Tadano Duo Relocates Historic Sculpture in Heidelberg
Updated: Jan 12
30-Second Takeaway
A five-tonne sculpture by post-war German sculptor Bernhard Heiliger was relocated in Heidelberg using two Tadano mobile cranes. Weiland Kran & Transport deployed a new AC 6.300-1 and a custom AC 5.160-1 to lift the artwork from a confined courtyard and reinstall it at a new site, completing the move safely within one day.
One of five original copies of Bernhard Heiliger’s 1955 masterwork Große Vegetative Skulptur has been successfully relocated in Heidelberg, Germany. The sculpture had stood for decades in an inner courtyard at University Hospital Heidelberg, but due to extensive renovation works planned for the surrounding buildings, it was removed for safety reasons and transferred to the sculpture park at the Heidelberg University Orthopedic Clinic.
Weiland Kran & Transport GmbH, headquartered in Lampertheim, was contracted to act as the “moving company” for the operation, deploying a Tadano AC 6.300-1 and AC 5.160-1 in a carefully coordinated dual-crane lift and transport sequence.
Confined Courtyard Lift Marks AC 6.300-1 Debut
The removal of the sculpture from the hospital courtyard marked the first-ever deployment of Weiland’s brand-new Tadano AC 6.300-1.
According to crane operator Alonso Domenico, the crane arrived on site ready for operation, configured with an 80-metre main boom including hook block, while remaining within the 12-tonne axle load limit. This configuration significantly reduced permitting requirements.
Thanks to the crane’s transport-optimised counterweight configurations, Weiland was able to configure the AC 6.300-1 as a 250-tonne crane, which still provided ample capacity to lift the sculpture. Including its base and protective wooden paneling, the load weighed approximately five tonnes and stood nearly two metres tall.
Long Reach and Limited Visibility
The main technical challenge was the distance and geometry of the lift. Positioned within an inner courtyard, the crane was required to lift the sculpture at a radius exceeding 40 metres, while clearing a height of eight metres to avoid the surrounding buildings.
Throughout the operation, the crane operator worked exclusively with signalpersons, due to limited direct visibility a scenario handled smoothly by the experienced Weiland team.
“This assignment revealed that the Zweibrücken AC 6.300-1 is an absolute jewel in terms of its controls and operation,” said Domenico.“It worked incredibly well – just like we’d expected.”
The sculpture was lifted from the courtyard, slewed across the rooftops of adjacent buildings, and gently set down upright behind a waiting transport truck. It was then carefully laid into a horizontal position on the ground before being lifted onto the truck’s platform.
Reinstallation with Custom AC 5.160-1
The sculpture was transported to the Heidelberg University Orthopedic Clinic in Schlierbach, where Weiland crane operator Thomas Eisenberg was already positioned with a customised Tadano AC 5.160-1.
This five-axle crane features a bespoke counterweight system, developed by Tadano at Weiland’s request, allowing the crane to operate with 8.5 tonnes of counterweight while remaining below the 12-tonne axle load limit.
“The system was perfect for this job, since the AC 5.160-1 was more than powerful enough to handle the load and the required radius with its partial counterweight configuration,” Eisenberg explained.
Precision Placement Under Ideal Conditions
Eisenberg praised the crane’s handling characteristics, noting:“The crane’s controls are incredibly sensitive, the unit itself handles like a dream, and operating Tadano machines is simply a remarkable experience.”
With perfect weather and zero wind, the sculpture was lifted from the truck, slewed into position at a 28-metre radius, and installed with pinpoint accuracy onto the prepared foundation.
Completed in Eight Hours
The entire relocation from removal to transport and final placement was completed within eight hours.
Uwe Behrendt, Project Manager at Vermögen und Bau Baden-Württemberg, the state-owned enterprise responsible for the project, expressed full satisfaction:“Everything went perfectly smoothly which, to be honest, is always the case when Weiland takes care of a job for us.”
About Weiland Kran & Transport
Weiland Kran & Transport GmbH, founded in 1972 and headquartered in Lampertheim,
Germany, is a regional specialist in crane services, heavy haulage, and assembly logistics. The company employs approximately 40 people and operates a modern fleet of cranes ranging from 40 tonnes to 500 tonnes, including special-purpose and truck-mounted cranes.
Weiland serves industrial, infrastructure, and construction clients across the Rhein-Main-Neckar region and is currently expanding its truck-mounted crane operations. The company is also part of an international logistics network through partner companies.
Learn more → https://www.weiland-kran.de
About Tadano
Tadano Ltd. is a global manufacturer of mobile cranes and lifting solutions, recognised for innovation in all-terrain, rough-terrain, truck-mounted, and lattice boom cranes. Tadano’s mobile crane portfolio includes advanced axle load optimisation, flexible counterweight systems, and high-performance control technologies designed for complex lifting operations in confined environments.
Visit website → https://www.tadano.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What was relocated in Heidelberg?
A five-tonne sculpture, Große Vegetative Skulptur (1955), by Bernhard Heiliger.
Why did the sculpture need to be moved?
Renovation works at the University Hospital Heidelberg required the sculpture to be removed for safety reasons.
Which cranes were used?
A Tadano AC 6.300-1 for the initial lift and a Tadano AC 5.160-1 for reinstallation.
What made the lift challenging?
The sculpture was located in a confined inner courtyard, requiring long reach, limited visibility, and precise control.
How long did the relocation take?
The entire operation was completed within a single working day.
