The new Böcker crane generation impressively demonstrated its capabilities during a test run at the Westfalenhalle Dortmund. In cooperation with the roofing company Bedachungen Sindermann, the AK 48 and AK 36 truck cranes supported the comprehensive roof renovation of Dortmund's landmark.
The Westfalenhalle, known for its striking dome construction, is currently being renovated in sections. Back in 2024, Dirk Sindermann and his team repaired a section that had been damaged in a storm on Christmas Eve. In the coming months, the roofing of the upper ring below the dome will now be completely renewed. Bedachungen Sindermann is coordinating the work and took the opportunity to test the new Böcker cranes in practical use. Particular attention was paid to the large range, high working speed, intelligent control technology and innovative mast geometry.
Thanks to its small footprint, the AK 48 truck crane could be positioned directly in the tight service yard of the Westfalenhalle. With a extension length of over 48 m (opt. 52), a payload of up to 3 t (opt. 6 t) and a hook speed of 60 m/min, it mastered the efficient transport of large quantities of material during the demolition work with ease. It then lifted bitumen sheets and Kalzip aluminum profiles for the new roofing high into the air. With a roof edge height of around 20 m, the crane proved its enormous range and lifted the tipping basket used and the attached profiles far out onto the roof. This is a task that Sindermann's own Böcker AK 46 truck crane, which has been reliably ensuring material logistics on the company's construction sites for five years, normally performs. In the course of the renovation work on the Westfalenhalle, a total of 5 t of batten roofing, around 28 t of rock wool and the entire wooden substructure will be efficiently removed over the next few weeks. The new roof structure itself consists of a safety seal, vapor barrier, multi-layer thermal insulation and the final Kalzip aluminum covering. Thanks to Böcker crane technology, all materials find their way to the top in a minimum of time and with minimum effort.
The new mast geometry of the AK 48 was also used on the Westfalenhalle and impressed the roofers. Both the tower crane function as well as the vertical erection of the mast and the 180° extended jib joint made it easier to transport materials close to the façade and far out onto the roof. The innovative mast profile made of high-strength fine-grained steel also guarantees high lateral stability for heavy loads.
At the same time, the company used the particularly compact Böcker AK 36 truck crane with the PK 250 access platform on one of the neighboring halls to carry out inspection work. At a working height of between 17 and 20 m, the roof edge cladding and the large hall logo were inspected. The AK 36 impressed with its quick assembly with self-levelling and reach preview, its great working height and the flexible conversion into a platform, which made complex scaffolding constructions superfluous.
All in all, the test job impressively demonstrated how modern crane technology combined with expert craftsmanship ensures efficient and safe processes, even for demanding roof renovations on iconic buildings.
More information about Böcker cranes can be found here
