Breaking New Ground
Trimble Services Completes a Precast Water Tank Project in Oswego, NY
Project Overview
Location: Oswego, NY
Client: Preload (Onondaga County Water Authority)
🏗 Services: Crane Service • Heavy Lifting • Precast Panel Erection
Equipment: 300-Ton Terex Demag AC 250-5 Crane
Project Partners: Preload
Project Duration: July 6-15, 2026
Precast Water Tank Project Overview
Trimble Services recently completed its first precast water tank erection in Oswego, NY, assisting Preload with the construction of a water tank that will hold approximately 5.5 million gallons once complete.
One unique aspect of this project was that Preload manufactured each precast concrete panel directly on-site. Rather than transporting completed panels from an off-site facility, each section was cast, cured, and prepared at the jobsite before being lifted into place. This approach streamlined the construction process while requiring close coordination between the panel production schedule and crane operations to keep the project moving safely and efficiently.
Once the panels were ready, Trimble Services deployed its 300-ton Terex Demag crane to stand each section upright and precisely position it as the tank structure took shape. Over the course of the project, the team successfully set approximately 36 precast concrete panels, with most weighing nearly 38,000 pounds and the two largest panels tipping the scales at approximately 60,000 pounds each.
As Trimble Services’ first project involving precast water tank erection, it was an exciting opportunity to apply our heavy-lifting expertise to a specialized infrastructure project. Working alongside the experienced team at Preload, the project showcased the importance of careful planning, precise crane operation, and strong collaboration in delivering complex heavy-lift solutions.
The Challenge
Constructing a precast water tank required each concrete panel to be lifted, controlled, and positioned with a high degree of precision. With most panels weighing approximately 38,000 pounds and the two largest weighing nearly 60,000 pounds, every lift demanded careful crane operation and close coordination between the Trimble Services and Preload crews.
As construction progressed, the crane needed to be repositioned multiple times around the perimeter of the tank to maintain the proper lifting radius. Navigating the jobsite presented an additional challenge, as underground utilities—including a 4-foot underground pipe—had to be carefully considered when relocating the crane between setup locations. Protecting infrastructure while maintaining safe crane operations required thoughtful planning and constant communication between the project teams.
Continually breaking down the crane, removing the counterweight, and rebuilding at each new setup location would have significantly increased the project’s timeline. Every move therefore had to be deliberate, controlled, and coordinated to keep the erection sequence progressing safely and efficiently.
Our Solution
Trimble Services supplied its 300-ton Terex Demag crane and an experienced team to support Preload throughout the panel-setting operation.
Working closely with Preload’s crew, our operators carefully stood each precast panel upright, moved it into position, and held it steady while it was secured as part of the tank structure.
To improve efficiency between setup locations, the crane was able to travel around the project with partial counterweight installed. This eliminated the need to repeatedly remove and reinstall all of the counterweight, reducing unnecessary downtime and allowing the team to move more efficiently from one section of the tank to the next.
The crane’s lifting capacity, mobility, and versatility made it well suited for handling the heavy precast panels while adapting to the project’s changing setup requirements.
The Results
Over the course of the project, approximately 36 precast concrete panels were successfully stood and set into place, including two sections weighing approximately 60,000 pounds.
The completed structure will ultimately serve as a 5.5-million-gallon water tank for the Oswego County Water Authority. The project also marked an important first for Trimble Services, demonstrating that our team can successfully adapt its crane and rigging capabilities to new types of complex construction work.
We sincerely thank Preload for trusting Trimble Services to assist with this project and for the opportunity to work alongside their team.