IN FOCUS / CAPITAL CRANES
INVESTING IN CANBERRA, OUR CAPITAL Capital Cranes recently took delivery of a new Liebherr LTM 1250-5.1. It is a significant risk and investment by owner Digger Misner and he discusses his reasoning for the purchase and how he expects it to expand the services provided by his business. DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF COVID lockdowns, in early 2020, Misner was forced to work from home due to social distancing requirements. He spent time reflecting on his business and examining what machines could help Capital Cranes keep a few steps ahead of the competition. “It gave me time to reflect over 30 years of the business and back to the very first crane I owned, which was an International C Series 1800 backender pick and carry,” he explained. “It featured a turbocharged Perkins motor and had a 6t lifting capacity. You knew when you were over capacity when the front tyres lifted off the ground. “I also thought about the 20 or so cranes we’ve bought and sold over this time, including the Liebherr LTM 11305.1, which we purchased two years ago. It has been an excellent performer for our business but the population of this class of crane has been steadily increasing and they are now a fairly common machine
sight in crane yards. “As I thought about the business, I knew I had to do something different to keep my competitive edge and I knew we needed a crane that would service the future demands of my customers. In my mind, the Liebherr LTM 1250-5.1 was the answer. “One of the many struggles for a crane business is the threat posed when your customer goes to another crane business, because you don’t have a large enough capacity crane to handle a particular lift. The new crane 250t helps address this scenario. “With 60m of main boom, the Liebherr LTM 1250-5.1 is the strongest mobile allterrain crane on five axles, it’s as simple as that. The Liebherr engineering team has done an incredible job in getting the same capacity from a previous six-axle carrier to a five-axle crane, and because it is on five axles it has a smaller footprint. “Its ability to get on site and work in tight tolerances is outstanding.
Liebherr mobile cranes are the most innovative mobile crane designed and manufactured and we will continue to invest in the brand because they are the best on the market,” said Misner. With 12t axle weights, the crane is able to travel in the ACT with the boom in the cradle, but Capital Cranes also works in New South Wales, where there are lower weight limits per axle. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has placed travel restrictions on various bridges around borders, which means cranes have to travel with the boom in a dolly. The crane has 88t of counterweight, which means there are four support trailers. So, logistically, it is a big step up for the organisation. But there is a growing market for these bigger cranes and Misner explained what he is seeing and what projects are in the pipeline. “The federal and local governments are constantly telling us about the huge investment in infrastructure and that this sector is helping to drive the economic
Digger Misner with the new Liebherr LTM 1250-5.1 and the Franna AT40.
38 / CAL January 2022
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