Turkey-based Akem Group said it has erected the first of the six topless Raimondi tower cranes at the work site of Downtown Bursa, an ambitious and prestigious hallmark project being developed by Atış Construction.

The major mixed-use project coming up in the Turkish city of Bursa will boast a total of 688 residences and 83,000 sq m of retail and entertainment facilities besides hospitality outlets, an arts and culture center, and the Pars City Museum.

Currently at work, the first crane - Raimondi MRT159 - has a Height Under Hook (HUH) of 48 m and a jib length of 65m and will reach a final HUH of 98 m with two collars, said a statement from Akem, the official agent for Raimondi Cranes in Turkey.

The cranes are all rented by the project developer from the Akem Group fleet, and are planned to be operational for varying periods ranging from 20-28 months, it stated.

The site planning configuration regime includes four additional 8-tonne Raimondi MRT159s with final HUHs of 80m and one collar each, all with an initial HUH of 60 m and jibs length of 65m.

The sixth crane, a Raimondi 8-tonne MRT152 beginning with an HUH of 54 m, will reach a final HUH of 80m with one collar and a jib length of 65 m.

"Akem supplied three of our technicians for the jobsite installation including one erection supervisor, who is responsible for all safety considerations," stated the group's general manager H. Okan Deligöz.

"We had presented our install and dismantle plans to our client early in the conversations, and went forward as per the initial strategy which included a 200 tonne mobile crane," he explained.

Akem Group, which currently has a fleet size of 139 cranes, also services more than 150 Raimondi cranes previously sold in the Turkish market.

"Akem is incredibly proud to be part of this important development, invigorating of one of Turkey’s most storied and treasured locations. Bursa, a Unesco heritage site, is the fourth largest city in Turkey and it plays an important role in our country’s history," he added.-TradeArabia News Service