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World’s biggest crane in heaviest-ever lift at Hinkley
Big Carl, the world’s largest crane, has completed its biggest-ever lift at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.
The crane lifted a total weight of 575 tonnes to install the first of three huge prefabricated steel rings on the project, overseen by main contractor BYLOR (a joint venture between Bouygues and Laing O’Rourke).
The 17m-tall ring with a diameter of 47m was lifted out of a
bunker where it was constructed in factory conditions. Big Carl reached out
160m to put it in place during a night lift – timed to take
advantage of lighter winds during a four-day operation. The rings will form a
reinforced cylinder around the nuclear reactor.
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The first steel containment ring weighs 382 tonnes while lifting
gear took the total lift weight to 575 tonnes.
The liner ring is the second of five pieces that make up the
steel containment for each reactor, including the base and the dome.
Big Carl is 250m tall, moves on rail tracks and will
eventually lift pieces weighing more than 1,000 tonnes
The ring was gently placed on 96 hydraulic jacks which
lowered the ring into its exact position
Hinkley Point C managing director Stuart Crooks said: “This
spectacular lift is a remarkable achievement in a year when everyone has had to
make extraordinary efforts to keep the site and community safe from
infection. The precision involved is like watch-making on an industrial scale.
“Our ability to maintain progress in such tough
circumstances is a testament to the commitment of the workforce and our
suppliers across Britain and the world. Construction of Hinkley Point C’s
two reactors continues to provide evidence that repeating an identical design
improves quality and efficiency – something that will bring big benefits to
Sizewell C in Suffolk.”
The January/February 2026 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
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