Inauguration of Project ONE: Europe’s Largest Crawler Crane
- cranehub
- May 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 4
On Saturday, May 17, Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele visited the Project ONE site. During this visit, he officially inaugurated Europe’s largest crawler crane, ‘Strong Sofie,’ provided by Sarens. This significant feat is part of the new ethane cracker project by chemical giant INEOS. It is set to create 450 direct jobs in Antwerp, attracting skilled talent and fostering local economic growth.
Introduction to Project ONE
The Project ONE initiative is a groundbreaking venture. It signifies a major investment in Europe’s chemical manufacturing infrastructure. The plant aims to produce ethylene, a vital building block in plastics and chemicals, much more sustainably and efficiently. Furthermore, the completion of this facility is projected to position it as one of the most energy-efficient and lowest-carbon crackers in Europe.
Key Contributors
The project has attracted talented professionals. Dirk van Dessel, aged 54, previously worked at BASF. He shared his motivations for joining Project ONE: “After 28 years at BASF, where I gained extensive experience, I was eager to contribute to the realization of Project ONE,” states Dirk. He appreciates the scale and innovation of the initiative. “This project stands out in the Antwerp port area due to its scale and innovation. At BASF, I was part of an established operation. At Project ONE, I have the unique opportunity to help build an ethane cracker from the ground up. This innovation achieves a 50% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to the best European facilities. Being part of this transformative future is invaluable.”
Gilles Vermassen, 30 years old and previously employed at the Gunvor oil refinery, echoes similar sentiments. “The collective dismissal was unexpected, but it opened new opportunities. At 28, I was ready to take on a significant challenge. Project ONE attracted me with its scale and ambition: a state-of-the-art cracker designed to produce ethylene with an exceptionally low carbon footprint. The transition of other Gunvor employees to INEOS made my decision to join feel logical.”
The Heavy Lifting
Sarens, a family-owned heavy lifting and engineered transport specialist, marked a significant milestone with the deployment of its colossal crawler crane at the INEOS Project ONE construction site in the Port of Antwerp. The centerpiece of the project is the 'LR12500-1.0' crawler crane, aptly named 'Strong Sofie.'
This impressive machine boasts a lifting capacity of 2,500 tonnes and an extensive reach of 200 meters. With this capacity, the crane is among the most powerful of its kind in Europe. Its installation is essential for realizing INEOS’s flagship Project ONE — a state-of-the-art ethane cracker facility designed to set new benchmarks in efficiency and environmental performance within the European chemical industry.
Precision Engineering
The crawler crane will play a pivotal role in the precise placement of enormous factory modules. These modules form the structural and functional core of the cracker plant. Some units weigh several hundred tonnes each. They must be maneuvered with exceptional accuracy to ensure both safety and structural integrity.
Sarens emphasized the importance of this operation. “This is more than just a lift — it’s a highly coordinated feat of engineering. It underscores Sarens’ capability to handle the most demanding industrial challenges,” a company spokesperson remarked.
The Future of Project ONE
Project ONE represents a commitment to sustainable manufacturing. The facility is designed to set new environmental standards, ensuring reduced carbon emissions. The successful operation of the crawler crane signals an important step forward for Project ONE. It shows the commitment to transforming the industrial landscape in one of the continent’s busiest ports.
Once completed, Project ONE is poised to become a beacon of innovation and sustainability. By creating hundreds of jobs and promoting local talent, it aims not only to meet current industrial demands but also to pave the way for future advancements in the chemical sector.
In conclusion, the inauguration of Europe’s largest crawler crane at the Project ONE site marks a significant milestone. The collaborative efforts of skilled individuals like Dirk van Dessel and Gilles Vermassen highlight the human aspect behind this massive project. Their contributions will help bring forth an era of sustainable chemical production while fostering economic growth in Antwerp.
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