Hydraulic jib manufactured for SPT mini crawler

BESPOKE SPT MINI CRAWLER CRANE FOR STEEL ERECTOR

Jones Equipment is the national distributor for the SPT range of telescopic mini crawlers. Enquiries for the range are coming from all sectors of the market, with specific requests challenging the factory’s design and engineering teams.

JONES EQUIPMENT RECENTLY RECEIVED

an out of the ordinary request for a major steel erecting business in Melbourne. The client wanted a hydraulic jib fitted to a 5t-capacity mini crawler crane. Associate director for Jones Equipment, Michael Khamas, explained more.

“This size of crane normally comes with a mechanical jib, not with a hydraulic jib. It is a complex process to custom engineer a hydraulic jib on a mini crawler crane and not many manufacturers would take on such a project,” he said.

“It involves a lot of work and hassle to put a hydraulic jib on a small crane. It’s like taking a small car and putting full sports car features on it.

“But we had a special request from a client who has been using mini crawler cranes for 15 years. He also has some larger cranes in his fleet. Some of these larger cranes are fitted with hydraulic jibs and he wanted to know if we could fit a hydraulic jib to one of our 499 mini crawlers, which has a 5t capacity at 2.2m.

“I went straight to the factory and explained the request and they said: ‘Wow, we don’t normally engineer solutions like this, and we doubt if any mini crane manufacturer would; but let’s have a go.’”

SPT’s design and engineering team collaborated on the project, designing a prototype and then fitting this to the crane. It has since been fully tested and complies with all Australian Standards, explained Khamas.

“With the hydraulic jib, everything is automated. With a mechanical jib you have to manually open up the arm and manually pull the arm out. With the hydraulic jib, this is all automated and managed from the remote control system,” he said.

“The customer had seen our advertising in Cranes and Lifting magazine and decided to give us a call. We gave him a quote and a delivery time. He couldn’t believe the price we quoted and the fact the price included a two-year warranty. He was also impressed at how quickly we were able to deliver the crane.

“Despite the challenges presented by

SPT’s design and engineering team collaborated on the project, designing a prototype hydraulic jib, and then fitting this to the crane.

With the hydraulic jib, functions are automated and managed from the remote control system.

the pandemic, the factory was able to offer really competitive delivery times, which was also important. The client was very happy because we were able to supply the crane with the hydraulic jib, where the competition couldn’t.

“The client was impressed that the wireless remote electrical option plug-in feature and all the safety features come as standard on our complete range.

“When he compared our product, which includes the new streamline and compact remote-control system from Germany, the electric pack and the nonmarking tracks, the client was amazed our quote was $40K cheaper than the pricing from competitive products. All this with a two-year warranty. The client said it was a ‘no brainer’.”

Because of the pandemic and the various lockdowns it has been difficult for the Jones Equipment team to demonstrate the versatility and quality of the SPT range of mini crawlers. That is about to change, said Khamas.

“We have some new models on the water, and these include a 399 4t-capacity crane and a 799 8t-capacity crane. These will supplement the rest of the range, which starts with capacities at 2t with the SPT 199, ranging up to 10t-capacity with the SPT 1009, with three models in between. The SPT 199 is only 600mm wide and will fit through a standard doorway. It has a lifting capacity of 2t at 2m and a maximum working radius of 5.9m. The SPT 1009 has a lifting capacity of 10t at 2.5m and a maximum working radius of 19m. You can also increase the reach with a jib and fly.

“We have been receiving a lot of enquiries about the SPT range and it has been extremely frustrating not to be in a position where we can get the models in front of customers and demonstrate the quality of the products.

“We’ve been impressed with the quality of the cranes we’ve seen. Obviously, pre-delivery is being conducted on everything and all cranes will be CraneSafe approved to ensure they meet Australian, and also EN 13000, standards. Every nut and bolt is tagged to confirm it has been checked and every machine is tested by the crane inspectors.

“We have a long list of potential customers who want to see the cranes in action, and we now have a trailer for one of the smaller models, which enables us to take the crane to the customers’ yards, so they put the crane through its paces first-hand. The list includes businesses in every state.

“We’ve also been approached by some large and heavy-hitting well-established crane hire and crane rental businesses, which are operating large crane fleets. They won’t be interested in ‘ones and twos’ – they are talking about purchasing multiple units because the demand from the rental market is high.

“They need them in the fleet and although there has been one dominant brand of mini crawler cranes for some time, I believe the conversations I have been having will see this change.”

With high demand for mini crawler cranes, Khamas is confident the SPT range will gain a reputation for being a reliable and productive machine, featuring world- class components, as well as being well priced and well supported.

“There have been a number of conversations around the SPT range. Interested customers have mentioned they are operating other brands in their fleet, which is completely understandable,” he said.

“When we get into the conversation and I then send the brochure, they can’t believe the features which come as standard and the quality of the components. These include the new German wireless remote-control system, the Japanese Yanmar engine, and the German hydraulic system, which are covered by the two-year warranty. And when I quote our prices, they call me back saying we have to talk.

“As I’ve said, we are not talking one or two units, we are talking four or five units, which is exciting.”

Khamas confirms the support and service network for the SPT range is locked in.

“We are working with SuperService in terms of the servicing and support up and down the east coast and we are very close to an agreement with an organisation in Western Australia. We will be making an announcement about this shortly,” he said.

“We have noticed a major upturn in terms of confidence, and this is in all sectors of the market. With more models arriving and with our ability to now demonstrate the quality and versatility of the product, we are looking forward to establishing the SPT mini crawler range as a serious and viable competitor to anything on the market,” he said.

All models in the SPT range include the new streamline and compact remote-control system from Germany.

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