Liebherr MK 88-4.1 Supports Storm Repairs to JR’s Pont-Neuf Artwork
30-Second Takeaway
Ponticelli deployed a Liebherr MK 88-4.1 mobile construction crane to help repair storm damage to JR’s temporary installation, La Caverne du Pont-Neuf, in central Paris. Working over four night shifts, the crane lifted fabric sections weighing between 200 and 400 kilograms while rope access technicians reattached them. Its 45-metre trolley jib, compact setup and mobile carrier suited the restricted conditions on the historic bridge. Load-distribution plates, weather monitoring and coordinated traffic management supported the operation, with the crane repositioned to reach damage on both sides of the installation.
Liebherr MK 88-4.1
A Liebherr MK 88-4.1 from the Ponticelli group supported repairs to La Caverne du Pont-Neuf after strong winds and hail damaged its outer covering in early June 2026. French artist JR created the approximately 120-metre-long inflatable installation as a walk-in rock grotto on Paris’s oldest bridge. The artwork paid tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s wrapping of the Pont-Neuf in 1985.
Ponticelli responded within hours of the damage, working with the project team to select a lifting arrangement that could reach the affected areas while accommodating the bridge’s restricted space and heritage requirements.
Crane Selection Shaped by the Historic Site
A larger mobile crane had initially been considered. The site assessment instead identified the MK 88-4.1 as a more suitable option for the available space and repair work. Its 45-metre trolley jib reached the damaged areas of the installation. The four axle carrier also allowed the crane to relocate from one side of the bridge to the other, where further repairs were required.
Short setup times and a compact outrigger arrangement helped the team organise the work within the confined location. Load-distribution plates reduced ground pressure around the historic bridge structure, while safety and traffic management measures controlled access to the working area.
Four Night Shifts with Rope Access Technicians
The repair programme took place over four night shifts. Ponticelli lifted damaged fabric sections weighing between 200 and 400 kilograms, positioning them for rope access technicians to reattach.
The crane’s elevating cab gave the operator a direct view of the approximately 18-metre-high installation and the technicians working on it. Jib-mounted lighting illuminated the repair area during the overnight operations.
Continuous radio communication connected the operator and rope access team. Weather conditions were also monitored throughout the work because the bridge sits within a wind corridor along the River Seine.
Planning for Wind, Reach and Surrounding Buildings
Preparation included site inspections, load calculations and collision analyses involving nearby buildings. A 360-degree test then confirmed the planned crane positioning. These checks addressed a task where the lifted loads were relatively light but the working environment was demanding. The team had to coordinate suspended fabric, technicians working at height and changing weather conditions within a prominent city-centre location.
Ponticelli Head of the Handling/Lifting Agency Louis-Arthur de Quatrebarbes said:
“We were on site just a few hours after the damage occurred to work out the best technical solution together with the client. As well as repairing the tarpaulin, we had to carry out a lifting operation safely in almost constant wind and under considerable time pressure.”
Engineering Becomes Part of the Artwork
For Ponticelli, the assignment combined a technical lifting challenge with participation in a public art project.
De Quatrebarbes added:
“We are proud to have been part of this work of art. To quote JR: ‘The installation of the artwork is part of the artwork’ - and so is the crane. The visually striking deployment of the MK crane created a magical moment.”
The operation demonstrated how a mobile construction crane could provide reach and visibility for delicate repair work without the larger setup originally contemplated.
About Ponticelli
Ponticelli Frères is an independent, family-owned industrial services group founded in France in November 1921 by brothers Céleste, Bonfils and Lazare Ponticelli. The company’s early activities included chimney construction and repair, before expanding into lifting, rigging and the installation of increasingly heavy industrial equipment. Growth through acquisitions and overseas subsidiaries subsequently developed the wider Ponticelli group.
Today, the group serves customers in oil and gas, energy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and steel production. Its industrial services combine technical expertise with project execution, while its handling and lifting operations support equipment movement and installation.
The Pont-Neuf assignment applied those lifting capabilities to a different setting, coordinating crane operations with specialist repair teams on a protected urban landmark.
Official website: www.ponticelli.com
About Liebherr
Liebherr is a family-owned technology and equipment manufacturer founded by Hans Liebherr in 1949 in Kirchdorf an der Iller, Germany. Its crane portfolio includes mobile and crawler cranes, tower cranes, maritime cranes and mobile construction cranes.
The MK range combines road-going carriers with self-erecting tower crane arrangements. A vertical tower and trolley jib provide access over obstructions, while integrated transport and erection systems support short-duration assignments and relocation between working positions.
These characteristics make mobile construction cranes useful for building maintenance, installation work and confined urban projects. The MK 88-4.1’s deployment on the Pont-Neuf illustrates how the same equipment can support specialist repair tasks requiring reach, visibility and compact positioning.
The wider Liebherr group manufactures construction, mining and material handling equipment alongside components and industrial technologies, supported by international sales and service operations.
Official website: www.liebherr.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Which crane supported the Pont-Neuf repairs?
Ponticelli used a Liebherr MK 88-4.1 mobile construction crane.
What was being repaired?
The team repaired storm-damaged fabric on JR’s La Caverne du Pont-Neuf, an approximately 120-metre-long temporary inflatable artwork.
How heavy were the lifted sections?
The fabric sections weighed between 200 and 400 kilograms.
Why was the MK 88-4.1 selected?
Its 45-metre trolley jib, compact setup and four axle mobility suited the restricted bridge location and allowed access to damaged areas on both sides.
How long did the repair operation take?
The crane-supported repairs were carried out over four night shifts, working with rope access technicians.
