CICA Member profile

NEW MINI CRANE BUSINESS IMMEDIATELY GAINS TRACTION

Melbourne Spider Crane Hire (MSC) is a relative newcomer to the city’s mini crane market. The family business was started in July 2020 by father and daughter team, Jim and Toni Wilson. They purchased a Jekko SPX 424 2019 crawler crane and a 2020 Hino 300 truck with custom built tray and ramp for transport, and MSC was born. Jim takes up the story.

Melbourne Spider Crane Hire’s father and daughter team Jim and Toni Wilson.

“WE INITIALLY PURCHASED THE JEKKO

to help with our other family businesses but, with demand for the crane, we are finding ourselves working for a number of other customers,” said Jim.

“We are a family-owned and -operated business and we pride ourselves in safety and personalised customer service. We are located in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne and operate in Melbourne and all outer suburbs, and we will travel to most destinations if required.

“Our crane is designed for easy transport. With the Jekko, we typically find ourselves working on job sites with slopes, stairs, passageways, and other difficult-to-reach places. One big advantage with the Jekko is it does not require long set-up times.

“It also features a convenient lifting system, which ensures operational savings in terms of time and money as well as elevated safety levels for improved lifting performances. We also have a range of tracking platforms and glass lifters available. With the Jekko, we can get into places the big cranes can’t,” he said.

The Jekko SPX 424 2019 crawler crane features a 2.4t safe working limit and can be fitted with a hydraulic jib attachment for the extra length and angle. This enables MSC to achieve up to 15m in reach. The spider crane has the ability to run on electricity or diesel and features white, unmarking tracks suitable for indoor work.

“We work with customers in specific markets due to our ability to get into areas where access is tight. We are also involved on projects where our crane is lifted by a larger crane and placed in tight and high access areas. Servicing a wide range of jobs utilises our cranes’ unique abilities,” he said.

“Typically, the work we conduct is in the commercial and domestic sectors, and we tend to focus on glass installation and removal, structural steel and construction lifting, air conditioner installation, and stone masonry work.

“We have a range of loyal, repeat customers and work closely with other crane businesses within the industry. That way, if there is a job we can’t do, we have access to other cranes within the industry that can,” said Jim.

Jim explains how much emphasis he and Toni place on customer service and satisfaction.

“100 per cent customer service and satisfaction are our number one priorities; in a family-owned business it has to be. We are big believers that, by keeping the business family-owned, we will always offer a personal service.

“We also make safety a major priority because we believe everybody needs to come home at night. SWMs [safe work methods] and lift assessments are applied to every job, our staff are thoroughly trained, and all our equipment is tested and maintained regularly.

“We ask a unique set of questions before each job and, if a site visit is required or requested, we will be onsite before the commencement of the job. This ensures the job site is adequate for our crane’s ability. We communicate and consult thoroughly with our clients and the engineers on the job and, depending on the difficulties involved, we will determine our lift plan for each individual lift,” he said.

Jim talked about his daughter, Toni – explaining the skills she brings to the business.

“Our main operator is my daughter, Toni, and she is 28 years of age. Since leaving school, Toni has been a chef, but this career came to a sudden end with the advent of Covid. When the epidemic impacted, she decided on a career change, and took the opportunity to join the family business.

“She completed her dogman and crane operate c6 licences at multi skill in 2020. Since then, she has gained her truck licence and electrical spotter, and other qualifications. She has thrived in the business and has become a confident and very competent operator.

Toni was working as chef before moving to the family crane business.

She is well known within the industry and very knowledgeable. She is also highly regarded by her industry peers,” said Jim.

Toni talks about her experience in the industry and how she uses her skill set, learnt in the catering industry, to her advantage in the crane and construction sector.

“Coming from the hospitality industry, which is also a male- dominated workplace, I have been able to transfer my assertiveness, and also my organisational skills, and utilise these in the construction industry.

“Most of the industry has been really welcoming and supportive of a female coming onto jobsites, and this has made the transition very welcoming and easy. This attitude has also helped me learn about the industry and to pick up the required skills very quickly. I have been fortunate to learn from some of the best in the industry,” she said.

Toni’s main challenges have been from customers questioning her competency mainly because of her age, sex, and experience. They are quickly reassured when she shares her confidence and knowledge with them. In a short period of time, Toni has generated significant repeat business from customers and is well known and referred to by others within the industry.

“I love the work and I love the challenges that come with the job. Every day and every job is different, and I liken the lifts we plan and execute to solving difficult puzzles, which challenge and stimulate my brain on a daily basis. I love the confidence and empowerment the work gives me, and I also love the work and home life balance, which I could never achieve in the hospitality business.

“I operate our MSC crane and truck and also sub hire myself to other crane companies as an operator, dogman, and spotter when they need my experience. We work regularly with 600 Cranes for all our maintenance and repairs when needed. They have been excellent and also answer any technical queries relating to the Jekko,” said Toni.

“We have close relationships with a number of other businesses operating Jekkos within the industry. We work closely with them, and we network together like a crane family, helping each other out with overflow work, so no job gets is left undone. It’s an industry like no other I have experienced. We all work together and there is very little competition. I love my Jekko and know everything about it,” said Toni.

Jim went on to discuss their plans for the business and how they see it developing over the next five years.

“We certainly see MSC having a larger fleet, offering a wider variety of cranes, within the next five years, and we see Toni being the director of MSC. We’ll achieve this vision by continuing to offer amazing service and securing an array of repeat clientele. This will help us to increase our asset base over the next five years,” he said.

When launching MSC, one of the first steps Jim and Toni took was to join The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA). Jim explained why.

“We knew how CICA would help us keep up to date with industry changes, especially around issues relating legislation. We could also see the benefits the networking opportunities presented and the knowledge we could access from the CICA events,” he said.

“CICA provides us with the best and most up to date industry information and facilitates the opportunities to form lifelong connections through their special events. All of this will help us to fulfill our business expansion plan.”

The Jekko SPX 424 2019 crawler crane features a 2.4t safe working limit.