Strong, Durable, & Sustainable: MOSO® Bamboo Cribbing Blocks
Why MOSO® Bamboo Cribbing Blocks?
Heavy lifter, Mammoet wanted to provide sustainable bamboo jacking beams (cribbing blocks) across all of their operations. Historically, the heavy lifting industry has sourced jacking timbers made from a tropical hardwood – azobé.
An industry leader committed to responsible sourcing, Mammoet reached out to MOSO® Bamboo International to engineer a sustainable replacement for azobé. Extensive testing preceded the partners' decision to make the cribbing blocks available to the industry.
Created from a bamboo and resin composite, compressed and glued under high pressure, MOSO® Bamboo's High Density® Cribbing Blocks possess greater stiffness and strength, can be cut to precision dimensions, hold their shape better than the tropical hardwoods, and are thoroughly tested for various mechanical properties such as compression strength and bending. This means that MOSO® High Density® Bamboo can now be used in many heavy duty supporting and lifting applications.
The Chitty Chatty Bridge Project Details
The bridge, known locally as the Chitty Chatty Bridge, links residents to shopping, amenities and services in The Villages. The 88.4m (290ft.) bridge was initially built at an elevation of 2.04m (6.7 ft) above grade, sitting on client staging at both ends. Two double 6-line SPMTs with falseworks jacked the bridge up high enough so that climbing jacks could be installed at each corner. The bridge was then carefully climbed up 19 layers of bamboo timbers, totaling roughly 2m (just over 6 ft).
For many years the heavy lifting industry has relied on jacking timbers made from azobé. As use of hardwood from endangered tropical forests became an increasing concern, Mammoet's
collaboration with the pioneer in bamboo solutions, MOSO® Bamboo made sense. Stronger than azobé, bamboo grows very quickly and absorbs more carbon dioxide while releasing more oxygen than almost any other plant.
“Mammoet will only order bamboo jacking beams from now on,” says Mammoet’s Chief Operating Officer, Jan Kleijn. “As the global market leader, Mammoet realizes there is a need to use resources responsibly to minimize our impact on the environment...This decision fits with Mammoet’s belief in continuously raising standards within our profession and working to move the world towards a more sustainable future.”
Azobé is a categorical name for a number of tropical hardwoods. In general, one Azobé tree will grow on an acre of land, reaching maturity in 70-80 years. Tree—harvesting requires the destruction of surrounding trees, creating significant defoliation.
Bamboo is a fast growing grass, reaching maturity of 70-80ft in height in 6-8 years. A mature plant will produce 10 mature stalks per year over a 60 year lifespan.
Moso® Bamboo International sees the problem of sustaining the planet not as a problem—rather an opportunity to utilize one of its most versatile, renewable resources to solve the world's problems.
When you need a cribbing block / jacking timber solution that is safe, environmentally responsible, durable, and easy to maintain, at a price point that positively impacts value.