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A number of compact cranes hired from GGR Group was used for glazing work at the new eco-friendly Co-Operative headquarters in Manchester city centre, One Angel Square.

This Manchester landmark cost £105 million to build and has been declared the most environmentally sustainable building in the world by environmental assessment experts BREEAM who awarded it their top eco rating.

Compact cranes and vacuum lifters were hired from GGR to carry out essential glazing work to the building’s huge atrium. A UNIC URW-295 mini spider crane worked inside the atrium and a Starworker 1200 trailer crane took in some great views of Manchester city centre when it was sat on top of the building to install small triangular glass panels onto the atrium roof.

Using an MRT2 vacuum lifter, the Starworker spent a month installing 150 panels onto each side of the atrium roof, with the tower crane lifting it from one side to the other.  The Starworker trailer crane sat on a steel frame to spread its weight over a greater area and its slew restriction function was used to work safely around the existing steelwork.

Inspired by the company’s beehive symbol (although some people say it looks more like a sliced egg!), the 72.5 metre tall building is used by 3,500 Co-Op employees. Its large atrium allows lots of light into the building and its double skin glass façade keeps it both insulated and well ventilated. The sustainable building also features its own CHP plant to generate its own power and a rainwater recycling system.

Part of the NOMA project to redevelop a 20 acre area of Manchester city centre, the new Co-Op HQ was officially opened by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in November 2013.

GGR Group’s Northern depot in Oldham is perfectly placed for working in Manchester city centre. In the past GGR’s mini cranes and vacuum lifters have worked at other landmark buildings in the city such as Beetham Tower and The Peninsula.