All Erection & Crane Rental of Pennsylvania Lifts Giant Rubber Duck in Pittsburgh

All Crane Rental of Pennsylvania, a member of the All Family of Companies, was on site recently on the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, for the first United States visit of artist Florentijn Hofman's globe-hopping giant rubber duck. The duck, which is custom built under Hofman's supervision for each city it visits, required the assistance of a Grove TMS9000 hydraulic lift to be set afloat.

Because the duck is customized for each location it visits, the lift equipment required can vary. In Pittsburgh, the duck was inflated to a height of 40 feet, requiring the services of the TMS9000, a 110-ton hydraulic crane. Set on 14,000-pound pontoons with a generator to keep it inflated, the duck will remain in Pittsburgh for a month.

"It's definitely one of the more unusual lifts we've accomplished," said Michael Liptak, president of the All Family of Companies. "We always say we're prepared for any type of job, and we are. I'm so glad we had the chance to participate in an event that is bringing joy to so many people. We've done a lot of lifts over the years, but this was one of the most fun by far."

Thousands of people attended the duck launch on Sept. 27. Meant to promote peace, Hofman said, "The Rubber Duck knows no frontiers, it doesn't discriminate between people and doesn't have a political connotation …The rubber duck is soft, friendly and suitable for all ages!"

Thus far the duck has toured New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Holland, Hong Kong and France on its goodwill tour of the world.

Based in Cleveland, All Erection & Crane Rental is one of the largest crane rental companies in North America, and is No. 14 on the RER 100.