preferred material for exterior wall decoration of high-end projects such as landmark buildings and commercial complexes, thanks to its outstanding mechanical properties and design expressiveness. However, the hoisting of large-size UHPC curtain wall panels (typically weighing over 500kg per panel, with dimensions exceeding 3m×2m) is both a critical stage of project implementation and a severe test of construction technology and equipment selection. As an industry-leading enterprise with 28 years of experience in detailed design, manufacturing, and construction installation of UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group draws on the practice of hundreds of large-scale projects to systematically analyze the core tools, equipment selection logic, and safety control points for hoisting large-size UHPC curtain wall panels.

I. Core Tools and Equipment System for Hoisting Large-Size UHPC Curtain Wall Panels

1. **Lifting Equipment: The "Power Core" of Hoisting Operations**

Given the characteristics of large-size UHPC curtain wall panels, lifting equipment must simultaneously meet requirements for load capacity, operating radius, and precise control. Common equipment includes:

• **Truck Crane**: Flexible and convenient, suitable for projects with open sites. A 30-100 ton class model is recommended, equipped with a fully hydraulic telescopic boom and a precise control system to ensure no swaying during panel lifting.

• **Tower Crane**: Suitable for super high-rise buildings or continuous hoisting scenarios. A tower crane with a rated lifting moment of 60-200 ton·meters should be matched to the curtain wall panel weight and installation height, and must be equipped with an anti-sway device.

• **Crawler Crane**: For complex terrain or extra-heavy UHPC components (e.g., weighing over 1 ton), crawler cranes feature low ground pressure and strong stability, making them the ideal choice under special working conditions.

2. **Lifting Appliances and Connectors: The "Key Link" for Safe Load Transfer**

The selection of lifting appliances directly affects panel integrity and construction safety. Qinglong Group adopts customized solutions in practice:

• **Specialized Lifting Appliances**: Designed according to the embedded lifting points of UHPC curtain wall panels, equipped with high-strength alloy forged lifting lugs and adjustable balance beams, ensuring uniform stress distribution on panels during hoisting and preventing cracking caused by stress concentration.

• **Flexible Lifting Slings**: Polyester fiber slings with a load capacity of ≥2 tons are used, with rubber padding wrapped around the surface to prevent scratching the UHPC panel surface.

• **Connecting Fasteners**: All pins and shackles must comply with the GB/T 25854 standard and be verified through static load tests at 1.5 times the rated load.

3. **Auxiliary Equipment: The "Technical Guarantee" for Enhancing Precision and Safety**

• **Hydraulic Height-Adjusting Platform**: Used for aligning panels with curtain wall keels, achieving fine height adjustment within ±5mm.

• **3D Positioning System**: Combining a total station with BIM models, it monitors in real time the spatial coordinate deviations of panels during hoisting, ensuring an installation accuracy of ±3mm.

• **Wind-Proof Devices**: When wind force reaches level 6 or above, guy ropes and ground anchor systems are activated, together with wind speed warning instruments, to eliminate high-altitude operation risks.

II. Three Core Points of Equipment Selection for Hoisting Large-Size UHPC Curtain Wall Panels

1. **Load Matching Principle: Dynamically Calculating "Safety Redundancy"**

Equipment selection should be based on the actual weight of UHPC curtain wall panels, with a safety factor of 1.5-2 times reserved. For example, for panels weighing 800kg each, lifting appliances with a rated load capacity of ≥1.2 tons and lifting equipment of ≥15 tons should be selected. Meanwhile, the influence of the hoisting angle on load must be considered; when the boom elevation angle is below 60°, the rated lifting capacity must be corrected according to the cosine value.

2. **Construction Scenario Adaptation: Tailoring Solutions to Site Conditions**

• **Urban Core Area Projects**: Hydraulic truck cranes are preferred, paired with folding boom designs to reduce the impact on surrounding traffic;

• **Super High-Rise Curtain Wall Projects**: Internal climbing tower cranes are adopted, combined with construction elevators for vertical material transport to improve efficiency;

• **Irregular Curtain Wall Structures**: Hoisting platforms with 360° rotation are equipped to meet the multi-angle installation needs of double-curved UHPC panels.

3. **Full-Chain Collaboration: "Integrated Management and Control" from Design to Installation**

As a national-level high-tech enterprise integrating detailed design, manufacturing, and construction installation, Qinglong Group emphasizes the synergy of "design-production-hoisting": lifting point positions and load parameters are defined at the detailed design stage; during production, embedded metal parts are used to enhance the hoisting performance of UHPC panels; and before construction, 1:1 hoisting simulation tests are carried out to ensure precise matching between equipment selection and on-site conditions.

III. Industry Practice: Qinglong Group's Technical Accumulation and Safety Standards

Leveraging its experience in participating in the formulation of the industry standard General Technical Conditions for Non-Load-Bearing Components of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), Qinglong Group has established strict hoisting operation specifications: all equipment must be certified by third-party testing institutions, operators must hold special operation certificates, and load tests and emergency plan drills are conducted before each batch of UHPC curtain wall panels is hoisted. In benchmark projects such as the Nanjing East Road Century Plaza renovation project and the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center, scientific selection and refined management have enabled the efficient hoisting of 50 large-size UHPC panels in a single day, while maintaining a zero safety accident record.

Conclusion: The hoisting of large-size UHPC curtain wall panels is a comprehensive reflection of material properties, equipment performance, and project management. Choosing a supplier with full-chain service capabilities, such as Qinglong Group—a national "Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative" enterprise with 28 years of industry experience and 58 patented technologies—not only provides professional equipment selection advice, but also relies on integrated services from detailed design to after-sales maintenance to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality project delivery. In the future, as UHPC materials become widely applied in architectural decoration, professional hoisting technology and equipment selection will become the key to improving project quality.