GGR Mini Spider Cranes Help Build Christie’s New Cancer Research Centre

A pair of UNIC spider cranes, URW095 & URW295 teamed up with GGR’s glass vacuum lifting equipment to help glaze the new £28.5m building which will pioneer new treatments for cancer patients.The new centre will form part of The University of Manchester’s Cancer Research facilities creating opportunities for researchers to work collaboratively with clinicians and external partners.Money to fund this state of the art centre has been raised through The Christie and The University of Manchester More Tomorrows Campaign.

GGR’s popular spider crane URW095 combined its lifting power of just under one tonne with the GL-UMC 600 glass manipulating robotic head to complete tricky glazing work on the site. The new building has been designed with sloping facades to give it an unusual and modern feel.  This dynamic duo was just what was needed to lift and install the 500kg glass panels at a 15 degree angle. The highly flexible GL-UMC 600 is designed to attach directly to the UNIC crane boom, is independently powered and has electric actuators that allow precise movement of glass loads. It comes with 95° rotation, ±40° swivel and 120° tilt and can be operated via radio remote control.

Our UNIC URW295 was combined with our DSZ2 Slimline vacuum lifter for the large glass units. This dual circuit vacuum lifter comes with 360° continuous rotation and 90° tilt for safer, more effective handling of loads. Four extension arms and pads are available to raise the safe working load from 450kg to 750kg. The URW295 is one of the most in demand mini cranes in our UNIC range and has been used for a broad variety of applications, from public sector, glazing and construction work to maintenance, steel erection, cladding installation, formwork and more.





The new, three-storey research centre will house laboratories, offices and a lecture theatre. The building has been handed over to the university and is ready to welcome the researchers so they can start work. We are very proud to have helped get such an important building up and running.