THE DEDICATED RESOURCE FOR THE CRANE INDUSTRY / MAY/JUNE 2019
HOISTING IT HIGH A look at KITO PWB’s new chains and fittings in a Sydney based project.
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The “unsung” heroes of the construction sector – crane decks
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IN THIS ISSUE 44
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14 Up Front: Strongest Link in Demolition Chain KITO PWB Grade 100 chains and fittings feature in Sydney CBD demolition project. 18 CICA: President’s Report The latest updates from CICA. 20 CICA Community Engagement Community engagement activities by a CICA member. 22 CICA Life Member Profile How CICA Member Allan Mcpherson has spent more than 50 years in the industry – and is still going strong. 24 It’s A Family Affair CICA Member Brisbane City Cranes is one of the fastest growing crane hire businesses in the state of Queensland. 26 CICA Return of Delegations NHVR leads the Return of Delegations and supported by the RMS and CICA. 28 Putting the Customer First The Baden family talks to Cranes and Lifting about the evolution of their www.cranesandlifting.com.au
business over the years. 33 Flying the Coop Coopers Heavy Industries investment in a 70t Liebherr mobile crane to accommodate limited spaces. 38 Tutt Bryant’s First Crawler Crane Delivered in NZ The new 150t SCX1500A-3 crawler crane to NZ Crane Hire was delivered. 40 Maeda Launces Telescopic Crane The new CC1908S–1 is officially launched. 42 Manitowoc Goes Large Cranes and Lifting features a few new standouts from Manitowoc’s latest and biggest cranes in the market. 46 Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence 50 years of innovation, customer proximity, reliability and service quality from Liebherr. 48 GCSWA Gets New Franna AT40 GCSWA’s Tony Bucciarelli shares why he bought the new machine.
50 Taking On The Crane Deck Market Cranes and Lifting finds out more about the “unsung heroes” of the construction sector – the crane deck market. 52 Tadano’s Latest Truck Crane Technology User-friendliness, quality and reasonable price points. 54 Taming Telematics Tips for data collection and putting telematics to work. 56 Robust Crane Communication Systems on Demand Red Radio Solutions for radio systems in the crane sector. 58 Comfort and Safety Key in Latest EC-B Series New Flat-Top series by Liebherr has three of eight units equipped with fibre rope. 60 bauma 2019 highlights The best highlights from the biggest bauma yet.
May 2019 CAL / 3
FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM
Published by:
AS GOOD AS NEW WELCOME TO THE May/June issue of Cranes and Lifting Magazine. With each issue, we aim to focus on the latest crane technology and its impact on all aspects of the sector. Every crane business works hard to establish a point of difference and, in many cases, this will lead to the purchase of new crane models to provide the customer with the solution they require. In this issue, you will read about an Australian company delivering the “first of its kind” crawler crane to a customer in New Zealand, and how a Japanese manufacturer plans to capitalise on a resurgence of popularity in truck mounted cranes. bauma, the world’s largest trade exhibition for the crane and construction equipment sectors, took place in Munich in early April. As always, most major brands launched new equipment and technologies and we covered some of these in our review of the show. We also have a feature on a family business that has been associated with the construction equipment and crane sectors for well over 30 years. Although technology may be changing at an ever- increasing pace, it would appear
the principles of business longevity and customer relations haven’t and won’t. Mobile crane access in and around our cities is a constant issue. The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) in conjunction with the National Heavy (NHVR), supported by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) continues to work on the issue of Return of Delegations and we have an update on this. In the CICA Life Member profile segment, we spoke to a West Australian who has helped shape the State’s crane industry since the mid 60’s. Crane decks are one of the “unsung heroes” of the construction sector, but without them, high rise construction wouldn’t happen quite so efficiently. We take a look at an Australian designed, engineered and manufactured brand and learn how it is making significant inroads. As always, on behalf of the Cranes and Lifting team, we hope you enjoy the read and if you think you have a story to tell, (which you probably do) please make contact.
11-15 Buckhurst St South Melbourne VIC 3205 T: 03 9690 8766 www.primecreativemedia.com.au Managing Director John Murphy John.Murphy@primecreative.com.au Chief Operating Officer Brad Buchanan Brad.Buchan@primecreative.com.au Publisher Christine Clancy E: christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au Group Managing Editor (Northern) Syed Shah E: syed.shah@primecreative.com.au Editor Simon Gould E: simon.gould@primecreative.com.au Assistant Editor William Arnott E: william.arnott@primecreative.com.au Business Development Manager Nick Markessinis E: nick.markessinis@primecreative.com.au T: 0422 800 920
Simon Gould Editor, Cranes and Lifting
Client Success Manager Justine Nardone E: justine.nardone@primecreative.com.au Design Production Manager Michelle Weston E: michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au Design Blake Storey, Kerry Pert, Madeline McCarty Subscriptions Gordon Watson T:03 9690 8766 E: gordon.watson@primecreative.com.au The Publisher reserves the right to alter or omit any article or advertisement submitted and requires indemnity from the advertisers and contributors against damages or liabilities that may arise from material published. © Copyright – No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the permission of the publisher.
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Power, Strength and Capability The Tadano ATF 130G-5 With a 60m boom, integrated heavy lift jib, assymetric outriggers and Tadano’s Lift Adjuster, the ATF 130G-5 sits comfortably as the strongest lifter in it’s class and beyond.
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INDUSTRY NEWS CUSTOM CRANE TO BE INSTALLED ON WORLD’S LARGEST DREDGER A custom designed crane designed for the world’s largest cutter suction dredger Spartacus has left the factory. Liebhers designed and built the CBW luffing crane, the CWB-F 3450. It is the largest crane the company has manufactured at its Rostock factory. The ship carrying the CBW-F 3450 is only 70cm wider than the crane, which required two Liebherr LHM 800s working in a tandem lift operation. Taking a total of 60 minutes to lift the crane onto the ship, it was then sent off to its destination in Holland. The Dutch shipyard IHC Holland BV ordered the crane in November 2017 for the Spartacus, the world’s largest dredger being built by Belgian DEME Group. Based on the existing CBW series, the CBW-F 3450 has a maximum lifting capacity of 60 tons (54.4t) at an outreach of 32.2m. It is installed on a mobile gantry so it can be used across the entire length of the ship. It has a curved boom designed for installation and maintenance work on open water, especially for replacing the heavy-duty cutter head of the Spartacus. Because of the bended boom, swinging movements are also minimised as the hook is held closer to the cutter head. It is also equipped with an integrated control system
GOLDWIND AUSTRALIA AWARDS $16M WIND FARM CONTRACT Wind power company Goldwind Australia has appointed a crane company to undertake a $13 -16 million lifting, mechanical and electrical installation of 48 wind turbine generators (WTG) in Tasmania. Boom Logistics will install the WTGs at the Cattle Hill Wind Farm, where works recently restarted following
The CBW F 3450 has a maximum lifting capacity of 60 tons.
to allow for precision when handling heavy parts during demanding operations over open water. Safety features include an explosion protected boom tip and obstruction detection for the travelling gantry. The Spartacus will be the world’s first liquid natural gaspowered Cutter Suction Dredger and has a total installed capacity of 44.180 kW. Its power will enable the ship to cut harder soils at speed that were previously not possible, meaning works can be undertaken with the cutter dredger instead of blasting.
bushfires in the Central Highlands of Tasmania. Eight cranes have been mobilised to Tasmania, including two 750t capacity cranes, to lift the 3MW Goldwind turbines to a hub height of 100m. Construction of the Cattle Hill Wind Farm began in mid-2018 and is expected to be fully operational later this year. Up to 150 staff will work on construction, with six permanent maintenance staff already engaged.
Once operation, the wind farm will produce energy to power around 63,500 homes. Boom Logistics CEO, Tony Spassopoulos, said the company was delighted and proud to have been given the opportunity to work with Goldwind Australia. “Our contract is a total lifting service that includes cranes, rigging, engineering, mechanical, electrical and project management on site,” he said.
Construction of the Cattle Hill Windfarm began in mid 2018 and is expected to be fully operational later in 2019.
6 / CAL May 2019
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INDUSTRY NEWS
PALFINGER SIGNS MOU WITH DANFOSS POWER SOLUTIONS Danfoss Power Solutions has become a long-term strategic partner with Palfinger, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Danfoss headquarters in Nordbord, Denmark. The two companies joined forces to implement the new Danfoss connectivity on selected crane models, with mid and Palfinger and Danfoss Power Solutions join forces.
LIEBHERR GROUP HITS $15B IN ANNUAL TURNOVER
The Liebherr Group has achieved more than €10 billion ($15.7 billion) in annual turnover for the first time in the company’s history. It represents an increase of €739 million, 7.5 per cent compared with the previous year. The news follows both the construction machinery and mining equipment divisions of the company recording increases in sales revenues by 10.8 per cent, with especially strong contributions from the Mobile Cranes division. Liebherr attributed the record sales to favourable economic conditions with higher demand in several sales regions, such as Germany and the European Union. The business also performed well in Oceania, Asia, North America and, driven by Australia, US and China. The expansion of the crane, construction machinery and concrete technology divisions in particular are intended to support Liebherr’s growth strategy outside of Europe. Liebherr achieved a net profit of €321 million in 2018, slightly above the previous year’s level, with the operating result remaining stable. The company has also invested €586 million in research and development last year, the bulk of which was used on new products. Research has been invested into an array of services and products with aims to increase energy efficiency, networking, automation, and lightweight product design. Further growth is expected in 2019 by the company, which said demand in most regions and industries may develop positively. It expects sales revenue to continue to rise in 2019 and said the order books have already been nicely filled at the start of the year. www.cranesandlifting.com.au
long-term telematics offerings to become available across all Palfinger products in the future. Danfoss’ connectivity product aims to provide Palfinger’s customer’s with data by using secure communication infrastructure to transmit data to the cloud. Danfoss Power Solutions President, Controls Division Henrik V. Jørgensen, said this is a new way of building cranes and a new way of doing business. “Specifically, the telematics solution will enable customers to simplify which data they need, and how to use it, to boost efficiency and product lifespan, maximise uptime, report equipment location, use and condition, and much more.” Palfinger President Land, Martin Zehnder, said Danfoss has been a reliable business partner for many years. “We are therefore pleased to have found the perfect strategic partner in Danfoss Power Solutions, enabling us to further develop the connected solutions at Palfinger,” Zehnder said.
Liebherr attributed their good sales to favourable economic conditions in the region.
May 2019 CAL / 9
KHL’S INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP
AROUND THE WORLD WITH KHL Cranes and Lifting has partnered with supplier of international construction information KHL to bring you news from around the world. HABAU USES NINE WOLFF TOWER CRANES Austrian construction company Habau, together with its subsidiary Östu-stettin, used nine tower cranes on a job site in Vienna. The cranes, all from Swissheadquartered tower crane manufacturer Wolffkran (Wolff), worked on The Ensemble – a new residential district located on the site of the former Postbus centre, near the Danube Canal, in Vienna. The nine cranes helped build ten residential buildings, a supermarket and a 500-space car park. The cranes were all from Wolff ’s Clear series. This series, Wolff explained, was designed to maximise efficiency of transport and assembly time. Due to the use of fewer components, the cost of the cranes is lower, too, it added. The cranes comprised the 6023, 6031 and 7032 models. They were set up with hook heights from 46.5 to 68.8m and jib lengths between 40 and 55m. They were used for handling construction materials and concreting work, lifting loads up to 12t. All nine cranes were placed on two-part Wolff foundation anchors. This, the company explained, enabled Östu-stettin to use its own Wolff reusable anchor spigots. According to Wolff, one of the greatest challenges was during the planning phase. This, it explained, was because the optimal positions in which the tower cranes had to be located to effectively serve the job site had to be carefully considered. The hook heights had to be kept as low as possible, too, in order to reduce costs. According to Wolffkran, the process of setting-up the cranes was straightforward as there was plenty of space on the empty building site. Dismantling them, however, was trickier as it had to be carried out amid the newly constructed buildings and without interrupting the ongoing construction process. Dismantling took place in stages, using several mobile cranes (with capacity up to 350t). These were positioned either between the new buildings or in the job site access area. Although the Wolff cranes have now been dismantled, construction of The Ensemble is expected to continue until 2019. The nine cranes helped build 10 residential buildings,a supermarket and a 500-space carpark.
DANA AND LINK-BELT DEEPEN RELATIONSHIP US crane manufacturer, Link-Belt Cranes, and transportation systems specialist, Dana, have deepened their relationship with a deal that will see Dana supply winches from gearbox specialist, Brevini, for several of Link-Belt’s crane models. The Brevini winches will be used on Link-Belt’s 100 RT and 200 RT rough-terrain cranes, as well as its TCC-2500 telescopic crawler crane and its 175 AT all-terrain crane. According to Dana, the Brevini winch drives have a compact and modular design that enables vehicle manufacturers to specify gear ratios and select the optimal transmission size, while meeting application needs for line speed, line pull, and braking capability. Aziz Aghili, president of Dana Off-Highway Drive and Motion Technologies, said, “Dana’s line of technologically advanced heavy-duty winches offers a superior blend of performance, size, and safety to help Link-Belt expand the capabilities and global market reach of its mobile cranes.”
The deal will see Dna supply winches for several Link-Belt crane models.
10 / CAL May 2019
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11 / CAL May 2019
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KHL’S INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP
ARCOMET AND MATEBAT MERGE
3,000 TONNE TRANSPORTATION JOB
Tower crane companies Arcomet and Matebat are to be merged and given the new name of Uperio. Belgium based Arcomet which operates around the world and Matebat from France are both controlled by major shareholder LFPI Group. Arcomet is a specialist in tower crane rental and manufacture, while Matebat is a distribution and rental company. Combined as Uperio, the fleet will be 2,200 cranes, 550 employees with 23 depots in eight countries. Of the 550 total, 350 are crane erectors, technicians or working in manufacturing and maintenance. Sales totalled €180 million ($288.87 million) in 2018. Commenting on the development, Philippe Cohet, Matebat chairman and Arcomet chief executive, said, “This alliance would not only be recognised by its size. This project is also the symbol of an ambition.” Cohet said he aims to strengthen professionalism in the new company by developing the skills and commitment of employees. “Moreover, within the scope of this project, we are striving for enhanced reliability and profitability of the building sites we are entrusted with,” Cohet continues. “The offering of this new group would therefore not only be fortified by the latest crane models, but also by complementary crane operating support systems and associated services to better satisfy our customers.” Joining forces in this way will also allow geographical expansion and the addition of passenger hoists, formwork, electrical systems and other equipment, Cohet said. The Arcomet brand will be retained for the self erecting tower cranes manufactured in-house.
Heavy lift and transportation specialist Mammoet claimed to have set a new record in Nigeria by transporting a 3,000t regenerator for the Dangote Refinery construction project. According to Mammoet, it is the heaviest item ever to be transported on a public road in Africa. The regenerator measured 56 metres long, 23m wide, and 25m high. It arrived, along with a range of other cargo, at the new Dangote Quay Lekki – which was specifically built for the Dangote Refinery construction project. The components were either received from the ship’s hook onto SPMTs or directly loaded off from Ro-Ro vessels. The regenerator was offloaded from the ship using the roll off method. This required 108 axle lines of SPMT in 3 x 36 lines configuration. Similarly, a 1,673t reactor, measuring 44m long, 16m wide and 17m high, was transported using 78 axle lines in 3 x 26 lines configuration. The components were transported over a 10km route on public roads. Once on site they were placed into storage on Mammoet’s Enviro-Mat ground reinforcement system, which was also used to provide the main crane hard stands. Mammoet said lifting and installation of the refinery equipment will commence later in March. To optimise the construction process, Mammoet said it will use SPMTs, and mobile and crawler cranes ranging in capacity from 250 to 1,250t. Mammoet will also have its largest super heavy lift ring cranes onsite – the PTC 200 DS and The regenerator was 56m x 23m x 25m. PT 50.
WETTENHALLS ACQUIRES HEAVY TRANSPORT FIRM Australia-based transport and logistics company Wettenhalls has acquired heavy haulage company Allied Transport Services (ATS). Wettenhalls, which transports food and provides specialist bulk and container logistics across the length of Australia’s eastern seaboard, said the acquisition was a powerful and strategic alliance that would not result in any job losses. In 2009, ATS streamlined its operations to focus solely on the transportation of construction machinery. According to Wettenhalls, the company now oversees an estimated 18,000 transport moves a year with a fleet of 40 vehicles. The new division formed by the acquisition of ATS will be named Wettenhalls Heavy Haulage and Specialised Services. It will offer end-to-end transport including project management, route surveys, engineering design and employ up to 400 staff. www.cranesandlifting.com.au
In 2009, ATS streamlined its operations to focus solely on the transportation of construction machinery.
13 / CAL May 2019
UP FRONT / KITO PWB
STRONGEST LINK IN DEMOLITION CHAIN KITO PWB shares more about why its Grade 100 chains and fittings are featuring in more construction projects around the country. DURING A RECENT DEMOLITION PROJECT managed by Coopers Heavy Industries, KITO PWB Grade 100 chains and fittings were front and centre during the lifting of various items including structural steel beams. According to Andrew Betts, Export and Marketing Executive for KITO PWB, the use of Grade 100 chains and fittings is increasing at expediential
“With demand for the Grade 100 products increasing, we are hoping to commence manufacturing locally, which is exciting.” rates across the infrastructure and construction sectors. “Across the board, we are seeing the use of Grade 100 product increasing KITO PWB has been manufacturing its chains for 95 years now.
14 / CAL May 2019
and that’s especially true over the last few years,” he said. “Grade 100 was launched in Australia back in the 1990s, and like any new product, when it was first on the market, it was expensive. But over time, volumes have increased and the price has gradually decreased. Customers are shifting away from Grade 80 and towards Grade 100 as they see greater value for money as well as the benefit of increased lifting capacities,” he said. It’s the chemistry of the tensile steel, in the distinctive “brilliant Blue” KITO PWB Grade 100, that provides far greater lifting capacity than a Grade 80 equivalent. “Because of the manufacturing process, you can take an equivalent size and weight of Grade 80 and Grade 100 chains and fittings but there’s no comparison in terms of lifting capacity. Grade 80 doesn’t have anywhere near the physical capacity,” said Betts. “That said, there is still plenty of demand for our Grade 80 products across many industry sectors, and there will be well into the future.” KITO PWB has been manufacturing its broad range of chains for 95 years and is 100 per cent committed to remain a manufacturer of quality Australian products. It is also committed to manufacturing powered and manual hoists. KITO PWB’s owners, KITO Japan, has been manufacturing Grade 100 lifting chain for its manual hoist range since 1982. The broad range of chains are manufactured to stringent Australian Standards in accordance with ISO 9001:2008-approved Quality
Grade 100 chains and fittings is being used more across the infrastructure and consrtuction sectors.
Management System. It uses Australian-made steel from the likes of BHP, Bluescope and most recently, Liberty OneSteel. This Australian-made steel uses Australian mined and processed iron ore and, according to KITO PWB, no other supplier of chains in Australia can make this claim. “We proudly manufacture the Grade 80 chain and fittings here in Australia and the Grade 100 product is currently
“We proudly manufacture the Grade 80 chain and fittings here in Australia and the Grade 100 product is currently manufactured by a KITO factory in Europe.”
manufactured by a KITO factory in Europe,” said Betts. “With demand for the Grade 100 products increasing, we are hoping to commence manufacturing
locally, which is exciting. “We also locally manufacture marine chains, general Grade 80 lifting chains, which are the lower capacity chains, as May 2019 CAL / 15
UP FRONT / KITO PWB
Every chain link at KITO PWB is proof tested.
well as more specialised chains used in off-shore applications like trawling and a number of specialised chains for the agriculture sector.” Every manufactured chain link made locally by KITO PWB is proof tested. The Australian Standards for manufacturing lifting chains state that a chain must be tested by the manufacturer at 2 x the Working Load Limit (WLL). KITO PWB has always tested every chain they manufacture at 2.5 x the WLL. No other chain manufacturer has a testing regime as rigorous as this. “Across the board, we are seeing
“Across the board, we are seeing the Grade 100 product becoming the industry standard, Our sales are growing and it’s the same across the general industry.” the Grade 100 product becoming the industry standard. Our sales are growing and it’s the same across the general industry,” said Betts. KITO PWB has an extensive, nationwide network of distributors providing quick response times for enquiries. KITO PWB features a network of specialists who can assess particular jobs and help with specifying the right product for a particular application.
16 / CAL May 2019
“If the local branch has product in stock, we can have it on site the same day of the enquiry. If the interstate branches don’t have it in stock, we will get the product out of Melbourne and to the client within 24 hours,” said Betts. “The KITO PWB network also features specialists who can assess particular jobs and help with specifying the right product for a particular application. “ It really comes down to the specifics of the job, what’s required by the guys onsite and what they are lifting. With some applications, you could only use Grade 100 because the Grade 80 wouldn’t have the lifting capacity,” he said. “Within the KITO PWB group, we have engineers that, from time-to-time are consulted on specific lifts. But most of the time the distributors have lifting and rigging specialists within their own organisations, and these guys are trained to understand what is required in terms of capacity for specific lifts. They will assess the lift and specify the right capacity chain and fittings. Obviously, this type of service depends on what type of experience the end user has and, for the majority of times, the onus is on them.”
CICA PRESIDENT’S REPORT
PRESIDENT’S REPORT IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATING THE RIGHT MESSAGE THE ADAGE, “A PICTURE TELLS A thousand words” is one of the advantages of using social media as a platform for promotional advertising and communication. Through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or other alternate platforms, most of us in our industry have attempted to adapt and use social media to our advantage to communicate to our respective clients or members. For the most part, social media is an extremely effective tool that can reach an immediate audience to communicate, gauge public sentiment and receive feedback. We can communicate in real time, regularly updating the progress of a project, or the success of an innovation or service, keeping followers continuously informed. So, what could possibly go wrong? When an adverse crane incident occurs, I am often surprised and dismayed by some of the comments on social media. They are made by people who don’t have all the facts and negatively impact public perception of the crane industry and how it operates. I am also mindful of the impact these comments have on the crane
CICA places a large focus on Community Engagement in 2019. 18 / CAL May 2019
owner and the crew involved as they try to work through the incident on site, often through extremely difficult circumstances. Anecdotally, I have also heard from members whose reputation has been tarnished on social media by disgruntled employees. The way social media is used is something that all organisations and companies continue to grapple with. The topic of social media and its use is an important tool box item to table with all employees. Many may not understand the impact their comments or posts may have on both their peers in the industry and, potentially, the companies they work for. Last year in the case of Waters v Mt Arthur Coal Pty Limited [2018] FWC 3285, the Fair Work Commission found that an employer had fairly dismissed an employee for a Facebook post that breached their workplace social media policy. To help our members manage their footprint on social media, CICA is currently developing a social media template for our members to use. A social media policy is one way to protect yourself from potential reputational damage, it is also a useful tool to help you train your employees on what is acceptable and unacceptable online behaviour. If you are not already a member, join now, to access resources such as this among many other essential business tools developed by our CICA staff. CICA collectively want to see the crane industry strengthened and not damaged by the actions of a few. For this reason, we are placing a large focus on Community Engagement in 2019. The crane industry is essential to infrastructure and growth. Those in the industry work hard and many are community minded, involved in their local sports clubs, schools and volunteering – always willing to support
CICA president Tom Smith
a good cause. Community engagement highlights the excellent attributes of the crane industry and gives the people in our communities an opportunity to gain a balanced understanding rather than relying on bad media reports or poor social media behaviour. Community engagement builds trust, gives us an opportunity to hear and speak to people’s concerns, and has the potential to attract talent for our traineeships or other roles we can offer. If you are involved in any community engagement activities, please let CICA know, so that we can help get the word out. For CICA, effective communication with our membership is imperative. You may have seen CICA’s LinkedIn account, if not look us up by searching “The Crane Industry Council of Australia” and press the “follow” option. By doing so, you will receive updates of our progress to appear on your newsfeed. We have also recently launched our new website (www. cica.com.au) which offers improved access to the many member resources www.cranesandlifting.com.au
CICA BOARD
available through the members login. There are safety bulletins, news items and resources that will continue to be updated and the information on the “State” and “Events” pages are also dynamic, so be sure to have a look around the website and to keep coming back for updates. CICA also recently released their latest video “More than just a Green Sticker” which you can see on YouTube. It imparts the vision that our CICA forebears had and demonstrates how the knock-on effect of the CICA Green Sticker program is improving outcomes in the crane and construction industries. On behalf of the board, I would like to publicly thank those involved, everyone gave their time and were so fantastic to work with. The willingness to volunteer for this project, once again a testament to the dedication of so many in our industry. CraneSafe and CrewSafe continue to gain traction, as does our work in areas of training and regulatory engagement. We have a lot to look forward to, including the 2019 CICA Conference which will be held in the stunning N.S.W Hunter Valley Region. Reflecting on the last 40 years of CICA history will be both meaningful and significant. Keep an eye out for the CICA Life Member profiles in these pages, as their stories and sacrifices are the bedrock on which this organisation is founded. So, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to view our regular industry updates along with information on our 2019 CICA conference. Tom Smith CICA President Managing Director – McKay United 0439130567
Tom Smith – President Geoff Bevan – Vice President Andrew Esquilant – Director Danny Black – Director John Gillespie – Director Bart Sutherland – Director Marcus Ferrari – Director CICA OFFICE Brandon Hitch Chief Executive Officer 03 8320 0444 0428 228 048 ceo@cica.com.au Tracey Watson Business Operations Manager (VIC/TAS Secretariat) 03 8320 0411 0403 289 499 tracey@cica.com.au Heidi Biuwale CICA Administration Officer (NSW, QLD & NT Secretariat) 1300 887 277 heidi@cica.com.au John Humphries VIC/TAS Liaison Officer 03 8320 0433 0439 556 867 john@cica.com.au Alice Edwards, Project Engineer 03 8320 440 alice@cica.com.au
Patrick Cran Plant & Operator Assessment Officer 0488 004 274 pat@cranesafe.com.au Damien Hense Road Safety Liaison Officer 03 8320 0460 0488 007 575 damien@cica.com.au Andy Chambers Crane Traineeship Coordinator 03 8320 0420 0477 577 667 andy@cica.com.au Taylah Allan CICA Administration Officer 03 8320 0455 taylah@cranesafe.com.au Micayla Klaster CICA Administration Officer 03 8320 0466 micayla@cranesafe.com.au Michelle Verkerk Marketing and Media Communications Officer 03 8320 0420 Unit 10, 18-22 Lexia Place, Mulgrave Vic 3170 (PO Box 136 Mount Waverley Vic 3149) Phone: 03 9501 0078 Fax: 03 9501 0083 Email: admin@cica.com.au Website: www.cica.com.au
For information please visit our website or call the CICA office. May 2019 CAL / 19
CICA COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
LIFE IN THE FAST CRANE As part of a community engagement and awareness campaign as well as a celebration of the National Championship, Cosmo Cranes took a Toyota 86 race car to a local shopping centre and hoisted it 30 metres into the air. TIM BROOK is from Oran Park in Sydney’s west runs Tim Brook Motorsport. Tim started racing Go-Karts at the age of 11 and has been racing for 21 years He moved from Go-Karts to Formula Vee, where he won State and National Titles and then progressed to the Toyota 86 Racing Series in 2016. “This will be my 4th season of racing in the Toyota 86 category and I was lucky enough to win the National Championship last season”, he said. The Toyota 86 category is backed and sponsored by Toyota and the drivers all race Toyota 86’s. “It’s classified as a ‘one-make series with each car the same. Control components are identical which means they control suspension components, brakes, wheels, tyres, exhaust, MoTec ECU and data logger etc,” said Brook. “With each car the same, every driver is competing on a level playing field and what differentiates us, is the performance of the driver-we are all trying to extract as much out of the car as we possibly can.” According to Brook, the series is heavily scrutinised for eligibility to ensure each team is working within the guidelines and to the rulebook. “Essentially, the category is sold and marketed as a pro-am series attracting professional and amateur drivers,” he said. “The professional drivers are invited by Toyota to compete and some big names who have competed in the category include Glenn Seton, Steven Johnson, Luke Youlden (who won the Bathurst 1000 with David Reynolds recently), and Garth Tander and his wife Leanne who competed at Phillip Island,” he said. Toyota provide vehicles for the invited drivers and there are only two invited drivers competing in each event. “At Phillip Island we had 40, so the 20 / CAL May 2019
other 38 are ran at an amateur level. There are a lot of guys like me, who run their team from their garage at home, but there are a couple of bigger teams that run up to six cars,” said Brook. Last season, there were six events for the category and there will be five this season. “Every race supports the V8 Supercar Championship, so we get great television coverage both on Foxtel and Channel 10. This year, we’ll be competing in Victoria twice, NSW twice, and one meet will be in Queensland. We won the championship last season, so we’ll have the number one on the car and every team will be gunning for me,” said Brook. The Cosmo Crane partnership started back in 2017 when Brook was driving a car for the Muller brothers from Ultimate Karting in Sydney. “For the 2018 season, myself and the team from McLaren Real Estate Macarthur approached Josh and John Handley from Cosmo Cranes, told them my plans to change my road car into a race car and asked them if they’d like to help out and sponsor me. They did and they’re supporting me again this season in the same capacity.” To celebrate the championship and being Western Sydney boys, Brook and the Cosmo Cranes team decided to display the car, over a December weekend, at Narellan Town Centre. The only difference being the car was hoisted 30m off the ground. “The feedback from the public was really interesting. Most hadn’t been that close up and personal to a crane before and they were excited to see the car hoisted up there,” said Brook. “Some were concerned about the safety of the display unaware of the processes and detailed planning that goes into an
The car was hoisted 30 metres off the ground.
exercise like that. There were a couple of guys dedicated to that crane over both days to ensure everything went smoothly. For me, it was a bit nerve wracking seeing the car that far above the ground and waiting for it to come back down to earth nice and gently. In fact, the wind strengthened on both afternoons so we brought the car down earlier, for safety reasons,” he said. “We got lots of positive feedback and we certainly achieved our objectives. Obviously, we wanted to get the branding out-there but the Cosmo Cranes team also wanted to engage the local community and help them understand a bit more about the cranes and what they do. “People are still talking about it. We recently had the car on display at the Camden Show, which is a large show in western Sydney, and it’s just down the road from where we had the crane. People were coming up and asking if that was the car hoisted up by the crane? The whole exercise worked really well,” said Brook. It was great exposure and acknowledgement for the whole team,” said Brook.
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INDUSTRY NEWS / CICA LIFE MEMBER PROFILE
LIFE MEMBER ALLAN MCPHERSON After more than 50 years in the industry, Allan Mcpherson is still active on a voluntary basis in CICA WA. ALLAN MCPHERSON OBTAINED HIS CRANE ticket in 1965 and has a long history in the crane industry in Western Australia. He has seen many changes, one of which was the genesis of Boom Logistics when his company was purchased to start Boom. Allan is still very active in a voluntary basis in CICA WA which he has done since 1979, and he maintains excellent relationships with key stakeholders: Main Roads Western Australia and WorkSafe. HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE CRANE INDUSTRY? My initial interaction with cranes came in early 1965, when I was given the opportunity to operate an overhead gantry crane at Parkeston railway transhipment yard near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. This was my first job after four years of doing a carpentry apprenticeship in the Australian Army. From having “a go” and showing some promise, I progressed to operating mobile Fowler Cranes transhipping cars and timber sleepers. My next career change was in mid1965, when I re-joined the Australian Army, which turned out to be a very valuable experience, as it gave me a skill set
Allan McPherson receives the 50 Year Service Award from Brandon Hitch, CICA CEO.
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and work ethic that I have continued to build upon, my entire career. I stopped by during my Perth Christmas holidays from Boulder and was offered a job operating cranes with O’Connor Cranes in Kwinana. Within a week I had relocated the family and commenced my first official employment in a crane hire company. From 1969 until 1972 I worked as a full-time crane operator and I was taking home $52.00 for 44 ordinary hours per week. Importantly during late 1972, my existing branch manager decided to take leave overseas and never returned. Brian O’Connor summoned me to a meeting, having noticed my work ethic and military background, he promoted me to the position of Kwinana branch manager. HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED AS A VOLUNTEER WITH THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN STATE CRANE ASSOCIATION AND HOW HAS YOUR VOLUNTEERING BENEFITTED YOU? In 1979, my then employer was involved in the WA Road Transport Association which included a mobile crane hire division. I was elected to the inaugural committee and in time this division evolved into CAWA (Crane Association of Western Australia) as a stand-alone association, where I continued in an executive position. As the state association progressed, I was motivated to contribute to improving the industry, to learn from others and acquire a better understanding about the technical aspects of cranes and lifting. Getting involved has afforded me the opportunity to meet and build friendships with some wonderful people with common interests and goals to progress and improve the things that matter in our industry. Over the years, I have gained valuable
knowledge from other crane companies, manufacturers and government bodies about cranes, regulation and best practice, that I could pass onto our local members large and small. I have enjoyed good discussions and engaging with regulators which has led to improved outcomes for our members. WHAT IS / WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE YOU SAW IN THE INDUSTRY? Operationally, some significant changes in WA have improved the industry for the benefit of hirers and customers. These include the removal of “daylight only” travel; increased axle mass to 12-tonne for all terrain cranes; 43-tonne GVM for 4 axle truck cranes. There has been an overall improvement to safety management and practices with devices such as Christmas tree lights (RCI). Another significant change I’ve observed is changes to the traditional blue-collar career path into management roles. In contrast to my career path which was founded on technical expertise and learning management skills on the job. Nowadays, crane company managers do their management training in university and then learn the technical aspects of the crane industry on the job. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE TRACTOR CRANE INTO THE ARTICULATED CRANE (A.K.A FRANNA), AS WESTERN AUSTRALIA HAS A LEGACY OF HOME-BUILT TRACTOR CRANE MANUFACTURING? Whilst working for United Transport in the mid-eighties, it became obvious that the common mobile workhorse - the BHB/ JEC tractor crane, which was an excellent crane for site work, was fast becoming an issue for the modern road usage. After having discussions with my friend Brian Hain in Queensland, I flew www.cranesandlifting.com.au
over to look at the prototype high-speed Articulated Crane that was being built by Dave Francis in Brisbane. Immediately, it became obvious that this was going to be the future workhorse for Western Australia but would also suit other Australian states and overseas. Brian partnered with another local identity Lou Parolin who then bought out Dave Francis and set about producing the 10-tonne “FRANNA” articulated crane. United Transport took on the agency for Franna in WA and the first two machines were delivered in 1986, and as they say “The Rest is History.” Brian phoned me in 1992 to tell me that Franna had taken on the agency for Kobelco, and that he had found a small compact road crane with full slew and 21 metres of full hydraulic boom which was only 7-tonne capacity. Brian and I then flew to Japan and tested out the new Kobelco RK70.
United Transport purchased this crane and it arrived in Perth in March 1993 and was nick-named “Tom Thumb” by the then Crane Supervisor, Ivo Joy due to its size. This was the only crane of its type in Australia until October 1996 when the Japanese Government permitted the second-hand ones to be exported. Today, this type of crane has proven very popular and are made by different manufacturers up to 22-tonnes. Special mention goes out to Main Roads Department, Western Australia (MRDWA) for their foresight back in 1998, they were very collaborative with industry and approved 12-tonnes per axle for All Terrain Cranes up to 9 axles. Then again in 2002, when they allowed four axle truck cranes to run at 43-tonne Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). Even today, WA leads the way with its axle weights, travel hours and consultation with regulatory bodies is ongoing.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW COMERS TO THE INDUSTRY? The most important advice that I can offer is for new entrants to join and participate in your local association for the benefit of your business and the whole industry. Without active members, the local industry would not be enjoying the benefits they do today. I would also encourage new entrants to make the effort to engage with myself and other long-term industry volunteers, so that new people with new ideas can gain from the industry experience we have attained and ensure this great industry can continue to strengthen and grow in this awesome country we live in. Allan is not only proud of being married to the Crane Industry for 54 years, but is very proud to be married to his long-suffering wife Barbara for 51 years.
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CICA / MEMBER PROFILE
IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR Ten years ago, Joe and Sheree Conti decided to explore opportunities within the Brisbane crane hire sector. Today, Brisbane City Cranes is one the of fastest growing crane hire businesses in Queensland’s capital. IT STARTED WHEN JOE BOUGHT A 16t Kobelco. “Back in 2010, I was running my own construction business and Sheree was working in a government position when we bought a 16t Kobelco for the business. We bought the crane to service my projects and to offer it to other builders that I knew in the construction industry,” he said. “We secured experienced staff who were well known in the industry and 24 / CAL May 2019
through providing an efficient service the client base grew naturally over the first couple of years. We could see the benefit of expanding the fleet due to the limitations of one crane, however, we wanted to ensure that the next crane would continue to service existing clients as well as expand our client base. In 2014 we decided to seriously explore those opportunities and made the decision to purchase a Liebherr LTC.45.” Joe and Sheree wanted to further
develop relationships with clients who had continued to support the company in its infancy and Sheree decided to leave a well-established position as Manager for the Office for Women. Sheree said, “as the first 12 months flew by the business grew from strength to strength, so I made a decision not to return to my government position.” Soon after her resignation, they acquired a Terex Mac 25T Franna. Joe continued working in a part-time
capacity with Tier 1-2 construction companies, further embedding relationships with industry partners, which still creates opportunities for their crane business to this day. Two years ago, the business purchased the Liebherr LTM 60. “That was a really exciting purchase as we were one of the first companies in Queensland to buy that crane. At that point we also decided to construct our depot,” said Joe. With the construction of their depot and purchase of the LTM 60 in January 2017, Joe decided to join the business on a full-time capacity. “There was a strong sense that we needed to change our client base from the traditional ‘brick and tile’ and expand to more general hire, lift and shift jobs and broaden our range of customers. It was something that we had to do, and we’ve done it successfully with the business constantly gaining momentum,” he said. The depot for Brisbane City Cranes is in Northgate, with the advantage of being the closest crane company to the CBD. The fleet is mainly made up of Liebherrs with an LTM60, LTC 50, LTC 45 a GR160N Tadano City Crane and a 25T Terex Mac Franna. “We have strong relationships with industry partners including Troy Hand, TRT, Bryce O’Brien, Liebherr and Anthony Grosser, Tadano. We believe this enables us to make informed decisions, which creates business opportunities and is critical for future growth. Sheree and Joe also believe the Brisbane City Cranes team is a key to the success of the business. “Sheree and I do not traditionally come from a crane background, so, it is critical that we invest in our people to ensure that the company continues to be known for its service, efficiency and its people,” said Joe. “We value staff experience and strive to work as a team. We also have a strong belief in providing full-time employment opportunities, so customers continually get to work with the same crews and this strengthens relationships, creates consistency and ultimately our staff are
We value staff experience and strive to work as a team. We also have a strong belief in providing full-time employment opportunities, so customers continually get to work with the same crews and this strengthens relationships, creates consistency and ultimately our staff are more accountable for the cranes that they operate. more accountable for the cranes that they operate.” According to Joe and Sheree, the choice of crane has also been a very important factor in the success of the business. “It’s about knowing where the market is at, the opportunities that exist and maintaining key relationships,” said Joe. Joe says joining CICA was important to the business. “We joined CICA in 2015 and this has been a really valuable addition to what we have done with the business. CICA is a great body of people and we are learning a lot from them and information is key in this industry,” he said. “CICA is strong in Queensland and it is leading the way. I’m now a board member and working on a few initiatives designed to help change the perception of the crane industry. “The media is too keen to report when something goes wrong which then filters down to the general public. We are trying to change that perspective by engaging local communities, explaining the opportunities within the crane industry and what it does, not just in Queensland but throughout Australia,” he said. One issue the industry will have to manage, is the ageing demographic of crane operators. “For us, that’s big advantage of investing in full time operators and retaining them. They impart their
knowledge to the younger members of the team. We do have a few senior operators in that have been with us now for some time. I can see this changing slightly over time with the younger employees progressing through the company to a point where opportunities will arise for them to take on more senior positions.” Coming from a construction background, Joe understands the process. “I was an apprentice, so I understand the value of being taught by the older guys and in time you find yourself teaching the young guys. I put through quite a few young carpenters in the construction business and we’re adopting that approach and model here.” Working in and on the business has proved a good business philosophy for the Conti team. “Sheree plays a major role in driving the business internally and I work externally, mainly on new business. We’ve been relatively successful in terms of growing the business and the fleet, with six cranes in five years, you don’t often see that type of growth especially from a fledgling company,” said Joe. “As far as the future is concerned, in five years time we see ourselves with a fleet of between eight and ten cranes and we’ll continue to have a strong base close to the city. With the closing of two major crane companies, Hanchards and Metro Lift, there have been openings in the Brisbane market, so we’ve been working on new relationships to tap into that work.” “One my strengths is approaching potential clients, especially the ‘cold calls’, knowing that the service we provide is exceptional, the cranes are reliable and efficient and operators are extremely competent.” Sheree said, “I feel there is an exciting time ahead for us, as we continually push the boundaries within our existing fleet by sourcing new and exciting projects, increasing capacity of the fleet and providing a learning environment for all employees. It is an exciting prospect in future years to be able to potentially involve our two young sons in the business, should they be interested,” she said. May 2019 CAL / 25
CICA RETURN OF DELEGATIONS
RETURN OF DELEGATIONS: WHAT IT MEANS TO THE CRANE SECTOR Return of Delegations is a project currently being led by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), supported by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) and The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA). IN 2014, THE NHVR WERE NOT ABLE to issue permits in the timeframes expected by industry. In order to meet industry expectations, the NHVR “returned” responsibility for class 1 permit delegations back to the jurisdictions and the jurisdictions made decisions about access to facilitate permit approvals; however, it was always intended that the regulator find a better way to manage this process. NHVR have established a national project team to deliver the return, as the work has been completed in South Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and Victoria. New South Wales and Queensland are scheduled for completion this year and work is well underway. Under the National Heavy Vehicle law (NHVRL), the NHVR have separated cranes from the other Class 1 Vehicles and will “return” only this part of the road process. The remaining vehicle types will be returned separately. Now that the national project has been established, the NHVR are going through jurisdiction by jurisdiction to facilitate the return, which in many ways is a case of “back to the future”. “At the current time, if I’m a crane owner in NSW and I want to apply for a permit for state owned roads I can go to RMS, fill out the paper work and they’ll review the request and if approved will issue a permit,” said Nick Gralton Senior Policy Advisor, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. “If my route involves use of a local government road, I’d have to contact 26 / CAL May 2019
them separately and pay each road manager for an access permit. When the return of delegations is complete, I will have to apply for access through the NHVR portal for a single fee. The NHVR will then contact each one of the jurisdictions, including local governments and ask them for approval. They’ll consolidate that information and come back and give me the permit, or not,” he said. This is a more streamlined process, and while it may appear a substantial change, it has always been a requirement for road access to get approval from all effected road managers. “If I ask for a permit that requires use of a local government road to access the RMS network and a local government NVHR have established a national project team to deliver the return of responsibility for the class 1 permit delegations back to the jurisdictions.
road for the ‘last kilometre’ all three road managers will be consulted prior to the granting of a permit. If RMS give approval but either council don’t, I don’t get a permit. So, it’s a big deal,” said Gralton. CICA has been gathering data on crane permits and movements to quantify the size of the issue. CICA has also been working to prepare both crane owners and local governments for the changes that are coming. Initial reports indicate that the number of permits that require assessment from local governments will increase, and it is clear that a large amount of work is required to educate local government engineers in preparation for the return. “As part of the risk mitigation strategy, NHVR, RMS and CICA are
As part of the risk mitigation strategy, NHVR, RMS and CICA are developing two new all-terrain crane notices that will complement the SPV 1 notice and include 4 & 5 axle cranes, and 4,5 and 6 axle cranes and dolly’s. This outcome should reduce the need for individual permit applications on certain roads, expediting the process. developing two new all-terrain crane notices that will complement the SPV 1 notice and include 4 and 5 axle cranes, and 4,5 and 6 axle cranes and dolly’s. This outcome should reduce the need for individual permit applications on
certain roads, expediting the process,” said Damien Hense, Road Safety Liaison Officer, CICA. “CICA is now focussed on an education campaign for QLD and NSW crane owners informing them of the
changes that are coming and provide avenues for assistance. We’re also working with local governments to help open up networks with pre-approved access so when crane owners do have to apply for permits, they only need apply for small elements of a journey that occur outside of the established network. Effectively, what we are trying to do is gazette local road networks in the same way we do at RMS, so crane owners don’t have to apply for permits on a road by road basis where appropriate,” he said. For further information on the NHVR Delegations Project, contact Damien Hense, CICA Road Safety Liaison Officer on 0488 007 575. CICA is now focussed on an education campaign for QLD and NSW crane owners.
May 2019 CAL / 27
IN FOCUS / UAA
PUTTING THE CUSTOMER FIRST The Baden family name is synonymous with the crane and earthmoving equipment sectors. They’ve been selling, servicing and repairing machines for over three decades. Cranes and Lifting finds out more from Ben Baden about where the business is at today. Aerial view of the Ben Baden facilities.
28 / CAL May 2019
“BEN BADEN SERVICES was formed by me in March 2009. Prior to that, my father ran GM Baden which he started in 1987. He had come from Blackwood Hodge, which back then, was the TADANO crane dealer but mainly focussed on earthmoving equipment with brands such as TEREX and Euclid. My father was the service manager there,” said Baden. “He left Blackwood Hodge to start his own business, which was predominantly focussed on earthmoving equipment. In the early 90s, he picked up the Liebherr earthmoving equipment dealership, in 1995, he picked up the mobile crane dealership, the all terrain product and in 2005, the Liebherr crawler division as well.” In 2007, Liebherr started its own “factory direct” company in Australia and the Baden family business was sold. Four years later, it was purchased back as Ben Baden Services. In 2010, Ben Baden Services picked up the Link Belt dealership and the TIDD dealership five years ago. There are two main areas to the business. The workshop facility focusses on repairs, maintenance, insurance work for underwriters such as UAA, and major inspections. The crane sales business is split into two areas, new and used equipment, which Ben Baden runs in partnership with his brother-in-law, Anthony Davis, another well known crane identity. “We have the nationwide dealership for Link Belt cranes as well as the TIDD dealership for NSW. The Crane Connection business focusses on used equipment, which we can source either locally or from overseas, predominantly Europe,” said Baden. “Saying that, we have bought machines from South America and we currently have two on the way from Hong Kong. We bring in various brands including Liebherr, Demag and Manitowoc Grove. “Link Belt has been a very good company to deal with, they are open and easy to deal with. As an example, they recently put a 125t telescopic crawler in our yard on consignment.
We sold one of these to Melrose Cranes last year.” “It’s by far the best performing model in its class and that’s why we said to Link Belt if we’re going to bring something in on consignment, that’s the machine. We think it will work really well, particularly for the up coming Western Sydney Airport project where telescopic crawlers are going to be very popular,” he said. There’s currently a population of 45 Link Belts in the Australian market including a mixture of rough terrain cranes, telescopic truck cranes and hydraulic crawler cranes. “We had initial success in the piling market with piling companies like telescopic crawlers as assist cranes. Since then, Link Belt has moved the telescopic crawler range into general hire so the cranes now have much longer booms. “We’ve also had quite a bit of success with the TIDD range. We must have at least a dozen of the Mark 1 model in NSW,” said Baden. “We have four units of the new model (Mark 2) due later this year and they all have tentative names against them. In early March, my business partner took customers on a trip to the TIDD factory in New Zealand which was very successful. “We deal with all brands of cranes and find TIDD to be a well built product. The manufacturer, TRT, paid attention to detail and the finish of the product is
to a very high standard,” he said. “And customers that have purchased them see this. As we increase the TIDD population and people see them around, we can hopefully increase our market share in that space as well.” According to Baden, the success of The Crane Connection and used crane business is based on a good crane network. particularly out of Europe. “We will use our network and hunt for popular models. Sometimes, we purchase and bring models in for our stock, other times customers will request a particular model crane and year of manufacture and we’ll source that crane for them,” he said. “If everyone is happy, the customer will put a deposit on that crane and we purchase it, bring it in and do all that is required to that machine for that customer. “Other times, the customer will find the machine but with the difficulties involved in purchasing a machine from overseas, they have us do the legwork and bring it into the country for them,” said Baden. By any standards, the Ben Baden repair and fabrication facility is impressive. “It didn’t start out this size,” said Baden. “When my father built the first premises everything was under one roof. We didn’t have a paint shop and the fabrication and mechanical side
“We have three full time boilermakers and in the workshop we have eight mechanics and four apprentices.” May 2019 CAL / 29
IN FOCUS / UAA
Facilities include a 1,500sqm of mechanics work shop with a 15t over head crane.
Anthony Davis and Ben Baden with the Link Belt TCC 1400.
was combined in the 1,500sqm original workshop. “He always had the ability to do a lot of work in-house working on engines, transmissions, gear boxes and hydraulic work, that’s how it started.” It was five years before Baden senior expanded the facility to include a spare parts department and a large spray shop. Five years later, there was a second expansion, which included the fabrication shop. Then five years ago, Baden junior purchased the land on the eastern side and increased the hard stand area for testing and put in a big wash facility for quarantine approval. “As far as mechanical and fabricating repairs, and prior to us building these facilities, insurance companies really only had one choice and that was to go direct to the manufacturers,” said Baden. “Insurance companies were less than happy with what was happening, not only from a cost perspective, but also in terms of time frame. Manufacturers were replacing a lot of components and while cost was a factor, parts weren’t in stock 30 / CAL May 2019
locally, because manufacturers tend not to hold major structural components. “Parts had to come from Europe or Japan and often manufacturers themselves wouldn’t be holding these components in stock and would have to fabricate the parts and ship them out. It could take six months for the parts to arrive,” he said. “Back in the 90s, UAA was privately owned and run by Phil Duncan. He made contact with my father and asked him to look at a particular crane insurance job. He quoted on it, Phil gave him the job and that’s where it started and the business grew from there.” It was a hard slog at first with some customers not wanting their machines repaired by a third party. “But 25 years later, we’re a well-known repair business, and a large part of the crane industry has confidence that if they damage a machine it can come here and be repaired correctly,” said Baden. “We have a proven track record, which has helped grow the business, not only from an insurance perspective but also
with work for private crane companies. “Both insurance companies and private crane operators benefit from our philosophy of trying to conduct as much work in-house as possible. That way, we can control time and costs a lot better than if we had to ship things around and rely on other people’s quotes and time frames,” he said. Subcontracting or outsourcing is kept to a minimum and Baden thinks that’s gone a long way to the industry having a lot of confidence in the repairs. “We’ve proved ourselves over a long period of time,” he said. “If we were no good at it, our legacy and ongoing expansion projects would have never come to fruition. Staff has been a major reason for the success of the business. It has been employing apprentices and bringing them through the workshop for the past 30 years. “I have five apprentices in the workshop now across all the trades. Of course, not all of them stay but those that do can turn out to be some of your best employees. They learn how we do things here and train,” said Baden, “and the experience from the older staff gets passed down to the new trainees, which is so important particularly in this day and age.” It includes a 1,500sqm mechanics’ work shop with a 15t overhead crane, sub-assembly sections for the machine shop, a transmission and gearbox section, an engine section and a 900 horse power engine test stand or dynamometer. There’s
300sqm of mezzanine where crane parts and rare used crane parts are stored.We have a 1200sqm fabrication shop with a 25t over head crane where all the welding, cutting, grinding, prepping and bending is done. “We have three full-time boilermakers and in the workshop
we have eight mechanics and four apprentices. We have two paint shop facilities with three fulltime painters and an apprentice,” said Baden. “We also have a quarantine-approved wash facility that’s 20m long and 10m wide, which can comfortably fit a 500t all terrain crane. This features a wash bay pit, so used machines are delivered from the wharf directly to here and we have quarantine-approved people authorised to wash that equipment. Australian Quarantine Inspection Services (AQIS) will then come to the facility, inspect the machine and pass it.” According to Baden, the gradual evolution of the business is the key to its success. “The various elements of the business are very symbiotic. We have good control over the various issues especially timing, which is one of the biggest issues in the crane industry,” he said. “Down time, particularly in insurance claims, can be far worse than the cost of
the actual repair. The loss of earnings is probably 50 per cent more than the cost of the repair. We try to help our customers and insurers by making available a pool of cranes that we own. If a machine is going to be off the road for two weeks, or four months due to a major repair, we can rent a machine to the insured so they are not without a crane and they can continue to support their customer base without having to cross hire from their opposition,” he said. “As I’ve said, we didn’t build this facility over night it’s been an evolving business that’s grown, expanded and consolidated. Today, we have a crane repair facility with the right people to get machines fixed and back to the customers in as short a time period as possible, for the most cost effective price. That’s how we’ve always looked at it and that’s why we have a very good working relationship with a lot of the underwriters, in particular UAA, the biggest underwriter in Australia of mobile cranes.”
•
pull 10,151 kg line lity bi ea ad gr % 40 speed 242kW 3.2kph travel ne (Tier4) Cummins Engi
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Longest boom length in its class 59.43 m! • On-board three-piece bi-fold lattice fly - 78.94 m max tip height • Link-Belt Pulse crane operating system with telematics • List charts up to 4° • Programmable virtual wall with function kick-out • Eco-Power auto-idle/auto-resume RPM’s
Outstanding serviceability • LED compartment lighting • Centralized grease bank • In-cab hydraulic pressure diagnostics
Fast mob and de-mob • Fly pinning • Self assembly • Counterweight removal
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IN FOCUS / LIEBHERR WITH COOPERS
FLYING THE COOP Coopers Heavy Industries recently invested in a 70t Liebherr mobile crane catering to the demand for “space restrictive” lifts across Sydney. COOPERS HEAVY INDUSTRIES BEGAN life in Canberra in 2009. Founder and owner, Dylan Cooper was already working in the crane industry when he started the business with the purchase of the first of many mini mobile cranes. “Purchasing the first crane was the push I needed to start working in the business fulltime and we haven’t really looked back,” said Cooper. “We’re constantly adding to the fleet, which now includes 2 Liebherr mobile cranes, six Maeda mini cranes, 1.25 Jekko mini cranes, 1 tilt tray, 2 crane trucks, 22 vacuum lifters from 300kg to 2t and radio remote-controlled spreader bars from 600kg to 5t. and 2 Sennebogen telescopic crawler cranes, as well as 1 Kato city crane. “Five years ago, we delved into the mobile market and bought a used 40t Liebherr from Anthony Davis at Crane Connection. We sold that and bought a 50t Liebherr city crane and then, most recently, a Liebherr LTM 1070-4.2. The Liebherr four-axle LTM 10704.2 features a number of innovative technologies including VarioBase. With many city construction sites providing limited operating space, it is frequently impossible to extend all the outriggers of the mobile crane evenly. The Liebherr VarioBase system enables each individual crane support to be extended to an arbitrary length without having to pin the outriggers. The load moment limiter in the LICCON controls ensures the crane can perform safely and the increased safety features take the strain off the crane driver who can concentrate fully on the hoist. “We pride ourselves on doing the small stuff properly and trying to execute every job to the best of our ability,” said Cooper. “We take a
The four axle LTM 1070-4.2 features a number of innovative technologies. May 2019 CAL / 33
IN FOCUS / LIEBHERR WITH COOPERS
Liebherr has built their business and reputation by solving customers’ problems.
“The new Liebherr is a really handy crane around the city because of its manoeuvrability and ability to access tight areas, “It’s the best machine I’ve ever owned and there are a number of reasons for that statement. The long boom, hydraulic luffing fly, really good roadability, good line pull, it’s just a really good all rounder”
professional attitude to every job and ensure we use the right crane and not push a crane that we might have sitting in the yard. “We’ve built our business and reputation by solving a customer’s problem. That’s why we’ve always had the ‘odd’-sized Liebherrs, like the 50t city crane. At the time, we purchased the machine there would have only been three or four. We found a niche in the market and now there would be close to 20 Liebherr city cranes getting around Sydney,” he said. Coopers conduct all sorts of lifts in different industry sectors including demolition, rail work, civil, glass installation, façade works, general construction and pre-cast installation, telecommunications and port work. “The new Liebherr is a really handy crane around the city because of its manoeuvrability and ability to access tight areas,” said Cooper. New features of the LTM 1070-4.2 also include speed-dependent, rear-axle steering, disc brakes, new LICCON2 controller, new crane cabins, new onepiece steel wheel rims, 50m hydraulic boom and the latest generation of disc brakes. “It’s the best machine I’ve ever owned and there are a number of 34 / CAL May 2019
reasons for that statement. The long boom, hydraulic luffing fly, really good roadability, good line pull, it’s just a really good all rounder,” said Cooper. According to Cooper, the business is successful because it puts the customer first. “We take the approach of working with the customer and coming up with a lift that might involve two smaller machines,” he said. “We can be a bit of a last resort for some customers and that’s what we’ve built the business on, finding the easiest and quickest way to manage the lift.” The back up and support received from Liebherr is a major reason the relationship works. “Our relationship with Liebherr has also been amazing,” said Cooper. “If you need parts, they’re there and if you need service it’s there. In today’s business world, it’s hard to find suppliers who are prepared to really work with you. “There are some dealers who only want to take your money and we’ve had a couple of really bad experiences with poorly made products and dealers that wouldn’t and couldn’t support them. Never again,” he said. “I think the key word in all of this is accountability. People lose sight of what being accountable means. “We have long-term relationships with our customers and we pride ourselves in that,” he said. “Relationships are important for the business as it lets us forward plan, so we know what’s in the pipeline for the next two to three years in terms of work flow. We are working on jobs today that we looked at four years ago.” When Coopers first looked at buying the 70t machine, it already had a years’ worth of work for it. Cooper said Liebherr made the purchase very easy. “Liebherr is very flexible to deal with, and for a company our size that is paramount. The purchase of the new crane was made a lot easier for us than other brands would have made it,” he said.
“Our relationship with Liebherr has also been amazing,” said Cooper. “If you need parts they’re there and if you need service it’s there. In today’s business world, it’s hard to find suppliers who are prepared to really work with you.” “Liebherr impress with the small detail it goes to. When you pick your crane up, drive off their driveway you are ready to work. All the work to
cover registration has been completed, the rego and permit is done, the GPS tracking unit is in the crane, the attention to detail really adds up.
Relationships are important to the business as it lets them plan ahead for the next two to three years. May 2019 CAL / 35
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IN FOCUS / TUTT BRYANT
Features such as similarly shaped counter weight also make assembly and disassembly processes easier.
TUTT BRYANT’S FIRST CRAWLER CRANE DELIVERED IN NZ Tutt Bryant Heavy Lift & Shift (TBHLS) recently delivered a new 150t SCX1500A-3 crawler crane to NZ Crane Hire, Auckland’s longest standing mobile crane hire business. THE NEW ZEALAND CONSTRUCTION sector is facing the prospect of managing a pipeline of infrastructure projects worth an estimated $129 billion over the next decade. According to Will Dobson, Business and Commercial Manager for NZ Crane Hire, the addition of the SCX1500A-3 to the fleet will help cater to increased demands from its customers. “We’re recognised as a mobile crane hire company and we hire mobile cranes, and up until now, we have mainly worked in the taxi crane industry so a lot of short duration 38 / CAL May 2019
work. We have 17 mobiles ranging from 13t up to 450t including Terex, Groves, Liebherr and Kato. “But, with delivery of the SCX1500A-3 crawler crane, through our alliance with Tutt Bryant, we’re now able to service commercial construction sites, which require cranes for work over longer periods. Initially, this crane will be erecting precast panels, lifting structural steel and steel reinforcing, as well as precast flooring,” said Dobson. “Our main focus is providing a comprehensive service to our customers so this crane is basically supplementing
the mobile cranes, mobilising and demobilising them, as well as conducting the extra work on the sites. “This is the first crawler crane in the fleet and it has been performing brilliantly. It’s a brand new crane once it was commissioned, it had no problems what so ever and it’s perfect for the job,” he said. The SCX1500A-3 crawler crane is Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Cranes (HSC’s) latest model in the crawler crane lineup and has been developed for the international markets. Tutt Bryant
The new design allows for efficient transportation, assembly and disassembly.
Equipment is HSC’s dealer and distributor in Australia. The new model contains numerous features designed to increase crane performance while ensuring the safety of the operator and those working in close proximity to the crane. Both the boom foot width and boom width, as well as the bracing strength, have been increased to improve the strength of the boom itself. This helps to deliver advanced stability during work, to reduce side deflection and twisting throughout the front of the crane, and to make positioning loads quicker. A mast system has been included to improve operating response. The power of the 12 t-rated line pull winch has been increased by eight per cent to increase scope for lifting heavy loads with line-speed 45m/ min, and provide better capability for simultaneous movements. Combined with a new brake that offers better operating feel, the crane delivers outstanding workability. The hydraulic system uses HSC’s combined hydraulic circuit. By increasing and optimising the pump pressure through the use of a mixed circuit to control the hydraulic oil from two hydraulic pumps, this enhances operability when travelling, hoisting/ lowering, swing and boom hoisting.
Even for complex operations, the latest hydraulic control system is able to support all tasks efficiently through priority control matching requirements. Fine speed control dials for operations such as hoisting, lowering, swinging and boom hoisting are positioned in a central location on the left side console. Operations can be adjusted at will to suit the particular job. Switches for swing free/swing brake when the control lever is in the neutral position have been installed. When the swing lever is in the neutral position, the operator can choose between free or brake depending on the work and personal preferences. The new design allows for efficient transportation, assembly and disassembly, which combine to improve efficiencies on any work site. The mast system allows the entire mast to be lowered with the upper spreader structure improving pendant joint work and the boom assembly process. Other features, such as similarly shaped counter weight, also make assembly and disassembly processes easier. The SCX1500A-3 also features a simple and easy-to-view interface designed to ensure information is provided to the operator in the most reliable way possible. Various accident
prevention measures and multiple redundant safety devices have also been included. A large screen provides excellent visibility and field of view of any job. A host of items can be shown, while a simple display layout ensures information is properly provided to the operator. The display has also been designed with an interactive interface to follow any movement of the crane from a safety perspective. Other safety features include a Winch Rope Lower Limit Indicator, used to ensure that a minimum of three wraps of hoist rope remains on the drum and avoids failure of the rope termination on the drum. A Slew Restriction Unit is used to restrict the range of slew to pre-set working zones with the aim of allowing smooth operations when working within tight site constraints sites A Reduced Counterweight Option allows the crane to be utilised in five different capacity classes by removing counterweight on the upper structure. The LMI senses counterweight and automatically selects the correct Load Capacity Chart to match the fitted counterweight. Configurations include 110t, 120t, 130t, 140t and 150t capacity class. The all-new Load Moment Indicator with data logging capabilities records duty cycle and winch hours, as well as load moment and line pull. These features will allow TBHLS to more accurately calculate the available design life remaining on the machine many years from now. This should, in theory, increase the safe operational age of the machine from current methods employed in complying with new legislation. The crawler crane is powered by an engine that is equivalent to EU stage III A and US Tier 3 emissions regulations. A major reduction in exhaust gas emissions and a reduction in fuel consumption help to decrease CO2 emissions. The new engine and power train have been engineered to be even more environmentally friendly. May 2019 CAL / 39
IN FOCUS / PACE CRANES
MAEDA’S LAUNCHES LARGEST TELESCOPIC CRAWLER CRANE bauma saw Maeda officially launch the all-new CC1908S-1, the largest telescopic crawler crane in the Maeda range. THE CC1908S-1 IS THE LARGEST AND strongest model in the Maeda crawler crane line up. With a pick and carry capacity of 3.5t, the model features an 8t lift capacity with a main boom length of 19.4m. The boom has an option for a hydraulic luffing and extending fly jib, which will provide a tip height of 21.5m. The driving force for the CC19808S-1 is a Yanmar diesel engine, which is complaint with EU Stage V and EPA Final Tier 4 making it both environmentally friendly and fuel efficient. No outriggers mean it has a slim working footprint with a width of just 2.49m and this model has a class-leading, short-tail swing-and-slew radius for work in restricted areas. According to Pace Cranes Managing Director, Anthony Heeks, the new model ticks all the right boxes. “We’re really excited about the new model CC1908-1 it’s a great addition to the Maeda range. It’s built on the traditional design and engineering values Maeda is renowned for,” he said. “It’s ideal for working in confined areas and construction sites, for working up and over objects with the hydraulic luffing and telescoping fly jib, and with its pick and carry capabilities, and minimal tail swing, its ideal for indoor use as well.” “The safety of the operator and those working in close proximity to the crane has been built into the new model and there are a number of new safety features,” said Heeks. These include a 10-inch touch screen monitor display, a crane function 40 / CAL May 2019
limiting system including a boom slew limit setting, surround view camera and monitor, wide-view roof window and a sun shade and visor as standard. Other highlights of this crane include a fully enclosed air-conditioned cab with link slide door, powerful two-speed hi/lo winch, hydrostatic transmission, 6/4/2 fall hook block, tilt sensor/alarm, anti slack device and automatic heptagonal five-section boom. “bauma was our first look at the CC1908-1 and judging by the feedback from customers that visited the stand, we’re super confident it’s going to be a winner,” said Heeks. “We expect to see the model in full production by the third quarter of this year with units landing in Australia shortly after.”
The unit has a pick and carry capacity of 3.5t.
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IN FOCUS / MANITOWOC
GOING LARGE AND TOPLESS - BIGGEST POTAIN TOPLESS CRANE The new Potain MDT 809 is the largest topless crane ever produced by Manitowoc. THIBAUT LE BESNERAIS, MANITOWOC’S global product director for tower cranes, said the introduction of the MDT 809 marked another significant development from the company. “The launch of the MDT 809 is one of the most significant Potain tower crane launches of recent times,” he said. “Over the past 10 years, we’ve seen consistent growth in demand for topless cranes, with customers benefitting from their fast assembly and compact design, which makes it easier to get more cranes onto a job site to complete work quicker. Alongside this, we’ve seen an increase in modular construction, with contractors needing to lift heavier loads. It’s clear to us that there is strong demand for bigger topless cranes. But we wanted to be sure that any new model we launch not only satisfied demand for greater capacity, but also preserved the easy transport, fast assembly and industry-leading
The new Potain MDT 809, the largest topless crane ever produced by Manitowoc. 42 / CAL May 2019
performance our other topless cranes deliver. The MDT 809 provides all that and more.” LOWER COSTS/HIGHER PERFORMANCE With its highly optimised assembly and disassembly, owners can install the crane on site in the shortest possible time and move it off site rapidly once work is completed. Alongside that, the crane offers up to 40t of lift capacity and can accommodate up to 80m of jib. For transport, the crane is especially compact, with everything but the slewing mechanism and is capable of travelling in a standard container. The whole crane transports in either 10 or 11 containers, depending on the winch option selected, which is four to five fewer containers than is typically required for a crane of this size. Smart design features to aid shipping include protective packaging for the jib sections; optimised space usage for containerisation and a cab that rotates for transport. The crane also has a new 8m cross base that offers the performance characteristics of a 10m chassis, but which requires only one container for transport. HIGH-SPEED ASSEMBLY The Potain MDT 809 is fast to assemble once on site: typically, around twice as fast as other 40t cranes and also requires less space. With its full complement of jib, the crane can be assembled at a 50m working height in less than three days. The 8m cross base is not only easier to transport but also faster to set up than the 10m alternative. There are dedicated slinging points on the crane to aid on-site assembly and jib sections can be assembled either on the ground or in the air, depending on
site conditions and available space. The rotating cab and easy-connect points for the counter-jib further simplify erection. There are options for assembling the jib range from the 30m minimum up to the 80m maximum in 5m sections. “We’ve designed the jib not only to be easier to assemble but also to make it easier to service,” Le Besnerais noted. “Overall, the MDT 809 represents a new way of thinking in terms of highcapacity topless cranes. It is ideal for large construction sites yet also offers an ability to be assembled on projects where space is constrained. We’re already seeing strong interest from the construction, industrial and shipyard sectors.” HIGH PERFORMANCE From the range of regular frequencycontrolled hoists, options for the crane span from the 100LVF to the 270LVF. An optional 150HPL is also offered, from the High-Performance Lifting range, for the ultimate in speed and strength. These winch options give the crane a maximum available capacity of 25t, 32t or 40t. Tip loads of up to 9t are available at the 80m maximum. With the new reinforced K-mast system, freestanding heights of up to 80m are possible. Users can choose from a two-fall configuration on the trolley for faster duty-cycle lifting, or four-falls for heavy lifting. Inside the cab a simple pushbutton solution enables the operator to activate the cable-tensioning system automatically. This is particularly useful for long-running job sites, where tensioning is required more frequently. The Crane Control System (CCS) features too, with its customisable operator profiles; simpler commissioning; load curve P+ functionality and much more.
GROVE ROUGH-TERRAIN CRANES HIGHLIGHT THE MANITOWOC WAY As part of The Manitowoc Way business transformation, the company started manufacturing more Grove rough-terrain cranes at its factory in Niella Tanaro, Italy. THERE WERE TWO ROUGH-TERRAIN cranes at a 100t capacity GRT8100 and a 51t capacity GRT655L. The GRT8100 on show was built at the Italian plant while Manitowoc plans to start building the GRT655L there in future. Both cranes are also built at the Manitowoc factory in Shady Grove, Pennsylvania in the U.S. but the company took the strategic decision to broaden Italy’s production capabilities following an extensive Voice of the Customer program. Federico Lovera, regional product manager for rough-terrain cranes, said the manufacturing change delivers several cost and time advantages for customers. “Our customers in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific benefit greatly from our extension of RT crane production in Italy,” he said. “For them, it means shorter lead times, lower shipping costs and preferential import duties in countries that recognise the EUR1 certificate of origin. What’s more with our company-wide focus on Lean initiatives and manufacturing excellence, we can guarantee the specifications and quality of our RT cranes from Italy are the same as those for the cranes we manufacture in Shady Grove.” NEW RANGE ADDITIONS The GRT8100 is the largest Grove rough-terrain crane built in the Italian plant. It has a 100 t capacity and 47m five-section main boom, which provides better reach and greater versatility. The crane also features the Manitowoc Crane Control System (CCS) with its user-friendly interface, for easier
Grove rough-terrain cranes highlight at Bauma.
and more efficient operations. Other features include a tilting cab and impressive load charts. With a full complement of boom extension and insert options, the GRT8100 has best-in-class reach of 77m. Both 10m and 17m manual and hydraulic offsettable extensions are available as well as a heavy-duty 3m jib that can be offset to 40 degrees. The GRT655L is a smaller, 51t capacity crane yet it boasts similarly outstanding capabilities. It has a 43m, five-section boom, giving it a reach advantage of 8m over the closestcompeting model. This longer boom gives it a maximum working radius of 36m and a 80 per cent greater chart capacity than competing cranes at that
radius. Its exceptional chart capacities, maneuverability and longer boom length — combined with its compact 3m by 12.8m footprint — making it ideal for rental companies, where versatility and flexibility are key considerations. For greater customer choice, Grove also offers a regular boom version of the crane, the GRT655. This is built on the same platform as the GRT655L, but with one less boom section, for a total main boom length of 34.8m. Development of both cranes involved extensive component and machine testing via Manitowoc’s Product Verification Centre in Shady Grove. A two-year warranty is offered as standard for the GRT8100 and GRT655L. May 2019 CAL / 43
IN FOCUS / MANITOWOC
THREE NEW GROVE ALL-TERRAIN CRANES Manitowoc launched three Grove all-terrains, the GMK5250XL-1 which includes a 78.5 m boom – the longest in the five-axle category, as well as the GMK3050-2 and GMK3060L. MANITOWOC LAUNCHED AN IMPRESSIVE new unit in the five-axle category and two new three-axle models. Andreas Cremer, global product director for all-terrain cranes at Manitowoc, said the launch of the new models underlines the company’s increased speed of product development under The Manitowoc Way and its ongoing commitment to building cranes that offer outstanding return on investment. “We believe in developing cranes our customers can use in a wider variety of projects for better return on investment,” he said. “The GMK5250XL-1 is a great example of how we do that. It’s an update to our existing GMK5250L, but we’ve added 8.5m of boom for more reach, so it can take on more jobs. At the same time, we’ve maintained the class-leading lift performance, maneuverability and fast setup of the GMK5250L which make it such a popular choice with our customers.” HIGH FIVE With its 78.5m boom, the GMK5250XL-1 has the longest main boom of any five-axle all-terrain crane and combines that with the best lifting capabilities in the industry. As with all Grove all-terrain cranes, it features Megatrak suspension and the TwinLock boom pinning system. It is also available with the MAXbase variable outrigger function for added versatility on the jobsite. Options for the GMK5250XL-1 include the VIAB turbo retarder clutch, which first featured on the original GMK5250L. The VIAB unit enables wear-free starting and braking, enhancing maneuverability and 44 / CAL May 2019
operator comfort. In addition to its high-performance features, the crane delivers a compact footprint, making it ideal for use in crowded or urban areas. RULE OF THREE In the three-axle category, the GMK3060L sets new standards of excellence and includes a powerful, seven-section MEGAFORM boom with 48m of main boom and a maximum tip height of 65m when working with its full jib. For consistency and control, the 60t crane features Manitowoc’s Crane Control System with boom configurator for fast and efficient set-up. With its compact carrier, the GMK3060L can squeeze into tight locations, again making it a great option for downtown job sites or congested projects. Next to the GMK3060L is the new GMK3050-2, an update of Grove’s
Three new Grove allterrain cranes at bauma
long-running three-axle offering, the GMK3050-1. It offers a 40m main boom, fast operating speeds and a single counterweight configuration for ease of use. It’s engine and design have also been updated to meet the latest requirements of Euromot 5 (which also covers both Tier 4 Final and Tier 3 regulations in the US and the rest of the world). Both the GMK5250XL-1 and GMK3060L offer the most compact footprint in their class, and both have best-in-class load charts when configured in taxi-mode, at 12t per axle. “Grove all-terrain cranes deliver powerful lifting performance, superior off-road mobility and fast highway speeds,” concluded Cremer. “They are manufactured using the industry’s most stringent lean manufacturing techniques and this delivers a class-leading line-up from 60t to 450t.”
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IN FOCUS / LIEBHERR
50 YEARS AND STILL MOVING FORWARD Liebherr celebrates 50 years of innovation, reliability, efficiency, customer proximity, performance and safety in the crane business. ON 22 FEBRUARY 1969 HANS LIEBHERR founded Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH. Customers use the company’s mobile and crawler cranes worldwide in numerous industries. Within the Liebherr Group, Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH operates as a divisional control company for mobile cranes. Whether an air-conditioning system is to be lifted on a high-rise roof or The company started out in 1969 with 87 employees.
whether it is a question of extremely heavy parts of bridges or wind turbines – wherever loads have to be lifted and positioned with great precision, the mobile and crawler cranes from Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH are used. The approximately 3,600 employees in the company produce around 1,800 machines every year. The diversity of variants is huge. The current product
range includes forty different crane types which were developed by the roughly 300 engineers. Every customer, every application, every country has its own requirements of the complex machines. The cranes manufactured in Ehingen can be roughly divided into two product lines. On the one hand, there are the wheeled mobile cranes, which include all-terrain mobile cranes, compact cranes, truck-mounted cranes and rough-terrain cranes. On the other hand, are the crawler cranes with lattice jibs or telescopic booms. The most powerful crawler crane towers over the famous Ulm Minster church located a stone’s throw away from Ehingen. It is 240m high and lifts loads up to 3,000t. The beginnings of the mobile crane specialists in the Upper Swabian city on the Danube were quite modest. The truck crane AUK 40T-60 was produced from 1969 with 87 employees. It has a 24m long telescopic boom and a maximum lifting capacity of 30t. The company sold a total of 79 machines between 1969 and 1972, making the AUK 40T-60 the bestseller of the founding years. With around 2,500 deliveries, today the Liebherr telescopic mobile crane LTM 1030-2.1 is the top-selling model from Ehingen. The two-axle variant impresses with high functionality and reliability and was the world’s first mobile crane with data bus transmission technology at the time of market introduction. CONSTANT SUCCESS FACTORS: INNOVATION, CUSTOMER PROXIMITY, RELIABILITY AND SERVICE QUALITY The success factors back then as well as today are similar at Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH. In development
46 / CAL May 2019
The Liebherr telescopic mobile crane LTM 1030-2.1 is the top selling model from Ehingen.
performance, safety and efficiency are paramount to the engineers and product designers. Because the company has always maintained close relationships with its customers, the suggestions for innovations often come directly from the users. “One of our US-American customers paid us the compliment once that we are happy to listen closely and then develop,” says Christoph Kleiner, Managing Director Sales of Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH. “Developing and intensifying customer proximity is definitely one of our strengths,” adds Kleiner. Kleiner also mentions the reliability of the Ehingen cranes as another strength. “Ninety percent of all cranes ever built by us are still in use after decades,” he says. This is owed to the high product quality and the special standards in customer services. Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH is currently expanding the customer services area. The company already operates over 80 of its own service centres in more than forty countries, and can deliver 95 per cent of all spare parts worldwide within 24 hours. “For us, this is not a reason to sit back and relax,” states Kleiner. The customers appreciate this. While in the first decade of its existence the company faced a strong competitive environment as an industry newcomer, today Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH is the market leader.
are the employees, also at Liebherr in Ehingen. “Fifty years of Liebherr in Ehingen are first and foremost plus fifty years of the commitment, willingness
to perform and loyalty of our staff,” says Mario Trunzer, Managing Director Administration. “Without their dedication and their ideas, we would not have been able to develop so successfully,” adds Trunzer. “We would like to express our sincere thanks to the staff.” In July 2019 the employees of Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH will celebrate their 50-year anniversary together on the company premises. More information about Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH can be found on the website of the Liebherr Group: www.liebherr.com Liebherr can deliver 95 per cent of all spare parts worldwide in 24 hours.
EMPLOYEES AS DRIVING FORCES The driving forces behind customer proximity and product quality, innovations and customer services May 2019 CAL / 47
IN FOCUS / TEREX FRANNA
NEW AT40 FRANNA TO GENERAL CRANE SERVICES General Crane Service Western Australia (GCSWA) recently took delivery of the new Franna AT40. Tony Bucciarelli talks about the reason why the company bought the machine. GCSWA IS A THIRD GENERATION CRANE hire business with a heritage that dates back to the 1970s. GCSWA operates throughout the Perth metropolitan area as well as regional Western Australia providing crane, rigging, transport and logistics expertise for the mining, construction and infrastructure sectors across the state. The business started in 1989 when Tony Bucciarelli and his wife purchased their first crane, a 12t Franna, “Our relationship with Terex began with that first 12t Franna and it’s been great ever since,” said Bucciarelli. “We have always found Terex to be flexible and very easy to do business with. It’s a customer-focussed organisation which aligns their team and company resources to meet our specific needs. The relationship helps ensure we meet the requirements of our customers on time, every time.” Over the years, GCSWA has relied on the high level of product and technical support it has received from Terex. “Terex has provided immense supported throughout the growth of our family business and we are proud to align with them. It’s a major reason we have remained 100 per cent loyal to Terex,” said Bucciarelli. “With Terex service and product support on hand, 24 hours per day seven days a week, we have total confidence we are supported on any project. The company has always been available for after-hours repairs and maintenance to support our workload. With our machines in high demand, this service doesn’t interrupt the 48 / CAL May 2019
operation of our machines and and helps keep us fully operational.” Since starting the business, Bucciarelli has operated Terex Frannas of all sizes. “In terms of size, we’ve always had a
good mix of Frannas. Then in 2011, we decided to pursue other opportunities by diversifying the business to support our customers in a greater capacity. At that time, we were operating over 20 Franna Cranes, but we decided to make
the shift into larger, all terrain mobile cranes by purchasing the DEMAG AC80-2. It’s still a brilliant machine and operates in our fleet today,” he said. “Since then, the fleet has been complimented by a number of Terex products ranging in size from the DEMAG AC40-2L to the DEMAG AC250.” According to Bucciarelli, the Franna is a good all rounder. “At some point, every project has an application that requires a Franna, he said. “In our business, we use Frannas for our day to day ‘taxi’ hire work across all market segments including mining operations, construction, oil and gas, and infrastructure. They are also a great
For many years, GCSWA has relied on the high llevel of product and technical support it received from Terex.
“In our business, we use Frannas for our day to day ‘Taxi’ hire work across all market segments including mining operations, construction, oil and gas, and infrastructure. They are also a great support crane to our larger mobile cranes and form a major part of our business when supporting projects.”
support crane to our larger mobile cranes and form a major part of our business when supporting projects.” “They are also great in our Dry Hire fleet as we are seeing more and more customers opting for a Dry Hire option to fulfil their project requirements,” he said. GCSWA recently took delivery of the newest addition to the Franna range, the AT40. “We are excited to be the first company in Western Australia to take delivery of the AT40 Franna,” said Bucciarelli. “We have had it working on a project down south for the past month and it has been performing very well. It’s on a site where cranes cannot exceed 75 per cent of Safe Working Load (SWL). We’re finding that this requirement is becoming a familiar industry-wide, so the on road capabilities of this machine and increased safe working capacities have been beneficial for the project,” he said. The AT40 is by far the largest Franna ever built by Terex and it must rate as one of the boldest engineering projects in its history. The AT40 is the first three-axle crane with a pick-and-carry capacity of 40t on boom lug and 30t on hook block. Powered by the same Mercedes OM 906 205kW diesel and Allison automatic transmission used on the popular 25t Mac 25, the new crane has a four-section 19.8m fullpower boom offering 19m maximum hook height. On site, the rear (third) axle is raised on its hydro-pneumatic suspension to provide 4x4 wheel drive and the same wheelbase as the Mac 25. On the highway, the 29.5t GVW crane travels at up to 75km/h with axle loads of up to 11.5t fully counterweighted.
tAccording to Bucciarelli, the AT40 has stirred a lot of interest with customers. “A range of existing customers are interested in the innovation the crane brings to the industry and they are excited to see how it can benefit their business and operations,” he said. “All our operators have undergone factory training on the AT40. Two of the operators have been working with the machine for some time and speak very highly about its operability and find the crane cab ergonomically comfortable.” “Advancements in crane technology like the Franna AT40 help to develop our business and support new and existing customers in a greater capacity,” said Bucciarelli. “We want to be the market leader in our field and to do that we must invest in innovation and be in a position where we are providing the latest technology and crane solutions available. Terex helps us do this.” Bucciarelli can see positive signs that the Western Australian construction sector is beginning to turn around. “It’s been a slower start than anticipated to 2019, but we see strong signs of projects starting for our company in the third quarter, which we are excited about. We feel we are well positioned to support both existing and new customers throughout this next construction and infrastructure boom, both with our Wet Hire and Dry Hire fleet. Industry and state wide, we should see the fleet absorbed by the many different projects which are starting, and hopefully, we will see further growth in our own business throughout this period,” he said. May 2019 CAL / 49
IN FOCUS / COSMO CRANES
TAKING ON THE CRANE DECK MARKET Cranes and Lifting finds out more about the “unsung heroes” of the construction sector – the crane deck market. WITH EVERY HIGH-RISE CONSTRUCTION site featuring them, crane decks are one of the ‘unsung heroes’ of the construction sector. Providing access for materials and equipment, the wear and tear on decks can be considerable. Yet Australian designed, engineered and manufactured decks are making serious inroads into the market. Crane Decks is an Australian owned, designed and manufactured range of crane decks and the Handley brothers, Josh and John, the ‘brains trust’ behind Cosmo Cranes, along with a third business partner, are the driving force for the business. According to Josh Handley, the Crane Decks development was driven by customer demand. “We entered into the crane decks four years because of market requirements and demand for these types of decks. With a safe working limit of 5000kg at 4.5m and one of the largest outboards on the market at 2500kg at 5.25 m, our decks are the largest and lightest retractable decks on the market,” said Handley. Crane Decks have been designed to be modular so if a panel or a rail is damaged, replacement is a fairly straight-forward process. “Our bins also have the largest internal footprint and with the 2.2m decks you can put a brick cage on the deck, open it and unload it from there. With other brands you can’t do that, you can’t unhook in a safe manner because there isn’t enough room. That’s because competitive products are manufactured with an I Beam and we use a C channel and this allows for a larger footprint on the deck,” he said. Another key feature is that the decks 50 / CAL May 2019
Crane Decks are utilised across the construction sector.
are stackable where other products aren’t. This makes it easy to store the decks and to ship them around the country and over seas with eight 2.2m decks fitting to a semi trailer. “Our distribution network is made up of stand-alone companies and agents for Crane Decks and each provide a full including service including sales, hire, install, service and support. “We have between 600 and 700
Crane Decks Australia wide and to help keep the maintenance low, the rails have an option to be galvanised and are easily replaced if damaged due to the modular design,” he said. With every high rise project needing decks, Crane Decks are utilised across a broad spectrum of the construction sector from small builders, who might only hire one or two, though to multinational companies like Multiplex JQZ/Parkview/ICON/Built that will
have 20 to 30 decks on a project. “With high rise construction we can a provide a ‘turn-key’ service where we deliver, install, maintain and ‘jump’ the decks when required, and then pull out them out when the projects is completed,” said Handley. “Frequently, builders say they don’t want to think or worry about the decks and we’ll quote to take care of everything. We can also arrange for the decks to be branded, it’s a good way for the builder to advertise.” With the deck market being competitive, Crane Decks has focused on customer service as a key point of difference. “We take a ‘hands on’ approach to our customers and we are flexible in terms of the solutions we are prepared to offer. “We know our customers, we know their business and they know us. That will explain the growth of the business. In four years we have become one of the largest suppliers of crane decks and we’re growing,” said Handley. “We now subcontract to crane companies who specifically want to use our product. We know it’s a niche market but customers understand the features and benefits of our decks. Customers will ring us and if we can’t fix the issue over the phone, we’ll do everything to have someone on site within 24 hours,” he said. Handley said plenty of thought has gone into the design of the decks including the team behind the business. “Being the lightest deck on the market provides a major advantage because they can be lifted with a smaller crane and all the cost savings that go with that. This appeals to the construction sector especially the smaller builders,” he said. “With the decks designed and manufactured locally and with the back up of our agent network, we are able to offer a very cost competitive service. We manage the whole process well, the decks are stackable so its cheaper to transport and they’re lighter so it’s cheaper to lift them.” “We have a small and focused
Crane Decks takes on a focussed approach on customer service.
team on the decks. Dave James is our installation manager and he is across every project. He understands the complexities of projects and designs specific solutions to suit. Everyone knows what’s happening on each project so we can make quick decisions to ensure the best outcomes for the customer. Builders are able to call Dave day or night and nine times out of ten he can solve the issue over the phone, if not we’ll aim to be on site within 24 hours,” said Handley. Crane Decks also design and manufacture the SKYDECK, a ‘craneable’ platform with tie downs, which works in conjunction with the decks. “SKYDECK fits inside a 3.2m crane deck. It has a weight capacity of 5t and is designed to lift equipment that isn’t ‘craneable’. You strap down the equipment which could be forklift or
a skid-steer loader, anything really, lift it onto the deck and it’s driven off or unloaded from there. It’s ideal for fit out or demolition applications,” said Handley. Crane Decks also has the capabilities to design and implement special projects where decks need to be modified. These projects are managed completely in-house and generally have a four-week turnaround. “Recently, we had to tailor make a system for our customer Built for the Parramatta Square project, one of the biggest jobs in Sydney. Standard props normally go to between 3m to 3.5m but these are up to 7m because it’s a commercial building,” said Handley. “The project also required decks with a length of 4.2m and height of 7.2m, they are huge. So there are occasions where we can create unique solutions to solve a customers problem.” May 2019 CAL / 51
IN FOCUS / TADANO
TRUCK CRANE TECHNOLOGY WITH A CUTTING EDGE 12 months ago, Tadano launched the GT-600EL truck crane and crane companies around the country have been quick to recognise its qualities. WITH THE GT-600EL, TADANO SET OUT TO redefine the truck crane. The vehicle has a number of key features, including its high-tensile steel rounded boom which decreases its weight while increasing strength. A two-stage underslung jib enables the crane to operate in applications with limited access and narrow spaces. The Smart Chart expands the work area, enhancing efficiency, and the HELLO-NET ECO Mode System and Positive control system helps improve fuel consumption. The GT-600EL is a truck crane built for mobility and safe operator comfort. The carrier is a new design, right down to the suspension, and it has passed long and rigorous road tests in a variety of environments. The cabin has been remodelled with features that contribute to operator comfort and the automatic mechanical transmission enhances safe driving. The GT-600EL features a highperformance engine, the Daimler OM457LA GT-600EL 4-cycle, turbo charged and after cooled, which has a maximum output of 260 kW (353 PS) and maximum torque of 1,850 Nm (188 kgf-m). The new suspensions on the carrier feature rubber suspension mounts, codeveloped with Hendrickson. These are designed to optimise driver comfort and increase protection for the carrier. The high-tensile steel boom provides smooth and powerful crane operation. The operator can select either of the two boom telescoping modes based on the designated job plan, which provides enhanced crane capabilities in accordance with the work at hand. 52 / CAL May 2019
With the GT-600EL, both the main winch and the auxiliary winch have powerful line pull of 4.5t and operate at high speeds, increasing efficiency. The crane operating levers are “finger-tip control” type and respond sensitively to the operator. Specifications on the GT600EL include: • Crane capacity: 60,000KG • 5-Section long boom: 43m • 2-staged jib: 9m/14.3m • Maximum lifting height; 43.4m (boom) • 57.3m (jib) • Maximum load radius: 34.0m (boom) 44.0m (jib) Tadano’s new AML-C provides “the brains” for every lift, allowing the operator to simultaneously monitor boom angle, boom length, operating pressure of the elevation cylinder, the extension width of outriggers, slewing position, rated lifting capacity and present hook load. All of these features enable the AML-C to move easily through lifting capacity changes without changing configurations and codes to make a lift. The AML-C with “Operator” pre-set working range limits and the automatic slow stop function assists the operators to deliver safe and smooth operations. When operating with asymmetric outriggers extended, the AML-C detects the extension width of all of the crane’s outriggers (front, rear, left and right) to measure maximum work capacity in each area.
With the GT-600EL, Tadano set out to redefine the truck crane.
When slewing the boom from the longer outrigger area to the shorter outrigger area, the AML-C detects the motion and displays the maximum capacity according to the extension width of each of the outriggers and brings the motion to a slow stop before it reaches the maximum capacity. Regardless of operator awareness, the AML-C’s slow stop function helps to minimise any safety risk. Tadano’s new Smart Chart taps into a crane’s full potential by expanding the rear part of the conventional circular work area into a square for increased load radius when the outriggers are extended to improve safety and efficiency. The HELLO-NET System is used to monitor the crane’s activities straight from a computer or mobile device. It provides the ability to view work history, machine position data and maintenance information. HELLO-NET also provides advanced customer support between the owner’s site and Tadano Oceania. The system effectively controls the quantity of hydraulic pump discharge during the crane’s operation in response to the amount of movement applied by the operating lever, and it also controls the maximum engine speed during operation.
PERFORMANCE AT A REASONABLE PRICE User-friendliness and a good price point make the Tadano GT600EL a popular buy. “THERE ARE 30 PIECES OF PLANT IN the fleet. The smallest crane being a 10t ‘bubble’ City Crane and the largest a 200t all-terrain. There is also a large range of rough terrain, all terrain, truck mounted cranes, 10 pick and carry cranes and six trucks. The fleet mainly supports the maintenance of equipment on the mine sites and industrial process plants around the Latrobe Valley area in Victoria,” said Peter Shaw, Business Unit Manager for the Morwell branch of Boom Logistics. Shaw took delivery of the Tadano GT600EL in August of last year and he believes it was one of two delivered to
Boom Logistics at that time. The other went to Mackay in Queensland. “We’re using the Tadano GT600EL for taxi crane work and shut down work at the moment, which is servicing our current contracts,” said Shaw. “We have a number of contracts with major providers around the Latrobe Valley which include Exxon Mobil at the Longford Gas Plant, AGL at the Loy Yang mine, Energy Australia in Yallourn and Australian Paper at Maryvale.” Shaw goes on to explain the advantages of his truck mounted crane in comparison to an all-terrain. “An all-terrain is a very good The GT600EL was well utilised during a recent boat racing. competition.
machine, but they’re not always easy to get registered on the roads in Victoria. There have been quite a few changes on how we travel cranes around these days, with restrictions on tyre sizes, weights and configurations,” he said. “Also, the tyres for the three, four and five axle cranes are wider 20.5 tyres and quite expensive per unit. The Tadano GT600EL truck mounted crane does not have that problem and in the long run the tyre replacements will be readily available. With its load sharing suspension, it is very manoeuvrable and quite good on the roads,” he said. Cost was also a factor in the decision to buy the GT600EL. “Generally speaking, the industry seems to be leaning away from truck mounted cranes, but we have found the Tadano GT600EL to be a really nice machine, well appointed and very reasonably priced. Compared to the equivalent in an all-terrain, it was a lot more economically viable, which is a big advantage,” said Shaw. “We’ve been very happy with the performance of the crane without problems. The GT600EL is user-friendly and it doesn’t take long for an operator that’s new to the crane to get his head around its workings,” he said. “The operators are happy with both the way the crane drives and performs. We recently had it and an operator at a powerboat racing event in Paynesville. It impressed everyone with the way it moved the boats around and in and out of the water. In my experience, Tadano has always designed and manufactured a user-friendly crane. They provide a good product and support it well,” said Shaw. May 2019 CAL / 53
IN FOCUS / A1A SOFTWARE
TAMING TELEMATICS Tawnia Weiss, President A1A Software provides five tips for taming the “wild west” of data collection and effectively putting telematics data to work. TAWNIA WEISS is President of A1A Software which creates software and interfaces for the heavy construction industry. The company got its start by developing the well-known lift planning program called 3D Lift Plan, and it now offers other business management tools specific to the needs of crane and construction equipment owners. Telematics is a data collection system that allows owners of machinery to view the current operation and function of their assets. Its true value is when you take the data and turn it into useful information. Owners can then make decisions to optimise their fleet. When the data is shared with the OEM and is kept for the lifetime of the asset, it allows owners and OEMs to partner in analysing this data. Engineers for the OEM and maintenance personnel for the owner can better predict and make adjustments to improve productivity and reliability of the asset. In some ways, telematics development is like the wild west. As the technology and its application has evolved, there was not much consistency from manufacturer
to manufacturer or machine to machine in what data was measured. The Association of Equipment Management Professionals and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers developed a standard that identified 19 consistent 19 data points and 42 fault code points to be measured, bringing some order to the “wild west.” In 2016, that standard was published by the International Standards Organization. The ISO mixed-fleet telematics standard specifies the communication schema designed to provide mobile machinery status data from a telematics provider’s server to third-party client applications via the internet. Standardisation reduces the amount of code that software developers have to write. That time and cost savings can be passed onto the user. However, cranes in their complexity, require far more data points to be collected. AEMP and AEM are currently working on a similar standard for cranes. According to an update published on AEMP’s website in September 2018 from the AEMP Technology Committee, AEMP’s Advanced Standards Committee
This chart provides a comparison of the number of standard data points currently identified by AEMP and AEM with the number of data points that can be collected by a crane OEM telematics system, in this case the Link-Belt Pulse system. 54 / CAL May 2019
Tawnia Weiss President A1A Software.
in collaboration with AEM, is in process of “finalising data points for the upcoming crane telematics data standard.” Until that time, telematics for cranes have either been developed by the OEM or customised from third-party systems to meet the needs of crane users. iCraneTrax was the first, and is currently the only, cross-platform crane telematics system available. It provides a portal for Link-Belt crane owners to access Link-Belt Pulse and for Manitowoc crane owners to use Manitowoc’s CraneStar. As proprietary telematics systems, these OEMs each feature their own exclusive data points. A1A’s aftermarket GPS and telematics features are not exclusive to these crane brands. But when combined with access to these OEM telematics systems, iCraneTrax makes for a very robust and user-friendly tool. Although the integration of telematics in construction equipment is not new, it’s still often a misunderstood tool. Regardless of the kind of equipment you have or the telematics system you use, these five things are common ways you can put your data to work. Alert: Like the Fitbit or other activity
tracking device so many people wear these days, telematics can be used to alert you when your asset needs attention. Once an hour, my Fitbit reminds me to get up from my desk and go for a walk if I’ve been sitting too long. Likewise, telematics systems might be setup to send you an alert when the crane is nearing the 500-hour service period. The enables operations, fleet and maintenance departments to coordinate time for engine filter replacement, turntable inspection, etc. Aware: Piggy-backing on alerts, specific reports can be setup to be emailed directly to the right person in your organisation so that alerts can be acted upon. This is not unlike what happens when a person wearing a pacemaker might need attention, as I learned from a friend of mine. Although usually good about not over indulging, this friend really tied one on one night. The next morning, his doctor had received a report from the pacemaker, making him aware of my friend’s activity. The next morning, the doctor called and insisted he needed to see the patient immediately. In crane terms, this situation might be that a bare rental crane had been running at 90 per cent capacity every day for a week. The safety manager might be designated to receive these reports, who can then decide how to act on the information. Other reports could be generated for fleet cautions, recent faults, or crane usage. Monitor: Consider the employee who drives a company vehicle. Corporate policy limits the use of the vehicle for work-related driving, but you suspect that he’s using it for personal use. GPS tracking allows you to see that the vehicle was used into the wee hours of the night, far beyond work hours, opening you up to liability exposure. In the same way, a customer bare renting a crane might call late on a Friday to say they are done with the crane, which ceases the billing period. However, knowing that the provider won’t likely pick the crane up until Monday, the contractor continues to use the crane over the weekend. By monitoring usage through telematics, the accounting
GPS tracking allows you to see when and where a company vehicle or crane was used.
department can invoice for the additional days, thereby increasing revenue. Or maybe, you need to identify why your asset is using so much fuel. Monitoring idle time, engine load, CO2 emissions are all possible. Find: A popular location monitoring app for phones called Life360 helped a colleague quickly locate her teenage daughter who had been involved in an accident. When she got the call that her daughter was hurt, she only had to select the directions feature to find out exactly where her daughter was without trying get the information out of a scared and rattled kid. GPS tracking is one of the more familiar features of telematics systems. It can be used for theft prevention or recovery, or simply to improve communications with a customer. On a large jobsite, it might the crane was delivered to the wrong area and the customer can’t locate it. Simply checking the GPS status will help dispatch tell the customer where the crane is on the site. It might also be used more generally to know at a glance where all of the assets are in case something needs to reallocated to a different job. Diagnose: By now, most of us have had computer issues that are fixed when the help desk remotely taps into your computer to fix the problem. In the same way, cranes can be remotely diagnosed using telematics. Often, the tech can
identify the problem and determine which part is needed without seeing the crane in person, saving considerable time. Link-Belt Pulse even has the capability to monitor everything that is going on with the LMI, engine and boom, transmitting bursts of information to a technician. In some cases, the technician might be able to direct site personnel how to remedy the issue without even having to come to the jobsite. As the wild west was tamed, so too telematics. Here are just a few things we’ll likely see realised soon. • Two-way communication between asset and owner • Live firmware updates from the OEM • Advanced reporting • Advanced predictive maintenance • ELD and E-log integration • Apps for data access from mobile devices The level of information that can be available through telematics depends a lot on what type of system is on your equipment. In some cases, simple GPS is all you need. Almost always, OEMinstalled systems will offer the most data points. Some things to think about when selecting a system is how long the data is stored and who has access to it; where the data is stored and how secure that is; and how flexible the interface is. For more information visit 3DLiftPlan.com and iCraneTrax.com. May 2019 CAL / 55
IN FOCUS / RED RADIO SOLUTIONS
ROBUST CRANE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS ON DEMAND Radio systems play a critical role in the crane sector, but they can often be taken for granted and treated harshly. Red Radio Solutions has the answers for most applications. RED RADIO SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN working in the crane sector for five years providing hire, sales and service solutions for two-way radio equipment. According to Directors Casey-Lee and Glenn Powell, the business has evolved quickly. “When we first started, we focussed on tower cranes and developed a number of items specifically for that sector. Due to the success in that
market, we’ve now taken our products and services into the mobile crane market and we’re now a one-stopshop for crane related two-way radio applications,” said Mr Powell. Red Radio Solutions predominantly use Motorola handsets due the robust nature of the products. “A major advantage with our system is that our technicians are qualified and Australian Communications and
Red Radio offers inhouse engraving services for radio identification. 56 / CAL May 2019
Media Authority (ACMA) accredited. This means they have an understanding of how to run the antenna cable to the ACMA standards. When we install we provide chargers hardwired into the cabin so the equipment can charge when the crane is parked in the yard. We also install UHF CB radios in the front cabin as well as the Motorola base in the back cabin. Our technicians understand how expensive the cranes are and are mindful not to drill holes where they don’t need to,” he said. Red Radio Solutions also manages the frequency management process. “Our customers have to apply to the ACMA for frequency use, and we manage the paperwork to ensure everything is up to date. The
frequency provides operators with a private channel to ensure there is no interference between the dogman and other radio users and no cross communication with multiple cranes on site, said Mrs Powell. “With the rental side of the business, we can arrange for daily weekly and monthly hire.” “We find that the majority of mobile crane businesses buy their equipment and we apply to the ACMA for an annual licence covering 12 months of frequency. The licence is an Australian or a NSW wide frequency and that allows them to operate that frequency for six weeks in one spot or to move it around to where the projects are. Tower cranes have to be site specific because they can be on site for more than a year,” she said. “We provide systems to some small and really large clients and we cover a good cross section in the mobile sector.” According to Mr Powell, customer focus is a key factor in the success of the business. “We provide a 24/7 service and our technicians will install on Sundays if required. We work around the customer, their business needs and what works for them. We
Delays in communication can be dangerous in the construction business.
Red Radio Solutions provide 24/7 service.
understand how fundamental radio communication is for the crane crews, so we offer a fast and reliable service. We also offer loan radios if units need repairing, to ensure there is no down time for the customer and their cranes,” he said. Red Radio Solutions can also provide communication systems for complex construction sites that include multiple cranes, construction and earthmoving equipment. “Our system can cope with as many units as required,” said Mrs Powell. “On a couple of the construction sites where there’s a tower crane, a mobile crane and a concrete pump operating we’ve provided a separate radio to each,” she said, “that way, if they are working within each others radius and it becomes dangerous, they can communicate and even tell each other to stop operations.” “We don’t see the radio technology changing too much in the short term. Although there has been a push to change from analog to digital, it is apparent crane operators don’t like digital,” said Mrs Powell. “There can be delays in communication, which can be dangerous in this business. Also, to take
“Our customers have to apply to the ACMA for frequency use, and we manage the paperwork to ensure everything is up to date. The frequency provides operators with a private channel to ensure there is no interference between the dogman and other radio users and no cross communication with multiple cranes on site.” advantage of digital, the unit has to be operated in a particular way which isn’t always practical for the dogmen. Bluetooth connectivity can also be difficult, with drop outs too frequent and the responsibility for keeping the blue tooth charged falling to the dogman and operator which can be problematic.” “In our opinion two way analog is an affordable and robust way for the crane sector to communicate into the future,” she said. May 2019 CAL / 57
IN FOCUS / LIEBHERR TOWER CRANES
COMFORT AND SAFETY KEY IN LATEST EC-B SERIES Liebherr has released its new Flat-Top series with three of the eight units equipped with fibre rope. Cranes and Lifting finds out more. THE FIRST EIGHT UNITS OF THE NEW series already cover a wide range of services – from small city to large handling cranes. As a result, the maximum load capacities range from 6 to 16t and the maximum jib head load capacities range from 1.6 to 2.8t – working at a maximum radius. At full jib length, the units are among the largest in their class. The 125 EC-B 6 itself reaches 58m. The two largest cranes in the series, the 340 EC-B 12 and the 370 EC-B 12 Fibre each have a reach of up to 78m. In addition, all cranes are optimised for assembly. When developing the new series, Liebherr focussed on the comfort of crane operators and safety on the construction site. The new LiCAB cabin is significantly larger and also has a greater field of vision. In addition, the new top-slewing cranes have a new, central control element: a multi-touch display. This includes a new design with integrated advertising panels guarantees an improved impact over distance. RED DOT DESIGN AWARD Participants from many different countries submitted a total of around 5,500 products for the Red Dot Design Award 2019’s “Product Design” category. Only products that stand out through their exceptional design are awarded the sought-after Red Dot quality seal by the award’s international jury. FIBRE CRANES – MODELS WITH FIBRE ROPE FEATURE Particular highlights of the new EC-B series are the 240 EC-B Fibre and 370 58 / CAL May 2019
EC-B Fibre cranes. These are equipped with soLITE high-tensile fibre rope, which has been developed over a period of 10 years by Liebherr and the rope manufacturer, Teufelberger. As well as the fibre cranes offering up to 20 per cent more jib head load capacity when compared to cranes using steel rope, fibre rope also has a four times longer service life than steel rope. As the fibre rope only weighs around a fifth of steel rope, reeving the hoist rope is also significantly easier in terms of handling. In addition, maintenance is less complicated as the fibre rope doesn’t need lubrication. Operational safety is also noticeably increased: The different elements of the rope’s outer layer wear out at a different pace – the crane operator knows it’s time to replace the rope when the red layer underneath the sheath becomes visible. INCREASED COMFORT FOR CRANE OPERATORS Size matters: With more than two square metres of space, the new cabin has more room than any EC-B cabin before. Because of its larger field of vision, crane operators have a better overview of the construction site – a crucial aspect for site safety. As well as ergonomically positioned operating elements, crane operators will find a variety of storage options and surfaces – including details like a cup holder. As well as this, the new cabin has several power sockets to plug in small electrical appliances such as a kettle or radio equipment. In addition to the standard 230 V sockets, there are
also USB interfaces to provide power for items such as smartphones. Speaking of smartphones, i t is also possible to make phone calls via a hands-free system using Bluetooth and to play your own music. The new display makes the operation of cabin and crane functions much easier and more intuitive: The new 12-inch multi-touch display ensures all devices in the cabin are networked together. This means that all control settings such as scaling via the newly developed scaling assistant, setting the enhanced ABB operating-range limiting system and using the trolley camera can all be done via the display. Comfort functions such as air conditioning, radio and windshield wipers are also controlled centrally via the new display. Whenever there is an update available for the Tower Crane Operating System, this is indicated on the display and can be loaded with a single tap of the finger. The cabin is available in three options: The LiCAB Basic, the LiCAB Air with air conditioning, and the premium LiCAB AirPlus version with air conditioning, double glazing and tiltable side windows. EYE-CATCHING AND MODERN: A NEW DESIGN WITH LARGER ADVERTISING PANELS The now widely recognised bi-colour design of Liebherr tower cranes has been applied to the new EC-B series. Upon customer request, the yellow sections can be easily and cost-effectively adapted to the respective company’s colours. The advertising panels are twice as large as previous options – without any
When developing the new series, Liebherr focussed on the comfort of crane operators and safety on the construction site.
When developing the new series, Liebherr focussed on the comfort of crane operators and safety on the construction site. loss of assembly height. For example, the 340 EC-B 12 and the 370 EC-B 12 Fibre both offer customers an additional 8.5sqm of advertising space for company logos and advertising slogans, with the additional option of lighting. OPTIMISED STRUCTURAL STEELWORK: SMALLER, LIGHTER, EVEN MORE PERFORMANCE Several details at the top of the crane have been optimised for transport and assembly: The new EC-B’s compact head, jib and trolley are lighter than their predecessors. In addition, the
jib is now so narrow that three jib sections fit onto a truck bed. Compared with similar Liebherr cranes, even the shortest jib requires one whole transport truck less – and at least two less at maximum radius. This saves both time and money. The new cranes have also been designed with optimised quick assembly connections for jibs and counter-jibs, to make assembly even easier and, above all else, safer. The new EC-B series makes optimal use of the tower systems’ performance capacity. Even the currently largest, new EC-B, the 370 EC-B 12 Fibre, works using the 21 HC 290 tower system with
corner posts measuring only 2.1m. This is particularly interesting as it is one of the most widely used Liebherr tower systems. Liebherr has also developed a new tower system, the 12 EC 125, for the 125 EC-B 6 as part of the new series. With its extremely slim corner posts measuring 1.2m, the 12 EC tower system is particularly suitable for construction sites where a very limited amount of space is predicted. The 12 EC tower system comes in two lifting capacities: the 12 EC 100 and the 12 EC 125. The first eight cranes in the new EC-B series are the 125 EC-B 6, the 220 EC-B 10, the 220 EC-B 12, the 240 EC-B 10 Fibre, the 240 EC-B 12 Fibre, the 340 EC-B 12, the 340 EC-B 16 and the 370 EC-B 12 Fibre. May 2019 CAL / 59
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RECORD BAUMA ATTRACTS MORE THAN 620,000 VISITORS With more than 620,000 visitors from over 200 countries, bauma 2019, the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment, generated the best results in the exhibition’s 65-year history. THE NUMBER OF VISITORS AT THE fair rose by about 40,000 compared to the previous event in 2016. More than 250,000 visitors came from countries outside Germany. The top 10 visitor countries after Germany were Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Poland and Great Britain. The trade fair also experienced a strong increase in attendance from overseas visitors. Significant gains in this group were produced by China, Australia and Japan. More than 5,500 visitors came from China alone. The number of exhibitors totalled about 3,700 from 63
countries – likewise a record. With its unprecedented 614,000sqm of space, the largest bauma ever held was once again a bauma filled with records. During the 2019 edition, exhibitors unveiled a huge number of innovations and new products to the trade fair’s global visitors. Zeppelin/Caterpillar, for instance, introduced more than 20 world premieres of products. Business conducted at the exhibition was correspondingly good. Many exhibitors spoke of a high willingness to invest. The record-setting bauma also had a strong impact on order books as exhibitors generated the highest sales in the history
of their participation at the trade fair. INNOVATION PLATFORM AND ECONOMIC ENGINE Thanks to the smooth operation of the exhibition and the consistently positive feedback by exhibitors, Klaus Dittrich, Chairman and CEO of Messe München, was more than satisfied with the results of bauma 2019. “For the industry, bauma is by far the world’s most important innovation platform and economic engine, something that we clearly saw this year. Particularly in these times of sweeping technological change that is being Visitors came from markets all over the world.
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triggered by digitalisation, bauma provides the industry with security and confidence. Thanks to the momentum in demand generated by the fair’s seven days, companies will be able to calmly face economic slowdowns. bauma 2019 highlighted the opportunity and tremendous outlook of the industry as a whole,” Dittrich said Franz-Josef Paus, Managing Director of Hermann Paus Maschinenfabrik and Chairman of the bauma Advisory Council, said, “With exhibitors from more than 60 countries and visitors from over 200 nations, bauma is an industry platform where technological variety, ingenuity and performance can be demonstrated to an immense international business audience.” EXCELLENT BUSINESS PLATFORM Once again, bauma proved itself to be an excellent business platform, many exhibitors noted. Andreas Böhm, a member of the Board of Directors of Liebherr- International AG, said, “We took orders from all parts of the world and made a whole lot of new contacts.” PERI is also “taking many excellent orders home with it” according to Alexander Schwörer, Managing Director for Marketing and Sales. Zeppelin Baumaschinen also “closed a lot of business deals” said Fred Cordes, Chairman of the Management Board. Joachim Schmid, Managing Director of the Construction Machinery and Building Material Association of the German Engineering Federation, said he learned one thing in his conversations with exhibitors. “Many trade fair exhibitors had a specific interest in buying when they dropped by company booths, something that fuels hopes for continuing economic stability,” said Schmid. MEGATREND DIGITALISATION The clear focal point of this year’s bauma was sustainable and digital solutions. All exhibitors agreed that digitalisation is a “megatrend” in the construction machinery industry, said Andreas Klauser, the CEO of PALFINGER AG.
Over 620,000 visitors attended bauma.
Sensors and communication interfaces that collect and analyse data have become standard equipment. Overall, machines and vehicles are becoming cleaner, quieter and more efficient. Many now have electric and hybrid drive systems. “Customers’ interest in electric drive systems has never been so high as it was this year,” said Dr. Frank Hiller, Chairman of the Board of Management at DEUTZ AG. “It was a dominant issue at bauma 2019.” Some of the most interesting innovations were honored with the bauma Innovation Award on the evening before the trade fair opened. POLITICAL LEADERS: “BAUMA IS A SHOWCASE FOR GERMANY” The visit by many high-ranking political leaders underscored bauma’s exceptional importance, a reputation that extends far beyond the industry itself. “This trade fair is a showcase for Germany,” Peter Altmaier, the German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, said at the opening of bauma. The Bavarian Minister President, Dr. Markus Söder, said, “For me as a private individual, a visit to bauma has always been a highlight in my life.” Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian State Minister for Economic Affairs, State Development
and Energy, Deputy Minister President, also took an extended tour of the trade fair. bauma’s partner country, Canada, was represented in part by Stéphane Dion, the Ambassador and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jonatan Julien, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Bavarian partner province Quebec. The Chinese delegation was led by Wang Bingnan, Vice Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China. “THE PLACE TO BE” FOR SEVEN DAYS bauma’s visitors added a strong new accent to Munich during the sevenday trade fair. There were people from all parts of the world everywhere you looked – this was the defining feature of the fairgrounds in Riem, both in the halls and on the outdoor exhibition area. Visitors massed at the trade fair’s hot spots, the impressive vehicle and machine displays set up by major exhibitors. In addition to its industrial focus, bauma was also a huge world of experience and adventure with a selfie tower and Ferris wheel. Jorge Cuartero, Managing Director of the Spanish manufacturer association Anmopyc, summed things up this way: for a full week, bauma was “the place to be.” May 2019 CAL / 61
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DEMAG LAUNCHES CC 2800-2 Demag announced the successor to the highly successful crawler crane model the Demag CC280)-1. According to the manufacturer, the Demag CC2800-2 already has customer expectations high. THE NEW DEMAG CC 2800-2 LATTICE boom crawler crane is continuing the manufacturer’s concept: continuing to develop proven products and further improving performance with innovative technical solutions. Like its predecessor, the new Demag CC 2800-2 is extremely versatile: it can be used for infrastructure projects in road and bridge construction as well as erecting wind turbines, and puts in a fine performance in refineries too. The Demag CC 2800-2 does everything even better than its predecessor with its transportability optimised and its handling surpassing that of the older model. Particularly interesting for owners of Demag CC 2800-1 cranes: several components such as the luffing jib or the middle main boom inserts can be used with the successor as well. This enables customers to order the new CC 2800-2 only with the required components and therefore reduces the corresponding capital investment. The basic unit was adapted to that of the CC 3800-1 and its strong drivetrain has been included as well. With regard to the performance and the technical specifications, the CC 2800-2 is at the top of its class: its maximum
DEMAG launches CC2800-2 at bauma 62 / CAL May 2019
lifting capacity is 600t and its maximum load moment is 7,712 tonne-m. The length of its main boom is 102m; in the Superlift LSL configuration, its boom length extends to 138m, which can be once again increased with a luffing jib and the Superlift SWSL to a system length of 192m. The main boom combined with the lightweight, rigid 12-metre LH + LF extension allows for a length of 114m, and with the Superlift system plus the mentioned extension, a total length of 153m is possible. OPTIMISED TRANSPORT AND HANDLING The new CC 2800-2 crane is designed for simple and efficient transport. For example, the A-frame and auxiliary hoist can be removed for transport and the SL mast, like that of the CC 3800-1, now consists of three (previously four) separate parts. The base crane, with a height of 3.195m, weighs 77.1t. With the A-frame removed, the weight of the base crane is reduced to 62.6t. The two frames used for the counterweight plates, instead of the conventional and significantly heavier base plates, also contribute to weight optimisation at ten tonnes each. The weight of the tracks was likewise optimised compared to the CC 2800-1. With the standard drive and 1.5m track shoes, the total transport weight is 34.30t; with the Quadro drive it is 37.65t WITH FALL PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR SAFE WORK AT HEIGHT Like all Demag cranes, the new Demag CC 2800-2 crane is equipped with features which support the safe use of the crane. These include the ESTA-award-winning
fall protection system, an excellent feature for working at height. Other features include wide catwalks and platforms that ease walking access for inspecting and maintaining components of the crane. The CC 3800-1 crane’s cabin is used in the new model. With a width of 1.55m, an ergonomic and functional design that enables continuous fatigue-free work, standard air-conditioning and a CDradio unit, it offers excellent comfort. To ensure a high level of efficient operation, the crane is also equipped with the IC-1 control system with two displays as well as two additional monitors that provide the operator with a continuous view of the hoists during operation. COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF ACCESSORIES To achieve a high degree of efficiency on the construction site, Demag offers the CC 2800-2 crane with all technical refinements. These include the Vario SL system for continuous, flexible adjustment of the Superlift radius from 11.5 to 15.5m and the use of the Split Tray. The Split Tray in particular, which allows for rapidly “disconnecting” counterweight that is no longer required after the erection of the main boom, saves considerable time on the construction site. The interchangeability of the counterweights among all Demag and Terex lattice boom crawler cranes of the capacity classes 300 tonnes and above also reduces costs for the crane owner. The range of accessories of the new Demag CC 2800-2 is rounded off by the familiar Demag Superlift counterweight wagon, which facilitates moving the crane with the complete SL counterweight as well as the hydraulic telescoping connector for the adjustment of the Superlift radius from 13 to 17m. Last but not least, the crane is also prepared for conversion to a narrower chassis with the Narrow Track Kit.
LIEBHERR UNVEILS ITS NEW LTM 11105.1 AT THE BAUMA High load capacities with a long telescopic boom together with excellent global mobility are the main features of the new LTM 1110- 5.1 unveiled by Liebherr at the bauma. THE NEW 5-AXLE CRANE ACHIEVES AXLE loads of 12t with 13.1t of ballast, but can also be driven with a gross weight of less than 48t with a maximum axle load of 10 tonnes. With its maximum ballast of 28.7t, it remains below an axle load of 15.5t. A quick-change system for the ballast slabs ensures maximum flexibility for modifications. The variable support base VarioBase delivers particularly high load capacities with its widened rear supports. Liebherr calls it VarioBase Plus. HIGH LEVEL PERFORMANCE AND MOBILITY The demands for the design of Liebherr’s new 5-axle crane in the lower load capacity range were high and, in part, contradictory. On the one hand, a low gross weight and therefore, a high level of mobility had to be ensured while on the other, the target was to achieve the highest possible load capacities with a long telescopic boom. The result is that although the new LTM 1110-5.1 is such a lightweight construction that it achieves a gross weight of 48t with axle loads of less than 10t, its 60m telescopic boom and maximum ballast of just 28.7t enable it to rival the performance of similar mobile cranes on the market. Even in countries where mobile cranes with a 12t axle load are permitted on the roads, crane operators have for some time been demanding cranes which can be driven with 10t per axle by simply removing the ballast. This version delivers major benefits for road licensing and route approval procedures. Great performance with 60m
Liebherr unveils its new LTM 1110-5.1
telescopic boom and VarioBasePlus The ability to carry up to 13.1t of counterweights with an axle weight of 12t is an outstanding value for a 5-axle crane. It means that crane operators can complete the vast majority of crane jobs at low cost without having to transport additional ballast. Furthermore, the optional VarioBase generates a significant gain in load capacity in the zones above the supports. The Liebherr engineers went a step further with the new 110 tonne crane – the rear supports have a double-stage design and achieve a support width of 8.3m, 1.3m wider than the front supports. This increases the capacity over the rear supports even
more. Liebherr calls the combination of the trapezoidal and variable support base VarioBase Plus. With a length of 60m, the telescopic boom on the LTM 1110-5.1 is one of the longest in its crane class. In addition, a 10.8 to 19m folding jib is available which, as an option, can also be adjusted hydraulically between 0° and 40°. Two 7m lattice sections can also be installed to extend the telescopic boom to achieve the maximum hook height. This means that the new 110t mobile crane achieves the same system length as the LTM 1130-5.1. A 2.9m erection jib and a runner, which can be swung to the side, round off the equipment list. May 2019 CAL / 63
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THE LATEST DRIVE TECHNOLOGY WITH ECODRIVE AND ECOMODE A six-cylinder Liebherr diesel engine in the undercarriage which develops 400 kW / 544 bhp and torque of 2,516 Nm provides the LTM 1110-5.1 with all the power it needs. The engine satisfies the new stage V emissions directive and can also be built to comply with the regulations which apply in countries outside of Europe – for example Tier 4f for the USA or stage III for low regulated countries. The new ZF-TraXon gearbox is used to transmit the power to the crane’s axles. As with its predecessor, the AS-Tronic, the 12 gears are changed automatically. ECOdrive is a new feature. The additional eco mode delivers enhanced drive properties which both save fuel and
reduce noise. Meanwhile, Hillstart Aid makes starting on gradients easier. The “DynamicPerform” version of the TraXon gearbox with an oil-cooled multi-disc clutch is used in the new LTM 1110-5.1, its first outing on a mobile crane. This delivers improved starting and manoeuvring at a level similar to that of a gearbox with a torque converter. Liebherr supported ZF in the development of the TraXon DynamicPerform and its integration in the drivetrain of mobile cranes. Liebherr has continued its singleengine strategy on the new LTM 1110-5.1 with a mechanical driving unit for the superstructure. The weight reduction created by the elimination of the superstructure engine from the predecessor models has been used to
deliver a longer boom and more ballast with an axle load of 12t. In keeping with the latest developments from the Liebherr mobile crane series, the new LTM 1110-5.1 also features ECOmode for crane operations to reduce fuel consumption and noise emissions. On the one hand, the complete pump drive can be disconnected automatically when the engine is idling and then reconnected by the intelligent controller in a matter of seconds when it is required. On the other, the crane controller calculates the perfect engine speed for the working speed selected using the control lever to avoid unnecessarily high engine speeds. This results in fuel consumption being reduced by up to 10 per cent during crane operations.
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TEREX LAUNCH FLAT TOP TOWER CRANE The new Terex CTT 202-10 flat top tower crane expands chassis, jib and tower configurations to increase versatility. TEREX CRANES OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED the new 10-tonne class Terex CTT 202-10 flat top tower crane at Bauma. Delivering increased jobsite versatility, the new Terex crane offers three chassis options which include 3.8m, 4.5m and 6m base selections. The new crane can also be configured with H20, TS21 and TS16 masts, offering from 1.6 to 2.1m widths, so customers can efficiently manage component inventory while costeffectively meeting tower height needs. “With this new Terex CTT 202-10 model, we are launching a very flexible and competitive crane. Our primary focus is always to develop an efficient and versatile crane that gives our customers the best return on investment,” says Nicola Castenetto, Business Development Manager for Terex tower cranes. “Beyond outstanding product
performance at an attractive price, we also project high residual value to satisfy the future needs of our customers.” Offering an extended variety of options, the CTT 202-10 flat top tower crane gives customers 9 different jib configurations from 25 to 65m to meet varying jobsite needs. With its competitive load chart, the crane delivers a maximum 10t (11-U.S.-ton) capacity at a length reaching 24.2m, depending on jib set-up, and can hoist up to a 2.3t load at the maximum 65m jib length. Terex Cranes’ unique Terex Power Plus feature will temporarily allow for an increase of the maximum load moment under specific and controlled conditions by 10 per cent, giving the operator extra lifting capacity during those conditions. Operators will feel they are in the lap of luxury in the new CTT 202-10.
New Terex CTT 202-10
A fully adjustable comfort seat and joystick controls with short stroke length provide a comfortable work experience throughout long shifts. Built-in heating and air conditioning maintain consistent cabin temperatures, regardless of working in below freezing winter temperatures or the heat of summer. The large, full-color 18cm display with anti-glare screen provides operating and troubleshooting data to the operator. Hoist, slewing and trolley speeds are designed so operators can move and position heavy loads efficiently and precisely. The crane’s new control system features expanded configuration options, allowing the CTT 202-10 to efficiently and quickly adapt to different jobsite needs. The controls package includes the Terex Power Match feature that gives the operator the choice between operating performance or lower energy consumption to fit lifting needs. Depending on tower configuration, the new CTT 202-10 crane delivers a maximum under hook height of 76.7m and provides a competitive maximum crane height to shorten erection time and lower costs at the jobsite. Optimised for transport, all tower segments come preassembled with durable aluminum ladders for efficient erection. Each jib section features an independent lifeline to aid with safe work at height installation, and the galvanised jib walkways deliver increased operating longevity. The new Terex CT 202-10 flat top tower crane can be equipped with a radio remote control to increase operating efficiency by allowing the operator to work remotely when necessary. The new crane is built ready for installation of available zoning and anti-collision systems and cameras and the next generation of Terex tower telematics, T-Link. May 2019 CAL / 65
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MANITOWOC INTRODUCES BEST-INCLASS GROVE TELESCOPIC CRAWLER CRANE Manitowoc’s Grove Hydraulic Crawler (GHC) crane, the new GHC140, is the latest in a long line of telescoping crawler cranes with enhanced features and best-in-class load charts. “THE GROVE GHC LINE HAS GROWN in popularity over the years due to its reliability on the job site and best-in-class
features,” said J.J. Grace, Manitowoc’s product manager for GHC cranes. “This latest model stems from discussions with customers who liked using our telescopic crawler cranes, but needed improved load charts.” This new model features a 52.1m sixsection, pinned boom with a maximum capacity of 127t. When configured with the 15m offsettable bi-fold swingaway, it has a maximum tip height of 70m. Introducing new 1.5° load charts, the GHC140 offers the ability to pick-andcarry at 100 per cent of its load chart on inclinations up to 4°, and it can swing loads a full 360°. Companies with applications in utility work, alternative energy applications, tunnel construction, barge work and storage tank construction will find the crane especially useful, as it fits easily onto a variety of job sites. With its pin telescoping boom, operators can easily handle a variety of lifts at various radii. This enables users to reach greater heights than they could previously with other GHC models. The GHC140’s crawler tracks easily navigate tough job site conditions, such as swampy or mountainous terrain, with its 57 per cent gradeability track rating. The undercarriage Manitowoc introduces best in class Grove GHC140 telescopic crawler crane
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is driven by powerful, two-speed hydrostatic drive motors that provide good mobility. The track side frames can be hydraulically extended and retracted, providing three track spans with lifting capabilities at each span. This provides added versatility to find the best combination of crane width and lifting capacity. Additionally, the GHC140 can be transported to a job site in as little as four loads. Once it reaches the job site, it features a self-assembly counterweight and an undercarriage frame with jacks for easy self-assembly of the crawlers. In-cab amenities include a large, air suspension heated seat; a climate control system for added comfort; a 178mm screen for viewing the hoist, rear and right side camera feeds; an intuitive graphical RCL system; and precise, electonic load-sensing joystick controls. A 20-degree tilting cab is another added benefit, providing added comfort when doing high-boom angle work. The crane can be outfitted with one of two engine options: a 173 hp Cummins QSB 4.5 L Tier 4 Final or a 160 hp Tier 3 model. Both engines provide strong and reliable power, and they meet all current EPA requirements. ECO and Auto Idle modes help maximise fuel efficiency, and the engine compartment is fitted with sound foam insulation to lessen engine noise and improve communication on the job site.
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Key Specs: Max Lifting Capacity: 13 tonne
Key Specs: Max Lifting Capacity: 20 tonne
Max Boom Length: 24 m
Max Boom Length: 28 m
Fly Jib (5 ° - 60 ° ): 5.5 m (Hydraulic Luffing)
Fly Jib (7 °- 60 °): 5.8 m (Hydraulic Luffing)
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