Radius Group Erects World’s First Potain MR 229 Luffing Jib Crane in London

30 Second Takeaway

UK crane rental specialist Radius Group has erected the world’s first Potain MR 229 luffing jib tower crane on a major residential development for L&Q Group at Greenwich Peninsula, London. The MR 229 is the first Potain luffer to feature Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS) and the new Potain CONNECT telematics platform, delivering faster setup, improved precision, and enhanced fleet management. The crane will support construction of 476 new homes through Q4 2025.

A Global First on a Live Construction Site

Radius Group, a Potain partner since 2008, achieved a significant industry milestone by becoming the first lifting provider worldwide to erect and operate a Potain MR 229 luffing jib crane on an active construction site.

The deployment forms part of a large-scale housing development for L&Q Group on London’s Greenwich Peninsula, a high-density urban environment where efficiency, precision, and minimal out-of-service radius are critical.

Initially, Radius selected four Potain MR 225 A cranes, each meeting the project’s requirement of 2.15 tonnes at full reach. However, increasing efficiency demands led the company to replace one MR 225 A with the newly released MR 229 as soon as it became available.

First Potain Luffer with CCS

The Potain MR 229 is the first luffing jib crane from Potain to feature Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS)  a major step forward in tower crane control technology.

With CCS, crane setup ad commissioning are significantly reduced. Configuration, sensor calibration, trolley limit setting, and jib length input can be completed in approximately 15 minutes, allowing crews to bring the crane into service faster and with greater accuracy.

This streamlined setup is especially valuable on large, multi-crane urban projects where downtime directly impacts productivity.

Potain CONNECT Telematics Integration

The MR 229 is also the first Potain luffer equipped with the new Potain CONNECT telematics system.

Potain CONNECT enables:

• Remote monitoring of crane performance

• Streamlined daily operational checks

• Optimized service and maintenance scheduling

• Improved fleet utilization and planning

For lifting providers managing multiple cranes across long project lifecycles, CONNECT delivers actionable data that improves uptime and reduces operational risk.

Optimized for Dense Urban Jobsites

The Potain MR 229 offers a strong balance of capacity, reach, and compact operation:

• Maximum capacity: 14 tonnes

• Jib lengths: 30 m to 55 m

• Tip load: 2.7 tonnes at full reach

• Out-of-service radius:

  • 10 m or 12 m depending on jib length

These characteristics make the crane particularly well-suited for congested urban developments such as Greenwich Peninsula, where airspace management is critical.

For this project, the MR 229 is configured with:

• 50 m jib

• 37.5 m height under hook

• 75HPL35 high-performance hoist winch

The three MR 225 A cranes on site are configured with 40 m jibs and fixed angles.

Efficiency Across the Entire Project Lifecycle

Radius Group is responsible for the full crane scope, including:

• Logistics

• Erection

• Operation

• Ongoing management

• Dismantling

A key advantage of the selected crane mix is that the cranes are capable of erecting and dismantling each other, significantly reducing reliance on mobile cranes and lowering overall project costs.

The cranes will remain operational until Q4 2025, supporting a project scheduled for completion in 2027.

Industry Leadership Through Innovation

Teddy Holt, Operations Director at Radius Group, highlighted the importance of innovation:

“Innovation has always been critical to Radius Group, and this is an exciting milestone for us. Being the first lifting provider in the world to erect an MR 229 on a live construction site is another great example of having a strong focus on continuous improvement, making Radius a lifting industry leader.”

About Radius Group

Radius Group is a UK-based crane rental and lifting solutions provider specializing in tower cranes and complex urban projects. A Potain partner since 2008, Radius delivers full lifecycle crane management services, including planning, logistics, installation, operation, and dismantling for residential, commercial, and infrastructure developments across the UK.

About Potain Manitowoc

Potain, a brand of Manitowoc, is a global leader in tower crane design and manufacturing. Its portfolio includes flat-top, luffing jib, and self-erecting cranes engineered for performance, reliability, and efficiency across high-rise, infrastructure, and urban construction projects worldwide.

Learn More 🔗 https://www.manitowoc.com/potain

About NFT

Radius Group partners with NFT, one of the world’s leading tower crane suppliers. NFT provides complete tower crane solutions and access to a continuously expanding fleet of more than 3,000 tower cranes, ranging from 178 tm to 3,200 tm trolley jib cranes and 160 tm to 650 tm luffing jib cranes.

Learn More🔗 https://www.nftgroup.co.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Potain MR 229 unique?

It is the first Potain luffing jib crane equipped with Manitowoc’s CCS control system and Potain CONNECT telematics.

Where is the MR 229 being used?

On a major L&Q Group housing development at Greenwich Peninsula in London.

Why was the MR 229 selected over the MR 225 A?

To improve efficiency and benefit from faster setup, higher tip load, and advanced control systems.

How long will the cranes remain on site?

Until Q4 2025, with overall project completion planned for 2027.

What advantage do the cranes offer during dismantling?

They can erect and dismantle each other, reducing the need for mobile cranes and lowering costs.