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The Vatican’s 8-tonne Christmas tree was installed by a Grove all-terrain crane

Italian rental company I.B.A. Crane has installed the main Christmas tree at the Vatican in St. Peter’s Square, using a Grove GMK5250L-1 all-terrain crane.

To complete the job, I.B.A. Crane selected the five-axle, 250-tonne-capacity Grove GMK5250L-1 all-terrain crane for its compact dimensions and efficient operation.

The Grove GMK5250L-1 has a 70 metre, seven section main boom and Twin-Lock boom pinning system.  In general, the crane offers impressive performance and flexibility, as well as logistical advantages due to its self-rigging auxiliary hoist and counterweight plates, which are interchangeable with other Grove all-terrain cranes.

“In this case, the application did not require any special configuration, as is necessary on construction sites – but the efficiency of the GMK5250L-1 all-terrain crane, together with its logistical advantages enabled us to lift and position the tree both quickly and accurately,” said Massimiliano Di Stefano, general manager of I.B.A. Crane.

The 113-year-old tree erected at the Vatican was donated by the Sustainable Forest Authority of Trentino Alto Adige. The tree is 28 metres tall and weighs about 8 tonnes. It was illuminated on December 10 and will remain in St. Peter’s Square until January 9.

Headquartered in Basciano, I.B.A. Crane has specialized in transport and lifting solutions since 1968. Today, it operates more than 100 units of construction machinery and equipment, including 10 Grove mobile cranes.

The Grove GMK5250L-1 all-terrain crane. Photo: Manitowoc