Case study:

The world’s highest-climbing construction hoist

is used to build the world’s tallest structure

CN Tower, Toronto, Canada, 553 m

Case study:
Two Alimak Super Scando construction hoists were used during the slipform construction of
the world’s tallest free-standing structure: Toronto’s CN Tower. With lifting heights of 450m,
the two Alimak hoists remained on site for 28 months, until the tower’s completion in 1976.

The world’s tallest free-standing structure

In 1973, work began clearing the site for what was to
become the world’s tallest free-standing structure: the
553m CN Tower. Completed in 1976, the CN Tower held
the record for world’s highest tower for 34 years, until the
completion of the Burj Khalifa in 2010. As a symbol of
Canada and a favorite landmark of the Toronto city sky-
line, the CN tower is listed as one of the modern Seven
Wonders of the World.

The world’s highest-climbing construction hoist

As slipform casting began on the tower, Alimak (then
Linden-Alimak) delivered two Alimak Super Scando hoists
to site, transported between 13 freight cars. With a lifting
height of 450m, the Super Scando was the world’s highest-
climbing construction hoist at the time. Pin-driven hoist
cages powered by electro-hydraulic units allowed the
hoists to be steplessly controlled from 0 to 1.6 m/sec, while
the specially-constructed hoist cages permitted a loading
capacity of 2 tonnes per hoist.
While originally specified for 450m lifting heights,
one hoist was reduced to a lifting height of 380m once
construction commenced. Used during slipform construc-
tion of the concrete tower, the Super Scandos transported
The CN Tower was completed in 1976, at which point it
materials, equipment and the 100-strong workforce on
claimed the title of the tallest self-supporting structure in
site daily. Both units were employed 24 hours a day, 7 days
the world. The tower cost approximately CDN $63 million,
a week, remaining on site for a total of 28 months.
the rough equivalent of $249 million in today’s dollars. It

Reducing downtime
currently houses the antennas for five TV and five radio
stations, three observation decks and a rotating restaurant
Hoist downtime during construction was extremely low,
at 335m. Today, the tower remains the tallest free-stand-
with a combined total of 25 hours for the two hoists over
ing structure in the Western Hemisphere and attracts
the duration of the project. Minimal downtime was
more than two million international visitors each year.
achieved by:
• Ensuring Alimak’s representative at the time, Heede
DETAILS
International, stocked a ready supply of additional
Location: CN Tower, Toronto, Canada
parts, thereby eliminating repair delays
Product model: 2 x ALIMAK SUPER SCANDO
• Carrying out regular service and maintenance on the
Application: Tower construction, men and materials hoists
hoists as part of a proactive maintenance approach
Capacity: 2,000 kg
• Cooperation between the CN Tower construction team,
Speed: 1.6 m/s
Heede International and Alimak to identify and elimi-
Lifting height: 450 m
516 EN/Aug 1976. Reprinted Aug. 2019

nate potential problems.

www.alimak.com

Pictures are illustrative only and do not necessarily show the configuration of products on the market at a given point in time. Products must be used in conformity with safe practice and applicable
statutes, regulations, codes and ordinances. Specifications of products and equipment shown herein are subject to change without notice. Copyright © 1976-2019 Alimak Group. All rights reserved.
Alimak and Scando are registered trademarks of Alimak Group.