Cranes and Lifting July 2019 by Prime Creative Media

THE DEDICATED RESOURCE FOR THE CRANE INDUSTRY / JULY/AUGUST 2019

TAKING IT UP A LEVEL

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FEATURES Borger Cranes handle complex barge lift

Managing crane fleet growth

Launch of new articulated pick and carry

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IN THIS ISSUE

18 Up Front: Preston Hire takes it up a level Preston Hire, the story behind the brand. 22 CICA: President’s Report Road access continues to be a major focus. 24 CICA reviews new crane standards Brandon Hitch discusses likely impact of these standards.

26 CICA Safety report Findings from the first national review of work health and safety laws. 28 CICA Road Access Update on developments in QLD 30 CICA Life Member Profile How CICA stalwart, John Gillespie, grew up in the family business.

33 CICA Member profile How Apple Isle member, Cranes Combined, has driven the road access issue. 34 CICA engineer wins award Alice Edwards wins Women in Industry Award. 37 CICA Vale Industry pays respect to Hugh Morris. 40 Liebherr Tower Cranes What to expect now that Liebherr is factory direct. 43 Ben Baden Crane Connection Sydney crane business all over TIDD.

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44 Cosmo’s internal climbing system First in Australia and only the second in the world. 46 UAA and Melrose Ensuring the right levels of insurance. 49 Melrose Cranes focus on maintenance Imperial Oils lubricant solutions for Melrose Cranes. 52 Melrose Cranes profile How to manage a growing fleet and the difference a Link Belt has made. 56 Tutt Bryant HSC Cranes release new SCX 2800. 58 Borger barges timber trusses Borger Cranes manage a complex lift in bridge demolition. 60 MCG Cranes As good as new Liebherr works in tower crane construction. 62 New products from Tadano Tadano continue to roll out new models in highly successful ATF range. 64 Pace Cranes deliver new model to All Terrain Hire New Senneboggen adds to All Terrain Hire capabilities. 66 Superior Cranes pick Grove New 150t Grove to Superior cranes. 69 TRT launch new TIDD New TIDD PC28 sets safety standards for pick and carry cranes. July 2019 CAL / 3

FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM

WORKING SAFE ISN’T JUST DOWN TO TECHNOLOGY WELCOME TO THE July/August issue of Cranes and Lifting magazine. Safety continues to be a major theme for the industry and it is important for the crane sector to embrace new initiatives being developed. CICA is working together with industry safety groups on an educational program that will enhance the approach to safety throughout the industry. It is important that we learn about, and embrace, these changes. Crane manufacturers continue to build safety features into equipment, but it’s up to industry to put safety at the top of the agenda. There are approximately 10,000 mobile cranes in circulation in Australia, of which 40 per cent are articulated pickand-carry cranes, yet 50 per cent of all insurance claims can be attributed to articulated pick-and-carry mobile cranes. Read how a new pick-and-carry crane, developed and manufactured in New Zealand, is taking these stats head on. In this issue, we speak to a major Sydney crane hire company about the many day-to-day challenges it faces. Knowing when to replace old machines in the fleet and with what; understanding the time lines of suppliers; how to best maintain the fleet; and how to ensure you have the

right insurance coverage in place with the correct premiums. It’s all very dynamic. We feature a Tasmanian crane company, the largest in the Apple Isle, and discuss the role it has played in discussions around mobile crane access and how it has developed the proposed solution to the issue. CICA, in conjunction with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and supported by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), continue to work tirelessly and solutions appear to be within sight. We also profile a family business with an immediately recognisable brand. The story is the success behind the brand, which is based on strategies of putting the customer first, ensuring the right solution is available, and working hard to maintain traditional business values in everything they do. 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, you probably do, so please make contact.

Simon Gould Editor, Cranes and Lifting

Published by:

11-15 Buckhurst St South Melbourne VIC 3205 T: 03 9690 8766 www.primecreativemedia.com.au Managing Director John Murphy E: john.murphy@primecreative.com.au Chief Operating Officer Zelda Tupicoff E: zelda.tupicoff@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 Business Development Manager Nick Markessinis E: nick.markessinis@primecreative.com.au T: 0422 800 920 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 Frank Rapone T:03 9690 8766 E: frank.rapone@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.

www.cranesandlifting.com.au

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INDUSTRY NEWS TANDEM LIFT TO DISMANTLE 100-YEAR OLD BRIDGE Two 500t cranes have dismantled a 100-year old railway bridge, without knowing how heavy the structure being lifted was. The steel bridge was located above a four-lane road, in Essen, Germany and was so old, there were no reliable figures for the precise weight of the structure. After detailed advanced planning, it was decided the tandem lift would be completed by two Liebherr LTM 1500-8.1 mobile cranes, as they provided plenty of lifting capacity reserves. Each crane was prepared with 135t of ballast and their telescopic booms were extended to 31.7m. The bridge needed to be hoisted with a radius of up to 16m and was released from the abutments by flame cutters. During the lift, the crane control systems showed they were sharing a weight of 120t and had plenty of reserves without the need to install any telescopic boom guying. Crane operators Bernd Janssen and Thorsten Mahlberg manoeuvred the bridge as instructed by marshal Dominik Ussat between the two 8-axle cranes and placed it on the ground, where it was then cut into small parts.

DEMAG AC 500-8 LIFTS 19T CHIMNEY LINER 119M A Demag AC 500-8 all-terrain crane has lifted a 19t chimney liner into place, 119m above ground in a job where each centimetre mattered. AKM Autokranvermietung, on behalf of Munich City Utilities, was tasked to lift bulky liner segments over the rafting at the top of the chimney without bumping into it, with only a 20cm clearance between load and railing. In order to perform the lift, AKM equipped the Demag crane with a 47m main boom and a 72m luffing jib in the SSL There was only a 20cm clearance between the load and the railing.

6 / CAL July 2019

The crane operators carefully manoeuvred the massive steel structure between the two booms.

60° configuration with 180t of counterweight. AKM Crane Operator Klaus Kellner said it was clear he did not have much space to manoeuvre with the lifts. “That’s why we also placed bog mats under the outriggers of the AC 500-8 in order to raise the level of the crane and thus gain a little more height,” he said. AKM had a customised spreader made of tempered steel custom built for the application, with the holes for the load slings precisely matched to the liner segments to allow for maximum possible hook height. “I was already aware that it would be very tight,” Kellner said. “We hooked up the spreader, raised the liner to the required height of 119m and then slewed it over the chimney.” Lifting the segments also blocked Kellner’s vision, meaning a colleague was required to direct him through the lift. “I was able to rely one hundred percent on my signalman and the precise operability of the AC 500-8,” he said. “You don’t see a lift like that every day – especially at this height and with this weight. But with the AC 500-8 it was no problem.” AKM General Manager of Technology Sven Bauer said the decision to use the Demag crane was well-considered. “Of all the eight-axle cranes available, the Demag AC 500-8 is the only crane that can safely handle the required loads of up to 19 tonnes at this height – otherwise we would have had to use a larger and thus more expensive 700t or even 750t crane,” he said. The compact nature of the crane meant it was also able to cope better with the cramped conditions of the construction site. www.cranesandlifting.com.au

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The new CC 2800-2

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INDUSTRY NEWS LOCAL CRANE MANAGEMENT SELECTED FOR BALLARAT GOVHUB A local construction and crane team is handling major demolition and excavation works on the Victorian Government’s $100 million Ballarat GovHub Project. More than 20 local and regional suppliers from Ballarat, Wendouree, Bendigo and Geelong have been contracted for crane management, building supplies, hydraulics and electrical, engineering and waste removal. The project aims to transform the Ballarat CBD and create a new precinct for up to 1000 Victorian Government employees alongside public spaces and a civic plaza to boost the local economy. “On top of the 600 new government jobs relocating to Ballarat, the GovHub is creating hundreds of local construction jobs, as well as using proudly local labour and materials wherever possible,” Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said. Construction of the project is expected to involve more than 350,000 work hours and create 500 jobs for the construction team and designers John Wardle Architects. Nine apprentices will also be trained on the job during the project. Victorian Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes said it is exciting to see work progressing on the GovHub

Project, with hundreds of local contractors working to transform Civic Hall. “This project is part of the transformation of the city, which is driving growth and employment right in the heart of Ballarat,” Symes said. The building is expected to be completed in 2020.

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INDUSTRY NEWS MANITOWOC OFFERS SUPPORT TO REBUILD NOTRE DAME Manitowoc has pledged its support to help the reconstruction efforts of the Notre Dame de Paris, after it caught fire earlier in April. Firefighters were unable to save the 90m spire on the historic structure, which suffered significant damage from the blaze. Potain, Mantiwoc’s manufacturer of tower cranes, has pledged to assist the reconstruction efforts of the French Cathedral.

TADANO CELEBRATES ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY On August 29th 2019 Tadano celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding. The company will also be opening its new, purpose built, “Next Generation Smart Plant”. The grand opening is scheduled for August 2019. Tadano showcases an extensive selection of products, from all terrain, truck, rough terrain and telescopic boom crawler cranes as well as AWP’S, vehicle loader cranes and specialist products such as bridge inspection vehicles. Their products are manufactured with a focus on safety, quality and efficiency for their customers, employees and the environment. With the use of IoT and AI technology increasing dramatically the world is moving into a digital transformation. Tadano are committed to changing alongside the global trends externally and internally, synergising as “One Tadano”. Opening a new plant in Kozai With a site area of 200,000sqm, opportunities for up to 100 new employees and based in Kozai, Takamatsu in Japan, Tadano’s new plant is focussed on optimising production for rough terrain and truck cranes as well as booms and cylinders for hydraulic products – all terrains, telescopic boom crawlers, rough terrains and truck cranes. The new plant will be established to assist with expanding the production capacity

It will provide tower cranes and related services free of charge. The terms of the offer have been officially presented to the authorities. “It seemed natural to us that Potain, our tower crane brand that for more than 90 years has been involved in the construction of the most emblematic works of French architecture, is committed to rebuilding Notre Dame de Paris,” Manitowoc president and CEO Barry Pennypacker said. “Our cranes and technical expertise will be there to meet the challenge of a rapid reconstruction of the cathedral.”

and minimising lead times for outside of Japan - working cohesively with our established Shido plant. Tadano’s customers, employees and the carbon footprint are at the centre of the concept of the “Next Generation Smart Plant” ensuring work environments are safe and human friendly for all employees alongside smart utilisation of robots with environmentally friendly processes in mind. Masuo Tadano, the founder of Tadano left Takamatsu for Asahikawa, Hokkaido,had started off with a welding business. At that time, welding technology was gaining ground and developing rapidly around the world and its introduction to Japan was only just beginning. Captivated by the sparks of welding, Masuo Tadano was convinced that the technology would make a positive contribution to society and ventured to start a business in Hokkaido. In1955, Tadano developed Japan’s first hydraulic truck crane, the OC-2. Tadano have set a long-term goal of becoming number one worldwide in the lifting equipment industry, with a corporate philosophy of “Sozo (creation), Hoshi (contribution), and Kyoryoku (cooperation),” Tadano are committed to continue offering products and services that are a benefit to society. With regards to its 100th celebrations, the company is proud of humble beginnings and growth and looks forward to the next 100 years in the lifting equipment industry.

Next Generation Smart Plant covering 200,000sqm, in Kozai, Takamatsu in Japan. www.cranesandlifting.com.au

July 2019 CAL / 11

INDUSTRY NEWS

Liebherr launch MK 88-4.1, new four-axle crane

FACELIFT FOR LIEBHERR MOBILE CONSTRUCTION CRANE Liebherr has updated its existing four-axle crane with the launch of the new MK 88-4.1 Featuring proven MK technology, this mobile construction crane is more powerful and flexible than its predecessor. New elements include different axle load options, which make the crane significantly more economical. Liebherr has also taken the environment into account and the MK 88-4.1 can operate emission-free using even less power than its predecessor. Both the 8,000kg maximum load capacity and the maximum radius of 45m remain the same. The maximum load capacity of 2,200kg at the jib head also remains unchanged. Increased trolley travel gear performance In addition to the Load Plus function, which provides the mobile construction crane with up to ten percent more lifting capacity, the crane has also been equipped with a more powerful trolley travel gear. This enables the MK 88-4.1 to work with heavier loads, even at a 15° inclination and at a 45° luffed position. As a result, the maximum load capacity of the MK 88-4.1 is increased by up to 50 per cent compared to its predecessor in a 45° luffed position. In practical terms, this means that it can lift 2,800kg in a 45° luffed position instead of the previous 1,850kg up to 21m outreach. More applications through different axle load options A new ballast concept makes different axle load options 12 / CAL July 2019

possible. With additional ballast, the axle load amounts to less than 13t per axle and with basic ballast of the crane has an axle load of under 12t. Without basic ballast, the axle load can be reduced to less than 10t. This means that, for instance, the crane can even be driven on bridges and roads with axle load restrictions. By means of an adapted load curve, powerful operation is still possible with the 10t version. Eco-friendly – emission-free operation Thanks to their electric drives, Liebherr mobile construction cranes not only have a low- noise emission but are eco-friendly in the process. This is a major advantage for night-time operation. The MK 88-4.1 is also equipped with a 32-amp connection in addition to the standard 63-amp connection. Through an intelligent energy management system, the maximum power available is used for crane operation. Increased comfort for crane operators The MK 88-4.1 has been equipped with the elevating operator’s cab of the MK140. This can be infinitely adjusted in height, has larger windows and is fitted with the latest equipment. Optional trolley and slewing platform cameras ensure a better all-round view and therefore, a higher level of safety. The combined heating and air conditioning system allows the temperature in the cabin to be controlled perfectly. The driver’s cabin has also undergone a facelift, so that it is a more comfortable environment for the crane operator. As well as more ergonomic operating elements, small details such as an air-conditioned seat and a handy mobile phone holder have also been included. www.cranesandlifting.com.au

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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. BARNHART TO ACQUIRE BURKHALTER Barnhart Crane and Rigging and Burkhalter Rigging, of Columbus, Mississippi, US, have entered into an agreement under which Barnhart will purchase the majority of Burkhalter’s assets. Burkhalter was founded in 1973 as Crane Service, Inc. It changed to Burkhalter Rigging in 1984, expanding from local crane service to provide engineered heavy lifting, rigging and transport for petrochemical, power, civil and marine industries. “Burkhalter represents an excellent fit for Barnhart, and this acquisition further enhances Barnhart’s market position as the lifting and logistics provider of choice,” said Brooke Burkhalter, branch manager in Columbus, Mississippi. “Burkhalter has a good reputation for engineering custom solutions that mirror our own approach. Burkhalter customers will benefit from access to Barnhart’s nationwide network of locations, our engineering department with more than 60 engineers and our own fleet of barges for transport on inland waterways,” Burkhalter continued. Barnhart Crane and Rigging will acquire the majority of Burkhalter Rigging assets.

www.cranesandlifting.com.au

BKL Baukran Logistik’s lowers metal schaffolding frame over fountain with Liebherr 1060-3.1 at Herrenchiemsee Palace.

BKL PROTECTS HISTORIC ROYAL FOUNTAINS Crane rental and logistics service provider BKL Baukran Logistik used a Liebherr LTM 1060-3.1 wheeled mobile crane to erect scaffold hoods over three fountains at Herrenchiemsee New Palace in Germany. BKL had to transport the crane by ferry to reach the palace located on Herreninsel, the largest island in Lake Chiemsee in southern Bavaria. The hoods, which are placed over the fountains every year for winter, are designed to protect them from damage caused by frost and snow. Made of metal scaffolding, the 2t hood frames had to be hoisted above the fountains, which measured up to 13m in height. BKL used the crane with the boom extended to 45m and lowered the scaffold hoods from a suspended position. Once the scaffold hoods were in place they were secured to the fountains using connective elements that had already been fitted. Plastic tarpaulins attached to the apex of the scaffold frames were then secured to the bases to complete the fountains’ protective winter domes. The historic fountains are original features of Herrenchiemsee palace, which was modelled on the Palace of Versaille in France. Construction began in 1873 but was still not complete when King Ludwig II died in 1886.

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KHL’S INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP

VESTAS ORDERS WIND TRANSPORT SYSTEMS Denmark-based wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems has signed a contract for nine wind blade transport systems from heavy load transportation equipment manufacturer TII Group. According to TII Group, the transport system consists of a two-axle jeep dolly with a free-turning device and a four-axle trailer. TII Group developed the system in conjunction with Vestas and launched it at the bauma 2019 trade show. TII Group says the transport solution was designed for the transport of the latest generation of wind blades and includes a plug-and-play wind blade mounting system comprising a root adapter and a root frame. TII says the mounting system requires fewer tools than conventional systems. TII Group claims the new windmill blade transport system is highly manoeuvrable and provides a high level of load safety. Jointed bearing systems are designed to aid gentle handling of turbine blades. A plug-in, manufacturerindependent friction clamp can be fitted at the rear of the system for additional security. The transport system’s lifting height can be adjusted up to two metres at the front and up

Vestas Wind Systems manufactures wind turbines.

to one metre at the rear. Once a wind turbine blade has been delivered, the all parts of the transport system can be shortened to create a semitrailer combination with a total length of 16,500mm and a weight of less than 60t. TII Group says this eliminates the need for special permits for return transport.

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MAMMOET GERMANY ACQUIRES MEYER Heavy lifting and transport company, Mammoet Germany, has announced its acquisition of German heavy lifting, installation and assembly specialist, Meyer Anlagenbau. The companies, which have collaborated for five years, said their joint success was built on a shared commitment to quality and safety. The deal will expand Mammoet’s heavy installation expertise and reinforce its position in the German market. Jens Krawczynski, managing director of Mammoet Germany, said, “With over 40 years of experience in the south-west of Germany, Meyer brings a wealth of local market knowledge and additional heavy installation expertise.” Eberhard Jung, former Meyer managing director of Meyer, said, “Having worked together successfully for over five years, we know that Mammoet is the right company to expand our business. Our two companies share a similar regional approach and culture. Mammoet’s reputation for innovation and excellence is an indication that, under its leadership, Meyer will be able to enhance its value proposition.”

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UP FRONT / PRESTON HIRE

Crawler cranes feature predominantly in the Preston fleet.

PRESTON HIRE: TAKING IT UP A LEVEL How a vision to build a multinational operation providing cranes, access equipment and loading platform solutions became a reality. THE PRESTON NAME HAS BEEN synonymous with the construction industry for decades and continues to push boundaries and be a significant player in the hire and rental category. Markus Preston, group managing director, acquired ownership of the business in the early 2000s with a fresh vision, ambitious goals and strong determination to expand. At the time, the business was largely focussed on the hire of their SuperDeck Retractable Loading Platform System and only operated within NSW. His vision was to build a multifaceted, multinational operation providing customers with a large range of cranes and access equipment to compliment the well-established and respected SuperDeck System. Fast-forward eighteen years, this vision has clearly been achieved with Preston Hire (Australia) having a large group of highly skilled staff, a significant fleet of mini and larger hydraulic crawler 18 / CAL July 2019

and mobile SuperCrane’s, a variety of SuperElevate access equipment units and Australia’s largest fleet of SuperDeck’s. It is an impressive feat. Yet their outfit also extends beyond the borders of Australia, with Preston Group also operating internationally in New Zealand, North America and Europe under the Preston Hire and Preston Rentals brands. They also recently launched SuperService – their access and heavy equipment specialist mechanical service business in Australia and have plans for New Zealand to open later in the year. At this stage, Preston Hire (Australia) is the largest operation within the group, with the largest fleet of diverse specialised equipment. Operating using a hub and spoke model with the head office providing major resourcing, training and daily support to the five branches, each branch is then responsible for being experts in their market and fostering and growing local relationships and business

opportunities. “I’m really proud of our branch network, which allows us to service any location in Australia. Over the years, we have consciously expanded and tailored our product range to broaden our customer base and make us a multiindustry service provider. We work closely with clients in the construction, civil, road and rail, telecommunications, infrastructure and residential industries,” said Preston. Group general manager, David Serg, has also played an important role in the growth of the business. Serg attributes a key component of the success to having clear business values that contribute to the culture of the Preston Group. “Our workforce is the face of our business. We ensure that our staff and their livelihoods are at the heart of every decision we make and in return ask that they always represent the Preston Hire brand with enthusiasm, professionalism

and have the ‘Preston vibe’ in their customer dealings,” he said. Preston agrees saying “We have a solid approach to how we deal with our customers. We teach our sales teams to ‘Sell the problem you solve, not the product.’ We want our staff to be problem solvers and encourage them to listen more than they speak. Their goal is to satisfy customer needs, not to simply push a product. We think teaching our staff this quality will help makes us a humble and helpful organisation.” Serg said he loves the passion and commitment that the Preston staff have for the business. “We refer to it as having “yellow in your veins” said Serg. “Despite our diverse geographical locations, we regularly bring all staff together for training conferences, inspirational experiences and festivities to ensure teamwork, comradery and to make sure the Preston ‘vibe’ is always present. Over the years, this has become a much larger affair with the increased number of personnel.” It is refreshing to see the leadership approach and passion that these industry personalities have for what they do. Internally, Preston and Serg are often referred to as the “Batman and Robin” or the “Dynamic Duo” of the business. Their diversity of skills, experience, age and preferred approach to business challenges can at times differ greatly, yet combined they are a force to be reckoned with. Each has skilfully found a delicate balance to compliment the other. Their mutual respect coupled with a shared passion for pushing the Preston brand forward has played a significant role in the company’s successes to date. In the interest of growing the group and building solid foundations for the future, much effort has been made in developing a strong leadership team across all facets of the business. From operations, human resources, finance and branch management, building a strong team has allowed the business to move away from a single leader approach and future growth will be supported and nurtured by the entire team.

The new appointment of Andrew Lambert as general manager of Preston Hire (Australia) is testament to this approach. Recognised as an exciting addition to the local team, Lambert brings with him experience from SkyReach and Kennard’s Hire and will lead the day to day operations of the business from June 2019. According to Preston, there have been a number of key strategies that have seen the business succeed in an increasingly competitive market. “We have always wanted to stand out from the crowd and demonstrate our ambition to be unique, think differently, and put customers first,” he said. “From a functionality point of view, we believe our SuperDecks are the best in the industry, but we haven’t rested on our laurels. We have maintained a

humble identity and focussed on ways we can offer an even better service to our customers.” Preston Hire purposefully moved away from being a product only offering and consciously moved towards a service offering built on trust and respect. “We recognise our SuperDecks are positioned in prime real estate on building sites. They not only reflect the quality of our own brand, but how we value the appearance of our customer’s sites. So, every Preston Hire SuperDeck is inspected, repaired and freshly painted before being delivered to a new job, ensuring consistent, clean and respectable equipment is always supplied,” he said. Building the profile of the business and increasing awareness of the Preston Hire brand have also been key strategies. Markus Preston, group managing director and David Serg, group general manager

July 2019 CAL / 19

UP FRONT / PRESTON HIRE

SuperDecks are inspected, repaired and freshly painted before being delivered to site.

“Preston Hire had previously been described as the ‘industry’s best kept secret’ so we took actions to change that,”said Serg. In 2016, Preston Hire embarked on a three year partnership with Australia’s leading motorsport category – the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship. As naming rights sponsor of the Team 18 vehicle, Preston Hire Racing was established, taking the brand to an enormous audience at a national level. “We were seeking a platform that would allow us to connect with our customers in a unique and dynamic way, engage our staff, and deliver mass brand recognition,” Preston said. Preston also mentioned that Preston Hire Racing led to thousands of people being exposed to the campaigns yellow and black branding and connected the logo at the racetrack with the equipment on construction sites. “The racing enabled us to share unique experiences with customers and form really valuable and rewarding relationships,” Preston explained. “Our staff wholeheartedly embraced the team atmosphere, wore their race shirts with pride, and cheered on the success of the team and driver. Preston Hire Racing played a major role in us standing apart from competitors 20 / CAL July 2019

and starting new conversations with customers.” Behind the scenes, Preston Hire has invested in safety measures and technology to help maintain the fleet and improve support and service levels for customers. “We identified that not many crane companies have ISO Quality Assurance. We work incredibly hard to maintain and continually improve our processes and procedures to ensure this internationally recognised quality assurance certificate will always be held by Preston Hire. Safety is at the core of our business and we confidently communicate that we are internationally recognised as having best practice, which helps to set us apart,” said Preston. “We identified the need for an easier way to improve visibility across the multiple work sites we were servicing and the multitude of crane movements we have each week. With a commitment to safety, efficiency and making our customer’s lives easier, we needed a solution,” said Preston. “The company’s partnership with Teletrac Navman started in 2008, when one of its larger cranes was legally required to enrol in the Intelligent Access program. Conversations led to the trial of an in-vehicle unit installation to test

the accuracy of the data it collected and potential fleet management technologies that could improve other aspects of Preston’s day-to-day operations. We were so impressed with the results we installed DIRECTOR software across all of our service cranes,” Preston said. “The technology allows us to track all of our cranes, including movement and on-site activity. DIRECTOR gives our management and admin staff access to a range of data, such as work hours and the condition of its internals. This enables us to stay on top of maintenance, safety and continued delivery of great customer service.” Mike Thomas, Preston Hire’s operations manager said, “When we send out our equipment and operators, we want to ensure they’re safe at all times.” “That’s why we opted to install the most advanced units in our cranes to record anomalies, such as overriding. We want to know that our people are safe,” Thomas said. Another technology innovation introduced at Preston Hire is the application of a QR Code to every machine within the fleet providing a link to a live information portal. The portal holds information about that product, the service history for that unit, specifications of the model and other necessary information so the operator is completely educated on the machinery they are operating. Preston said future growth is very much the priority for the company, along with ensuring that it maintains superior service, product and quality in all that it does. With over 20 years experience, the Preston team have learnt that quality and safety will always remain key to their success. “Looking ahead, we strive for the continued growth of our people and our product offering. We will listen to our customers and always work to meet their needs,” he said. “From a group perspective, we will be looking at continuing international expansion in markets we deem ready for the Preston spirit and the way we do business. We are ready to continue levelling up!”

CICA PRESIDENT’S REPORT

PRESIDENT’S REPORT Road access, an industry wide issue. A RECENT SURVEY OF CICA MEMBERS IN New South Wales confirmed there is still some confusion regarding the Return of Delegations project. Cooler mornings and shorter evenings are here, which means that getting out of bed is a bit harder and the daylight hours are limited. CICA’s Victorian/Tasmanian liaison officer, John Humphries, recently wrote a safety bulletin highlighting some practical ways to manage working at night or during suboptimal lighting conditions. The safety bulletins that John writes, are a fantastic resource for toolbox talks and can be downloaded from the Vic/Tas State page on the CICA website. I would encourage you, if you don’t already do so, to look at them or to get in touch with John to be added to the mailing list. The last edition of Cranes and Lifting touched on the Return of Delegations project currently being undertaken by National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NVHR) and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). The NHVR will soon coordinate road access applications from start to finish, liaising directly with industry and road managers to manage applications and issue permits. While the NHVR have been assisted in the past by state and local governments in processing some applications, all access permit delegations and processing is currently being transferred (“returned”) back to the body. While all change can be daunting, the reason the National Operational Strategy and Policy Advisory Group within NHVR has endorsed this, is to overcome obstacles such as inconsistency between local governments and to reduce the red tape burden. The NHVR portal is a an efficient process that will modernise road access applications, but as is always the case with everything new, a 22 / CAL July 2019

commitment to overcome the learning curve is required. In April, CICA sent our New South Wales members a survey in reference to the Return of Delegations Project, to gain an understanding of how much was known about the project and how our membership would be impacted by the project plans. Some of the outcomes of the survey are listed below: • We had a 63 per cent response rate Of those who responded, 59 per cent were not aware of the coming changes • 73 per cent of companies who responded had not applied for a permit through the NHVR portal • 76 per cent of respondents stated that they required additional training • 62 per cent of crane companies opted for face to face or video streaming training • 84 per cent of crane owners wanted to know more about the changes • Some of the concerns, owners identified: -H ow easy will the system be to use? -A m I able to get to emergency jobs quickly? -H ow long will it take to process permit applications? •L ack of knowledge possessed by local governments about cranes

CICA president Tom Smith

-W hether the duration of permit is too short? -T he cost and administrative burden of permit applications -L ack of harmonisation (different rules in different states) -S ome road managers have a limited understanding of load sharing suspension CICA, together with NHVR and RMS are working hard to manage this process and provide opportunities to crane owners, road managers and local governments to familiarise themselves with what the changes mean and how things will be done moving forward.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) will soon coordinate road access applications from start to finish, liaising directly with industry and road managers to manage applications and issue permits.While the NHVR have in the past, been assisted by state and local governments in processing some applications, all access permit delegations and processing is currently being transferred (“returned”) back to the body. www.cranesandlifting.com.au

CICA will be holding a local government information day in June to work towards approvals for permit-free road travel. It is of no use, burying one’s head in the sand and pretending that this is all going away, so I urge all crane owners to get involved with the training being offered. There are numerous online, and face-to-face opportunities being offered by the NHVR and at CICA NSW branch meetings, but these organisations can only do so much. Ultimately, a large proportion of responsibility lays with us crane owners. The CICA NSW state page on the CICA website has links to training sessions and information. Damien Hense, the CICA Road Safety liaison officer, is also willing to answer your questions, so get in touch. Another exciting initiative is the research being done by The Centre for Work Health and Safety, Safework NSW who recently conducted expert discussion groups in Parramatta and Sydney, to discuss matters impacting crane safety. The discussion groups were facilitated by Ron Wakefield and James Harley from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), who have partnered with the Centre for WHS on this project. The shared knowledge gained from lived experience is imperative for identifying and addressing safety gaps, so thank you to everyone who gave their time to contribute to this. The overall aim of the project is to gain a better understanding of the causes of crane-related incidents and the strategies, programs and approaches that have been successfully implemented to prevent them. This project is ongoing, so you may be approached to contribute to this discussion in the future. Consultation around safety issues pertaining to cranes is an area that CICA is continually involved, and

During the QLD Regional Meeting, CICA QLD were commended for their recently developed the Outrigger app. This app is freely available for users to estimate the required bog mat or timber area for a given crane and load combination. The tool estimates the peak outrigger pressure using the formula in the Qld Mobile Crane Code of Practice, which was originally found in the Rigging Handbook in the 1990s.

encouraging involvement, in. Your input is essential in helping us build a safer future working with cranes. I’m encouraged to hear about how CICA branches are engaging with and for their members. Hearing what others are doing leads to a cross-pollination of ideas, which has always been a hallmark of CICA, and the type of culture we want to promote. Our forebears were exceptional thought leaders, and in this edition we honour another Life Member, John Gillespie, who is still serving CICA today. We also pay our respects to Hugh Morris, a man of action, a trail blazer and selfless contributor to our industry. During the QLD Regional Meeting, CICA QLD were commended for their recently developed Outrigger app. This app is freely available for users to estimate the required bog mat or timber area for a given crane and load combination. The tool estimates the peak outrigger pressure using the formula in the Qld Mobile Crane Code of Practice, which was originally found in the Rigging Handbook in the 1990s. Results from the calculator can be emailed or SMSed to site or back to the office for record keeping. CICA SA are planning an awesome family fun day for August to raise money for Make-a-Wish foundation. Their Cranes for a Cause event will be held at Morphetville Racecourse, with

eight cranes, a simulator as well as other attractions. It will be an exceptional opportunity for members of the community to learn more about, and rub shoulders with, the crane industry, while supporting such a worthwhile cause. You’ll read in this edition how the Tasmanian Bridge Assessment Tool, with the assistance of CICA Members, Chris and Cathy Koldjzie and CICA Vic/ Tas liaison officer, John Humphries, has been developed and how this tool is working toward negating permits altogether. CICA is always looking for ways to achieve better outcomes for you, your employees and businesses, so please take every opportunity on offer to attend meetings and be engaged. Planning is underway for the Conference and if you haven’t already registered or booked a booth, get in touch with Tracey Watson. The “Lift of the Year Awards”, sponsored by Cranes and Lifting, are another way to get involved and showcase the work you do. It’s an opportunity to benchmark your efforts with others in the industry and be recognised. I am looking forward to catching up with many of you in the Hunter Valley. Tom Smith CICA President Managing Director – McKay United 0439 130 567 July 2019 CAL / 23

CICA INTERVIEW

CHANGES TO AS1418.1 STANDARD Brandon Hitch, CEO, The Crane Council of Australia

CAL: WHAT IS THE STANDARD AIMED AT DOING? BH: The new revision of the AS1418.1 Standard will provide uniform requirements within Australia, for the design and construction of cranes, hoists, winches and their components, and appliances intended to carry out similar functions and similar lifting appliances. CAL: WHO WILL BENEFIT MOST? BH: The crane operator, although this may not be obvious since AS1418.1 is a design standard, is not a safe use standard. There are 10,000:1 crane operator to crane designers in Australia. The modernisation of the design standard indirectly improves the latest safety features and operational benefits to the operator. Cranes have evolved over the years and ISO Standards have been reviewed

The Australian Standards for cranes are being transformed to make them more relevant for developments in crane technology. Cranes and Lifting magazine spoke to Brandon Hitch, CEO, The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA), about the changes. and revised to accommodate changes to modern cranes which is what the user and industry need. The new AS1418.1 revision refers to the ISO standards which are regularly reviewed and updated. Operating a crane is high risk work, so crane design must follow the latest Standard. New Standards address issues such as fatigue through knowledge gained from failures to give safer workplace for the operator. Many of the specific crane types reference this general standard, so updates to AS1418.1 have a flow-on effect for tower cranes, bridge and gantry cranes, hoists, etc. CAL: IS THERE ANYTHING UNIQUE ABOUT THE STANDARD? BH: The new AS1418.1 Standard

After the revision of AS 1418.1 and ISO standards are adopted as Australian Standards and published in 2020, the AS 2550.1 will be taken up for revision. 24 / CAL July 2019

considers the latest international standards relevant to each section and publishes a series of standards in preference to incorporating them in the one part. So, when new editions of relevant International Standards became available, they can be adopted and published within the framework of AS 1418.1 with minimum delay, ensuring continued international alignment. The downside of this approach is that several ISO standards are required for purchase and the historical Australian Standards acquired over time are no longer relevant to AS1418.1. CAL: IS IT A REVISED OR COMPLETELY NEW PUBLICATION? IS THERE AN INTERNATIONAL EQUIVALENT OR ANYTHING AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL? BH: This revision will have only the Australian specific requirements, recommendations and information and all other sections will refer to the respective ISO Standards with modification and adopted as new AS Standards. Some contents in the old version that apply to only one type of crane, have been deleted from the new Standard and will be moved to their applicable part. CAL: WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE ON THE INDUSTRY? BH: Our Australian crane design Standards will align with international crane technology developments, this

Cranes have evolved over the years and ISO Standards have been reviewed and revised to accommodate changes to modern cranes which is what the user and industry need. The new AS1418.1 revision refers to the ISO standards which are regularly reviewed and updated.

supports Australia’s growing reliance on and participation in, the global manufacturing environment and various international trade agreements. CAL: IS THERE A BIGGER PROGRAM OF WORK FOR THE COMMITTEE? BH: As there is no one equivalent ISO standard to replace AS1418.1 -2001, multiple ISO standards were adopted in the new revision. The committee work program consists of more than 20 projects including: • Identify the appropriate ISO standards • Evaluate each identified individual ISO standard, and the changes and modifications required for the adoption. • Develop modified appendices where ISO Standards are adopted with modifications • Develop modified appendices where revisions are needed on the contents from the old version After the revision of AS 1418.1 and ISO standards are adopted as Australian Standards and published in 2020, the AS 2550.1 will be taken up for revision. The forward work program will be to review each crane-specific standard to assess the impact of the new AS1418.1 and determine if a revision is required. For more information, please email: Alice Edwards at projeng@cica.com.au

CICA BOARD 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 Hervay CICA Administration Officer (NSW, QLD & NT Secretariat) 0403 717 626 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 0440 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 0410 003 759 michelle@cica.com.au 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. July 2019 CAL / 25

CICA INDUSTRY REPORT

Apps are helping to reduce paperwork relating to safety.

REVIEW, RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESEARCH FOR A SAFER TOMORROW Findings from the first national review of Work Health and Safety laws have been released by Safe Work Australia. INDEPENDENT REVIEWER, MARIE BOLAND handed down her findings in the “Review of the model Work Health and Safety laws: Final report” in March this year. The report is currently available for download on the Safe Work Australia website. This report was the first national review of the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws in Australia and was undertaken at the request of government ministers whose portfolios housed responsibility for WHS matters. In determining the terms of reference, it was also agreed that content and operation of the model WHS laws would be reviewed every five years. The 195-page document makes for interesting and confronting reading, 26 / CAL July 2019

as Marie Boland says, “Workplace injuries and deaths ruin lives and shatter families”. In the report, she makes 34 recommendations and advocates for the strengthening and maintaining the drive for national harmonisation of WHS laws across jurisdictions. Feedback Boland received during consultations was that a degree of confusion and complexity exists surrounding WHS laws and regulations. Among others, the two most significant findings of the review for the crane industry include: he way Safe Work Method 1. T Statements (SWMS) are operating Boland observed that SWMS for high-risk construction work drew considerable negative feedback during

the review (on page154) and found that this resulted from a more general misunderstanding of the requirements of the regulations. Boland made the following recommendations to combat the current issues with SWMS: -R ecommendation 29a: Add a SWMS template to the WHS Regulations ecommendation 29b: Develop an -R intuitive, interactive tool to support the completion of fit-for-purpose SWMS 2. C urrent high-risk work licensing requirements are outdated Boland agreed with the assessment by The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA), that the current model for acquiring High Risk Work Licences was outdated and not reflecting the needs of current workplace practices, to ensure

operators are sufficiently trained. - Recommendation 33 calls for a review of crane licence classes to ensure that they remain relevant to contemporary work practices and equipment It is unknown at this stage whether the Federal Government will implement all of the recommendations made in the review, but there has been action at a state level. The Centre for WHS invited those involved in the crane industry to be part of discussion groups, alongside other crane professionals, to discuss the problems affecting crane safety and brainstorm potential solutions to the identified problems. The discussion groups were facilitated throughout May, by Ron Wakefield and James Harley from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), who partnered with the Centre for WHS on this project. The 90-minute focus groups were confidential, and the most common themes that arose were: • Issues with registered training organisations uality of, and inconsistencies in, -Q training otential conflict of interest, tensions -P between profit over quality • High risk work license - five-day course inadequate - I nsufficient for high-risk environments -D oes the traineeship help solve this problem? • Complacency of some operators -P aperwork – burdensome, needs to be simplified -P rocedural overload leads to “group think” -R eliance on the “process” leaves little room for operator initiative/ experience • Availability and reliability of statistics/data to substantiate safety claims (incident numbers) - I ssues with the quality and volume of data oes the base data being used to -D inform assumptions/decisions truly represent what is happening on site?

• Use of “override” functions within cranes - This functionality results in high risk behaviour from some operators • Fitness for work - Reported increases of drug and alcohol incidents and the flow on effects for safety Once completed, this study will yield relevant findings for all stakeholders in the crane industry. CICA has already taken a proactive

approach to solution-based programs such as initiating and exploring traineeship/apprenticeship options in most states and the CrewSafe program is gaining traction and uptake. CICA would like to thank Paul Churchill for his willingness to lead a working group and facilitate crane industry input into the research, as well as those who attended the focus groups. Together, we can work for a safe and progressive industry.

PAUL CHURCHILL THOUGHTS ON HIS EXPERIENCE As an industry, we need to ensure that we are looking for root cause(s), when trying to develop systematic methods of rectifying the problems we face and to provide proper and meaningful training for the crane industry workforce of the future. It is important to ask questions like; is the current crane licencing regime effective or relevant? What does a HRWL achieve and how does it ensure a sufficient level of competency of the holder? Is it reasonable that a course for $1000-$3000 and five days (four days learning and a one day assessment), often with less than one or two hours “seat time” can yield a High-Risk Work Licence (HRWL) for crane operation? I am encouraged that authorities have asked for feedback from industry stakeholders to participate and contribute to solutions, and from my understanding, the forum participants all voiced their concerns. The above-mentioned topics were certainly prevalent in the session I attended, along with the matter of mobile phone use, specifically social media addiction – with time being taken to post items and the flurry of “likes” often occurring during work hours. The topic of Verification of Competency (VOCs) was also discussed in detail, and it became clear that industry does not have much faith in the current VOC system and its implementation. Confusion around which VOCs are accepted on which sites was a common theme, as was the anomaly when someone is considered competent the day prior to their VOC expiry date and then incompetent the next day, even if they have operated that crane type every day. These highlight a problem with the current system. Hopefully current HRWL and VOC requirements, their relevance and real-life application will be evaluated as part of this review and not just the type and size levels of crane HRWLs. This is a real opportunity for the industry and the authorities to make some overdue changes to get some very important things right. If the five day HRWL course survives (and I hope it doesn’t), it should at least be coupled with a mandatory equivalent length of time “mentoring” course, conducted by CICA-nominated and experienced industry people, who can provide applicable real-life, industry-based training. We need to take a serious look at training, as I believe most in the industry will admit the current regime is not producing the results needed for a nominated high-risk industry. The induction and paperwork overload that has crept in over recent years has created an administrative burden. Paperwork in differing formats reduces the likelihood that personnel understand what’s required of them or that they will even read it. Unfortunately, these days, their signature on a JSA, SWMS or any of the many other pre-work documents thrust in front of them at various sites are often not a true reflection of their understanding of the document(s) they have signed. If this research and consultation process marks the beginning of authentic change, then I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the crane industry. July 2019 CAL / 27

CICA INDUSTRY REPORT

NATIONAL CLASS 1 SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLE (SPV) NOTICE If crane operators meet requirements, travel permits are no longer required for travelling in Queensland. A JOINT COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA), the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in 2016/17, resulted in all Queensland council road managers (excluding a few remote councils in far north Queensland) consenting to the National Class 1 Special Purpose Vehicles Notice. This means that crane operators meeting requirements of the notice no longer require permits when travelling in Queensland, unless access is needed within a restricted area (often a restricted structure). 2019 – QUEENSLAND SPV NETWORK DEVELOPMENT Following the success of the 2016/17

collaboration, the LGAQ, CICA and the NHVR are collaborating once again, this time with a focus on the development of networks for all-terrain cranes (a vehicle type of SPVs). With the NHVR’s Return of Delegations project likely to transition the responsibility for issuing permits from the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) back to the NHVR before the end of 2019, the development of networks for SPVs is vital in ensuring a smooth transition. To assist councils in understanding the benefits and risks involved in the movement of SPVs, the LGAQ facilitated 12 Heavy Vehicle Workshops throughout Queensland. These workshops were attended by 40 different councils and over 100 council officers. The agenda included technical engineering information about SPVs

(impacts on pavements/structures and conditions of operation) and a presentation from CICA representative David “Chalky” White, who was able to provide an operator’s perspective. To date, 18 councils have provided access by exclusion to certain categories of all-terrain cranes, with many of the other attending councils currently investigating how they can assist the SPV industry, whilst ensuring any impacts on their network are safely managed. The work to date demonstrates the importance of collaboration and how sharing information, knowledge and raising issues constructively can lead to achieving shared objectives such as; increased/safer access for industry and reduction in administrative burden on councils, while ensuring vulnerable council assets are protected.

Steve Gonano, Chairman CICA, QLD and CEO of Burpengary Cranes, Damien Hense CICA, Jason Stewart, NHVR, Robert Chow, LGAQ, Scott Hutchison, Council of Mayors South East Queensland, and David “Chalky” White, CICA. 28 / CAL July 2019

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CICA MEMBER PROFILE John Gillespie, MD, Gillespies Crane & Access.

LIFEMEMBER JOHN GILLESPIE We continue the series of profiles on CICA life members with an interview with industry stalwart John Gillespie from Gillespies Crane and Access.

30 / CAL July 2019

CAL: WHAT WAS YOUR PATHWAY TO ENTER INTO THE CRANE INDUSTRY? JG: I left school and joined the family business that my father had already started, and I knew that I would be in the business for some time to come.

Gillespies has been supplying cranes sice 1950.

CAL: WHAT WAS YOUR ROLE IN THE INDUSTRY? JG: I did whatever was needed in the business – cleaning up around the place, dogging, crane driving and whatever else that was necessary for the family business to survive. CAL: HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED AS A VOLUNTEER WITH EITHER CICA AND/OR A STATE CRANE ASSOCIATION? JG: I decided to start attending a couple of state association meetings as we were a member, and I found that I had an interest in it and it started to develop from that. It seemed to me that the “old blood” needed some “new blood” and it went from there. As I had more involvement, my interest in contributing to the industry grew and many, many years later. CAL: WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE INDUSTRY? JG: The technological developments and advances that have occurred with cranes, such as the enormous gains in

lift capacities, boom lengths and the massive advancements in the carriers and their abilities with such things as multi-steered axles and hydro-pneumatic suspension, and the comfort now available for the driver. CAL: WHAT IS / WAS THE MOST REWARDING ACHIEVEMENT MADE BY CICA AND /OR A STATE CRANE ASSOCIATION? JG: For the state association, it was winning the “Holy Grail” 12t per axle up to 9 axles. Unfortunately, we only won half of the “Holy Grail”, as NSW has 12t per axle up to 5 axles, but not much access to the road network. For CICA, it’s been the “One Association” project and I think it will be fantastically beneficial for our industry now that we are united and working together.

CAL: WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SEEN THE “ONE ASSOCIATION” HAPPEN EARLIER? JG: No, I think the timing was fine and the industry was probably more ready for it when it did happen, than it may have been previously. CAL: HOW DID PARTICIPATING AS A VOLUNTEER WITH CICA AND/OR A STATE ASSOCIATION BENEFIT YOUR THROUGH YOUR TIME IN THE INDUSTRY? JG: Its increased contacts/business and industry relationships and it no doubt improved our brand awareness, even though every now and then it may have some negative side effects. It also gives you a good feeling to know you have contributed. CAL: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW COMERS TO THE INDUSTRY? JG: “Are you mad? Don’t do it!” Seriously though, get involved with the association as it gives you the opportunity to help drive change and improvements. More contributors are always needed and welcomed. The industry can’t continue to rely on a small number of volunteers, or the same few people that always seem to make the time to contribute. It would be great to never hear “I haven’t got the time” as the industry needs more of us to somehow make the time, so I would really encourage new comers to bring that “new blood”. Gillespies fleet include articulated pick and carry through to 350t Heavy Lift Crawler Crane.

July 2019 CAL / 31

COMING SOON

EXISTING FLEET

TIDD PC25

TIDD PC28 + SUPERLIFT COUNTERWEIGHT

ALL FITTED WITH SLEWSAFE + DYNAMIC LMI SYSTEMS

www.melrosecranes.com.au R

Contact details Ryan Melrose General Manager ryan@melrosecranes.com.au +61 428 299 800

ISO 9001:2015

REGISTERED COMPANY Certificate No. AUP1279CA

ISO 45001:2018 & AS/NZS 4801:2001

REGISTERED COMPANY Certificate No. AUP1279HS

Paul Churchill Technical Manager technical@melrosecranes.com.au +61 419 186 850

Slew SafeTM Exclusive to the TIDD Crane, Slew SafeTM can eliminate pick and carry crane rollovers, which are costly to operations and often people! This simple and effective system restricts the driver from operating off the chart. With audible and visual alarms along with steering restrictions, Slew SafeTM canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be over-ridden but will operate again when the load is back in the green. This sets a new standard in safety and industry best practice! Patent Pending: 741038

CICA MEMBER PROFILE

Installing the drop-in cricket pitch at Utas Stadium.

APPLE ISLE CRANE BUSINESS HELPS RESOLVE ROAD ACCESS ISSUE Cranes Combined is Tasmania’s largest crane hire business. It has also played a major role in determining a new road access system for cranes, likely to be rolled out across the country. THE BUSINESS STARTED IN LAUNCESTON, in 1995 when John Morgan, his wife Geraldine and Chris Kolodziej and his wife Cathy, decided to go into business together. “We started the business in 1995, Cathy and I had bought our first slew crane and John had a back-end crane/ winch truck. In 1996, we bought our first crane together, a Linmac all-wheel drive pick and carry crane. Together, we came up with the name Cranes Combined and continued from there,” said Kolodziej. The business gained momentum, more cranes were purchased and they

expanded into Hobart. Initially, this started as a small operation there, with two employees. “We grew quite rapidly and when John decided to retire in December 2010, we purchased his half of the business and started a program of further modernisation, putting in systems and processes to help streamline the business and to enhance safe work and OH&S practices,” said Kolodziej. “Part of this process was to upgrade machinery and we bought a number of new cranes. In recent years, we’ve placed a strong emphasis on updating our fleet,”

he said. Four years ago, Statewide Cranes, a Hobart company Cranes Combined had worked in with, approached the Kolodziejs about selling their crane operation to them. “We took the plunge, which expanded our business and fleet considerably,” Kolodziej said. “With the purchase of Statewide Cranes, we took on a larger depot in Derwent Park, Hobart and the whole Statewide crew merged with ours, expanding our Hobart operation from 3 to 12 employees, and from 5 to 14 cranes. Today, we have 33 plus employees and July 2019 CAL / 33

CICA MEMBER PROFILE

the Hobart team totals 21,” he said. Cranes Combined operates more than 30 cranes in a mixed fleet with capacities from 2.8t to 220t. Their fleet is made up of brands including Maeda, Tadano, Kobelco, Kato, Demag, Link Belt, Liebherr, Grove, Franna and Linmac. The largest crane in the fleet is currently a Tadano ATF220t. According to Kolodziej, the purchase of cranes depends on market demands, and now road access plays a large part in crane selection. “We have a mixed fleet in terms of brands. Last year we bought a 5 axle Grove GMK5150L and earlier this year we took delivery of a Grove GMK4100L. We picked this model because of the length (60m) of the main boom, and it has a good line pull on the winch, which certainly helped with our decision,” he said. “A lot of our business is general hire, but we also have some major contracts

with organisations like TasNetworks the state’s electricity provider, Telstra, Boral and quite a few other major entities. When major projects occur in Hobart and Launceston and there’s a requirement for cranes to assist, we’ll be there as well, so we are right across everything. Although there are crane hire businesses that have larger cranes in terms of capacity, we have inadvertently become the largest crane hire company in Tasmania,” he said. When it comes to Tasmanian roads and crane access, Kolodziej has a story of pain and passion to tell. “Back around 2014, the various state governments were keen to see a uniform set of rules across the whole of Australia, targeting the interstate transport and haulage sectors, the appetite for change was certainly there,” he said. “The purpose was to simplify the rules for pilot vehicles and escorts etc. where different rules for each state applied. Unloading a rail Tampa machine.

34 / CAL July 2019

That was the whole driving force behind the initiative. Then one of the Tasmanian bridge engineers said, ‘What about cranes?’” With this, a long process of negotiation began with the Department of State Growth (DSG) and the Crane Industry Reference Group (which included many of the state’s crane operators), and it resulted in the crane owners being told where they could and could not travel. “This immediately had a detrimental effect on our business. Overnight, we had three non-compliant cranes, which we had to sell at fire sale prices, and replaced them with premium priced machines. It cost us a lot of money,” said Kolodziej. The cranes were now too heavy and didn’t comply with the new bridge requirements and Kolodziej, with the rest of the crane industry faced a massive battle, with large parts of the state inaccessible. “From having almost no restraints on where we could travel, we suddenly had the worst road network in the country and we had to apply for permits, which would take up to and over 28 days to be approved,” said Kolodziej. “Even our Frannas needed permits to access streets that garbage trucks and cement trucks had easy access to. “There were 29 councils in Tasmania, and the people managing the infrastructure had this issue thrust upon them. Some were inexperienced in the field and had little or no time to process permits, so these were virtually placed into the ‘too hard basket’,” he said. “They were now responsible for the bridges in their jurisdiction and suddenly they were concerned. The result for us was that we had little or no access to council roads and we faced excruciating wait times for the issue of permits. We had used these bridges for years, one day we could cross them and the next we couldn’t.” Kolodziej met with the Minister for Infrastructure, with the DSG, Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) and meetings included all the council

representatives and road managers from the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT). Kolodziej made powerpoint presentations to them illustrating what the road and bridge access was like for other cities around Australia. He demonstrated that the distance travelled by cranes, compared to heavy haulage vehicles is 0.01 of 1 per cent of kilometres travelled, which is almost negligible in comparison. “I showed them how little damage cranes cause to the road network. We used films and demonstrations of various tests conducted in yards and how travelling around a gravel yard on full lock in an all-terrain crane barely turned a stone,” he said. “CICA even produced a film of us installing a spa over a house with a 4 axle 100t crane with full counterweights in a narrow street, showing before and after shots of the street and road surface, which remained unchanged. “I had many meetings with Simon Buxton and his team at the DSG outlining the problems we have faced, and collaboratively there has been significant progress. I regularly travel to Brisbane with CICA to meet with NHVR key personnel to try to improve road access Australia wide, and they are keen to see the finished product that Tasmania’s DSG comes up with,” he said. “To their credit, the DSG and LGAT came to realise that the ‘crane problem’ wasn’t as bad as they had thought, and they also understood that without cranes, industry stops. They decided to try to make this work for all parties and so far, appear to have come up with some really good results. “We are still a month or two away before the new system is fully online,” Kolodziej explained. “DSG has worked with the councils bringing them all on board and designed a portal which includes a template for every crane on Tasmania’s roads. When you enter the portal and populate the template with your crane details, you immediately see a map of Tasmania’s

Cathy and Chris taking delivery of 150t Grove crane.

road network and it highlights the roads that a particular crane is permitted to access,” he said. With the entire road network on the screen, the scheduler can determine the best route. If there are red dots, which signify bridges unsuitable to be travelled on, the system will show ways around it. If there are none, the crane owner applies for a permit to cross the bridge. DSG has also assured the crane sector that when bridges are upgraded, strengthened or replaced, they will be added to the state network. Another positive result from these meetings has been the implementation of increased size and capacity of pilot vehicles, which can now legally carry a far greater amount of timber and lifting gear, with the drivers of these larger vehicles now requiring a medium or heavy rigid licence. “The process has probably taken seven or eight years and there has been some very positive dialogue between us and the DSG. Once the system is fully on line, I’m sure it will be worth the effort. However, as always, the proof will be in the pudding,” Kolodziej said. John Humphries CICA Vic/Tasmania Liaison Officer also played a significant role. “CICA has been very supportive throughout this process, especially John

Humphries, Brandon Hitch, and Alice Edwards, and to have their 100 per cent backing has been a real bonus,” he said. Cranes Combined has always tried to maintain a reputation of being a good corporate citizen and, where possible, it has given back to the community. “Where we can, we like to do our bit for the community. We have unloaded a helicopter at Scottsdale and an Armoured Personnel Carrier at South Arm for the RSL, and a Maritime Rescue Vessel, among other jobs, for no charge, depending on the circumstances and funding,” said Kolodziej. “My ex-business partner used to race in speedway when he was younger and sometime ago, he mentioned that the local speedway was looking for a new sponsor and suggested we should take it on,” he said. “I thought it was a good way to say thank you and engage with the community, so we agreed to get involved. 2018 celebrated the 50th anniversary of Cranes Combined Carrick Speedway and it was the 25th year that we have been the sponsor. Apparently, we are the longest running sponsor of any speedway in Australia,” he said. “A lot of good people race and a lot of good people watch, so we see it as an excellent way to give a little back to the community.” July 2019 CAL / 35

Borger cranes is a family owned and operated crane hire and rigging business based in Sydney NSW with deports in Glendenning and Newcastle.

Borger cranes maintain a modern fleet of cranes and equipment with 2 of the largest all terrain mobile cranes on the east coast. With a strong matesmanship and expectation of high quality performance, our team can get the job done for you. Our experienced and industry trained team will deliver nothing but excellence.

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED Glendenning Office

Newcastle Office

Lot 2 Kilto Crescent Glendenning, NSW 2761

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(02) 9832 1044 (02) 9832 1033

(02) 4961 3002 (02) 4961 4561

BORGERCRANES.COM

CICA VALE

IN MEMORY OF HUGH MORRIS

Former Life member and president of the Victorian Crane Association sadly passes. WE WISH TO HONOUR THE LIFE OF HUGH Anthony Morris, who sadly passed away on 22 April 2019. Hugh was a former Life Member and President of the Victorian Crane Association, Board Member of CICA and one of the few Con Popov Medal recipients, awarded to him by industry in 2006. Hugh Anthony Morris otherwise known as “Hughy” was born on 30 January 1943 in Queenscliff, Victoria. At the time, his father was stationed in New Guinea, so Hugh’s birth announcement was relayed via Morse code. Hugh grew up in Melbourne, attending RMIT where he graduated with a Diploma in Building Construction. Upon completing his studies, Hugh joined his brother Tom as 3rd generation members of the family construction business TW Morris & Son, Master Builders. Hugh went on to secure his domestic and commercial building licences and worked alongside his brother Tom for almost 40 years, forging strong bonds and a successful company. While Hugh had a desire to build, he discovered his real passion after purchasing a nine-tonne crane, the CAP LS20. Telescopic booms were “the latest and greatest” in 1973, and this crane proved ideal for their needs, as it was purchased for the construction of the Gorilla Enclosure at the Melbourne Zoo to move materials over the moat. This was a project Hugh was enormously proud of, with the Morris name visible on a plaque for many years at the Zoo. Following completion of the enclosure, they decided to hire the crane to the Melbourne Board of Works, where they secured a 6-week rental. The brothers soon discovered the demand was outstripping their ability to supply. With this, Conmor was born and additional cranes acquired. The name Conmor, was derived from CONstruction and MORris, and while originally

established as a joinery firm to support the building company; it soon became a leading player in the Melbourne crane market. Conmor expanded through the 1980s and worked alongside the TW Morris building company. They had a strong focus on precast concrete installation; and several key cranes were acquired along the way. From the Grove TM1500 to the Coles Colossus 6000, which Hugh and Tom acquired from the Hobart Marine Board. Hugh was a firm believer in the Coles, and always noted this was one of the company’s most successful cranes. Its first job involved many months on the Southgate Towers in Melbourne, with some of its final works with the company; installing the Melbourne Gateway “Cheesestick” and placement of beams on the Exhibition Street Extension in the early 2000s - not bad for a crane built in the 1970s. By the 2000s, Conmor Cranes had grown to be a leading business, peaking at around 40 cranes. Hugh and Tom opted to sell the business to BOOM Logistics in 2002, at the time Hugh also sold his share of the Latrobe Valley business, Heavy Lift Cranes. Throughout his career, Hugh loved devising the methodologies for complicated lifts, and working out a way to perform them with his own fleet. A pivotal project was the raising of the MacRobertson Rd Bridge over the Monash Freeway in Melbourne, a project for which Hugh won an industry award; and managed to find a way to use most of his key fleet. With the Conmor business well known for pre-cast concrete installations, Hugh was considered a pioneer in this sector. He went on to become a key member of the Committee that developed the Pre-cast Code of Practice for the industry. During his career, Hugh contributed tirelessly to the industry spending many years

Hugh Morris

supporting both CICA and the VCA (prior to the One Association Program). Hugh was one of the original participants of the CraneSafe Program and the Conmor fleet became part of this pivotal inspection regime. In the space of 30 years, the Conmor business had grown not only in the industry, but also as in Hugh’s heart – this business brought him great enjoyment. From a young age, Hugh’s three sons Simon, Antony and Nick spent many days in the yard and out on sites, sharing a passion for cranes and building with Hugh. Outside of cranes, Hugh had a passion for family and sailing. His boys have fond memories of weekends with dad, whether it be looking at cranes on a building site, or at the beach. Hugh was regarded as a pioneer and a true gentleman who contributed significantly to the industry and association in many. Our deepest sympathies go to his wife Ann, three sons Simon, Antony, Nick, brother Tom and sister Susan, and their families. Vale Hugh Morris (30/01/1943 – 22/04/2019) July 2019 CAL / 37

CICA WOMEN IN INDUSTRY WINNER

ALICE EDWARDS, WINNER OF THE 2019 INDUSTRY ADVOCACY AWARD The Women in Industry Awards 2019 were held at The Park, Melbourne on 6 June 2019. These awards recognise individuals who are driving change in the road, construction and mining industries. ALICE EDWARDS, TECHNICAL PROJECT engineer at The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) was the winner of the Industry Advocacy Award, which recognises the way she has helped shape a positive view of the crane industry and helped to create policy changes which benefit those working in the sector. Edwards has worked at CICA since 2013, and her work has contributed to the compliance and safety outcomes in the crane industry both nationally and internationally. Edwards represents CICA on Australian Standards and has participated in Standards Australia’s Young Leaders Program. Edwards has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Shenyang University of Technology and a Master’s Degree in Engineering from the Australian National University. She is also a member of Engineers Australia and has recently received her Charter Accreditation (CPEng, NER, RPEQ). Edwards has formulated industry guidance papers, researched and written position papers, the Crane Industry Code of Practice, and industry standards – all of which advocate for a safe and effective crane industry. Edwards regularly presents these at workshops and conferences, to educate, engage and develop key members and stakeholders of the crane industry. Edwards’ position papers have been recognised in the International Crane Stakeholder Assembly which is a consortium of crane manufacturers and users from Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, and US. 38 / CAL July 2019

The work that Edwards is completing in the industry is leading the way to making change in an entire industry sector. Her list of achievements includes being: 1. The first to create a lift planning tool to safely perform multiple crane lifts for industry. 2. The first industry representative to develop an independent bridge assessment tool that correlates to the bridge assessment tools used by government road managers and now expedites road access assessment. 3. The internal auditor for the NATA accreditation of the only crane inspection program in Australia. 4. The lead author for the only Industry Code of Practice for heavy vehicles, currently under review by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NVHR). 5. The project manager for the revision of the popular Crane Safety Manual with over 10,000 copies in circulation in Australia. 6. The content producer for the first CICA App that can be used in the field by crane operators to assess ground conditions before setting up a crane. This app will assist in confirming suitability of the ground before operation, which has been the root cause of multiple fatalities and property damage in the past five years. Prior to joining CICA, Edwards had worked for a consultant company, Parsons Brinckerhoff (now WSP). There,

Alice Edwards is a technical project engineer at The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA)

she worked on several water treatment plant design and construction projects, including the Victoria Desalination Project and the Gippsland Water Factory Upgrade project. In this role, Edwards specialised in equipment specification and procurement, water treatment process design, pipe support design and pipe stress analysis. Edwards has always had a passion for engineering work, she has enjoyed problem solving since she was young. Throughout her career as an engineer, she has overcome many challenges, but this has also afforded her the opportunity to get involved in many different projects and to meet and learn from experts in various fields. Outside of work, Edwards loves to read books about Chinese ancient history and build Lego machines with her son.

Experience the Progress.

Liebherr crawler cranes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; LR Series Superior lifting capacities, on-line load chart calculation Great variety of boom configurations Quick and easy assembly Easy and cost-effective transportation Derrick equipment for enhanced load capacities

Liebherr-Australia Pty. Ltd. 1-15 James Erskine Drive Erskine Park, NSW 2759 Phone: (02) 9852 1800 E-Mail: crawler.cranelas@liebherr.com www.facebook.com/LiebherrConstruction www.liebherr.com.au

IN FOCUS / LIEBHERR TOWER CRANES

Liebherr has 100 tower cranes in the fleet.

LIEBHERR TOWER CRANES: A NEW BEGINNING Liebherr Tower Cranes is transitioning from being represented by a local dealer to a factory direct business since taking over the business activities of Morrow Equipment. IN JANUARY 2019, LIEBHERR TOWER Cranes division took over the Morrow Equipment Co business including facilities in Sydney, Brisbane and Wellington, New Zealand. Morrow Equipment had represented Liebherr Tower cranes for over 30 years. Thomas Schroeder, executive general manager Australia and New Zealand Liebherr Tower Cranes, is working with the former Morrow Equipment team on the transitioning period. Schroeder started with Liebherr in 2007 and has worked within the tower crane business in various countries including Spain, Germany, India and Thailand. With a background in finance, he finds himself transitioning a business from a dealership to a factory direct sales environment. For the last four years, he’s been working at the Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH Germany, looking after the tower crane strategy, including mergers and acquisitions. 40 / CAL July 2019

Morrow Equipment had been the US dealer for 50 years and had been the Liebherr dealer in Australia for over 30 years, so both were extremely wellestablished businesses. According to Schroeder, there were always going to be challenges with the transition. “The Australian tower crane market is predominantly focussed on rental. Morrow has been very successful in the rental market. This new collaboration will enable us to learn from their experience and with the joined forces, we’ll be able to support the Australian market even better,” he said. “When we first took over the operations in Australia, we made the customer the first priority and we didn’t want them to feel there had been change. That was a major focus initially, and I think this has been a success. “My job is to ensure customers continue to receive the same levels of service and support they are used to and gradually introduce the changes to

the internal systems and the way we do things,” he said. According to Schroeder, maintaining service and support is a key strategy and operating on a factory direct basis has obvious benefits. “We haven’t changed any of the support strategies that were in place through Morrow, so there are crane crews that maintain erect and dismantle the cranes and we have a technical support and service team. The main difference is the support we are now able to call upon from the factory. Being so close to the factory does have substantial benefits. “Being part of the Liebherr group gives us the chance to provide stronger sales and service support to our customers,” he said. Liebherr Tower Cranes has a central office in Caringbah, Sydney and a yard in Unanderra, an office and yard in Brisbane, and an office in Wellington. The only difference with the New Zealand operation is that it is not

Thomas Schroeder is the divisional manager for Liebherr Tower Cranes in Australia and New Zealand.

focussed on rentals, that business is sales based. “We have a crane fleet of 100 cranes plus 40 construction hoists. This is new development for Liebherr, it is the first time we have been involved with construction hoists. Once again, this development presents challenges, but we are very happy with the way it is going as it presents a huge business opportunity,” said Schroeder. Typically, Liebherr tower cranes are being rented by tier-one and tier-two builders with customers including Multiplex, CPB and Probuild. “In Australia, we are operating in a market where our competition has been manufacturing locally and is a recognised brand, it’s always difficult to come into a market where a crane company has been manufacturing,” said Schroeder. “However, our product range can provide good lifting solutions to the customer. Our electric cranes offer considerable advantages, such as noise reduction, and the outstanding in-house developed components permit us to offer a product that performs very well. “The key USPs as to why customers come to Liebherr for their tower cranes, and it’s the same reason all over the world, they are safe, they work, and they last forever. The quality of the product is the biggest advantage Liebherr has as a brand, its traditional German engineering and manufacturing at its best,” he said.

Schroeder recognises there is plenty of competition in the Australian market. “The Australian market is influenced by Chinese and other brands from Europe where the crane may be cheaper by comparison. But the one thing a builder wants from his tower crane is reliability. We have a good, reliable product and we have the back up and service to go with it. Morrow has long been recognised for the excellent service provided over many years. It has some very experienced people and our team from Germany has the highest respect for them. Most of them have been with Morrow for more than 20 years and that experience and knowledge is so important during this transitional period,” said Schroeder. Regularly maintaining the tower crane fleet is key to its longevity says Schroeder. “We service our machines regularly, making sure they can provide the best performance when on site. It is not unusual to see 20-year-old Liebherr tower cranes, when well serviced, these cranes can last for far longer than that,” he said. In a crowded market with most of the global brands represented one way or another, Schroeder is realistic with his vision and expectations for the business. “The first step is to focus on the integration process and we obviously plan to maintain, service and support the rental business. We also intend to develop the sales side of the business in both Australia and New Zealand,” he said. “We are happy with where the

business is at, but we do expect to expand it. As a manufacturer, we want to show the market what we can do, and this means further improving our service and support and introducing new models. It’s a bauma year and a lot of new technology was released at the show. “We are looking forward to offering the newest products and technologies to our Australian customers and to show what we are capable of doing,” he said. With construction forecasts mixed and areas like high-rise residential beginning to cool, Schroeder can see opportunities for the business, especially in the infrastructure space “We benefit from the global Liebherr structure, which gives us direct access to the factory but also to the extensive support and know-how the group has. This will allow us to be more ambitious when expanding our operations in Australia and New Zealand. For example, we are now able to access the technical resources from the group when it comes to applications works. Simply put, we have brought the factory closer to our customers,” he said. “Liebherr has proven, many times that challenging projects can be managed, for example the Lakhta Tower in Saint Petersburg. This project demonstrated the wide selection of possibilities Liebherr can offer. We realise that when we have the opportunity we have to deliver, that means having the right cranes available at the right time,” said Schroeder.

Liebherr 316 EC-H operating on the Gold Coast for Optimus. July 2019 CAL / 41

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IN FOCUS / BEN BADEN

CRANE BUSINESS ALL OVER NEW TIDD All Over Rigging Cranes recently purchased the first TIDD PC28. BARRY CASEY IS THE OWNER AND FOUNDER of All Over Rigging (AOR Cranes). “We first started out in 1993 with a 20t Tadano. We started out mainly managing steel erection and mechanical installation work, and when there wasn’t any work for the crane, we would just park it up. It wasn’t until someone said I should utilise the crane better and look at general crane hire. I realised there was an opportunity and I took it more seriously and started to go after a bit more work. Casey could see there was plenty of demand and he hasn’t looked back. “I sold the Tadano and picked up a Liebherr from Anthony Davis and Ben Baden, from the then GM Baden, and that’s when the business really started to take off,” he said. Safety and planning are key strategies for Casey. “At AOR we take the time to really understand the work, which hopefully ensures the job goes smoothly for the client. This includes a full inspection of the job site, detailed planning and supply of all lift studies as well as a full assessment of job safety analysis and safe work method statements,” he said. Casey had some experience with the previous model of the TIDD articulated pick and carry crane. “A couple of years ago we were operating a different brand of an articulated pick and carry crane and it broke down. I took it to The Crane Connection to have it fixed and Anthony loaned us one of the MK 1 TIDDs whilst the other machine was being repaired. We had that for about a month and we were quite impressed with the way it operated but felt it was a little under powered for what we required,” he said. “Then last year, Anthony mentioned that the TRT had been working on a new version of the TIDD and he thought it might be of interest. We were invited to

All Over Rigging buys first TIDD PC28.

visit the TRT facility in New Zealand and meet the team behind the new model,” he said. “The whole experience was so refreshing. We walked through the manufacturing facilities where everyone on the production floor greeted us with a smile, it was obvious they were really into their work. The senior management team couldn’t have been more welcoming and had all the time in the world for us,” said Casey. “The design and engineering team was genuinely interested in our feedback on the new machine, asked how our experience had been with the previous model and wanted to know what we thought could be done to improve the new model. I was so impressed, I put my name down for the first unit there and then,” he said. Casey believes pick and carry cranes are not inherently dangerous with most accidents coming down to operator error. “Articulated pick and carry cranes have a reputation around the industry and, in my view, there are too many

accidents. I know a lot of the Tier One builders won’t have them on site. “That’s where the TIDD Slew Safe system is so impressive, it is designed to remove operator error,” he said. Slew Safe is designed to prevent rollovers and works with a number of features including audible alarms, ECU warnings and a Power Steering de-ration to prevent further articulating into an overload situation. The TIDD PC28 is the only articulated pick and carry crane with this level of safety. Slew Safe is an effective system to restrict the driver from operating off the chart. With audible and visual alarms along with steering restriction. Slew Safe cannot be over-ridden but will operate again when the load is back in the green. “I reckon the Slew Safe system is going to change the way the industry looks at the articulated pick and carry crane,” said Casey. “It improves safety for everyone working around the crane, it reduces risk and improves the duty of care. I reckon it’s a game changer,” he said. July 2019 CAL / 43

IN FOCUS / COSMO CRANES

INTERNAL STACKER CRANE: AN AUSTRALIAN FIRST Cosmo Cranes has installed a Terex Internal Climbing System HD12 (for use with a CTL 340-24 luffing jib tower crane) which is a first for the Australian crane industry and only the second time it’s been employed in the world. THE PROJECT IS THE LENNOX, CHURCH Street, Parramatta. It’s a 48-storey building, 176m in height. The crane system started in the lift pit below basement level eight and it is providing all the hook work for the job. It’s the sole crane on the project and operating six days a week, so the builder is getting good use from it.

The design of this system with the supporting structure means it is quicker to climb. 44 / CAL July 2019

Damian Hibbert is a civil structural engineer specialising in construction engineering including temporary works, materials handling equipment, as well as equipment that’s found on a construction site to assist in the construction of the building including staging installation works and other structural works outside the scope of the building engineer. He designed the tower crane climbing system’s support structures. “One of my clients is Cosmo Cranes and this project is using an internal climbing system HD19 from Terex. It hasn’t been used in Australia before,” he said. “It is a project that required a tower crane using an internal climbing system to erect the tower inside the building and we looked at a few different options. With the size of the job it was only really a one-crane job. To install a tower crane with an external climbing system up the building was considered too expensive and would delay finishes. There are too many towers, too many ties and we were fairly limited with where we could secure the crane on the outside,” said Hibbert. “The obvious solution was to use a tower crane with an internal climbing system and recover it with a roof-top crane at the end of the project. This would be more cost effective than running with a tower crane using an external climbing system,” he said. “We are quite limited with space in the core with this project. It’s fairly tight, so a lot of the typical internal climbers couldn’t fit so we looked at a few options with Cosmo Cranes and different manufacturers with the

Internal climbers are governed by deflection and how much clearance there is.

climbing system itself.” It was always intended to put the Terex CTL 340-24 luffing jib tower crane on top, it was just whether the project required a Terex Comedil internal or external climbing system. After researching the options and looking at the way the system works, it was decided the internal climbing system HD19 would be perfect. It’s quite quick to stage the tower-crane climbing system’s support structure, which is adaptable for future jobs, so there is longevity in the support structure. In essence, the internal climbing is a ladder climber, unlike the majority of systems in Australia, which are beam climbers. With a ladder climber, two ladders are hung each side of a tower section. These are hung from just underneath the internal climbing system’s support structure. They are hung down each side of the tower section and the crane will use them to “climb” itself up the ladder. It’s a hanging ladder

The Lennox project in Parramatta, Western Sydney.

system and the crane climbs up the ladder. Once the tower achieves the selected height, support brackets are extended to support the structure. Once supported, the internal climbing system lifts up the tower and the next section is inserted. When the crane is ready to climb again, the process is repeated. “You are governed by the staging of the building and the core,” said Mr Hibbert. “The core has certain ‘jump points’ underneath the crane. When the crane sway is close to the hitting the core, that is the point when we need to jump the crane. We’ll jump that as high as we can to stick the ladder underneath the formwork system and we jump it right to the other side of the ladder system,” he said. Once in place, it can sit there until the core does another two or three jumps and then the process is repeated. It’s efficient, it’s quick and the system used to stabilise the crane inside the core is a frame bolted to the tower with rollers which roll up the tower as it jumps. There is little preparation work for the riggers to jump the crane. This is the first time a system like this has been seen in Australia and only the second time in the world. “When we started on the project, Terex sent us details of a project in London where they had used the internal climbing system for the first time and we were able to get an idea of how it worked,” said Hibbert. “Engineers for the London project used a slightly different way of stabilising the internal climbing system because the jobsite requirements vary from project to project. That project used a skid system whereas I wanted to use rollers, so it’s a different type of support frame to accommodate the rollers. The London project went well, and photos of the project reinforced our decision to go with this system,” he said. All systems and their supporting structures have their strengths and it depends on the projects as to which system and supporting structure will work most efficiently. The design of this system with the

supporting structure, means it is quicker to climb as there is no need to install horizontal beams. However, challenges can arise if the core extends at some stage of the project. “With this project, the builder installed concrete nibs to act as rails, so the rolling frame of the support structure didn’t need to be extended,’ said Hibbert. The challenge with this project was getting the chocking system into the core due to a small access point of 1m x 1m. Everything designed to be put into the core had to drop through the hole so it could rigged to get it horizontal, in place and bolted to the tower. “We made sure we positioned the casting legs of the crane where they needed to go and surveyed to check that and that it was level. In essence, when

we came to put this system in, it ran smoothly,” said Mr Hibbert. “In terms of the system functioning as an internal climber, it is going exceedingly well. The tower is a fairly small foot print so the crane is the right size for the job.” Internal climbers are governed by deflection and how much clearance there is. The art of staging an internal climber is to marry it with how the support structure is working so it’s repetitive. It’s a typical set out for the formwork jump heights and the builder is not altering pocket positions in the form work. It takes time, experience and skill to stage an internal climber. Done well, the number of times the crane has to jump is limited. If it isn’t planned well. the crane could be jumping 20 per cent to 30 per cent and that can be costly. July 2019 CAL / 45

IN FOCUS / UAA

UAA HAS MELROSE CRANES COVERED UAA’s chief services officer, George Grasso, who have been providing insurance coverage to Melrose Cranes for over 16 years talks about fleet value and risk factors in cranes GEORGE GRASSO EXPLAINS HOW important it is to know the value of your fleet and how different cranes have higher risk factors. “We’ve been working with Gregg Melrose, his brother Tony and now Ryan for over 16 years,” said Grasso. He explained how they work through their insurance brokers Sandersons, providing extensive cover for Melrose Cranes across all of their policy sections, from damage to hiring plant to financial loss and liability. “We provide the cover for the fleet, including the mobile cranes, all terrains, crawlers, Frannas, Tidds and the trucks and trailers that work with the fleet,” he said. Grasso explains that Melrose (Gregg) has a strong, direct relationship with UAA, and if ever there were any questions or any problems, they would respond “any time of the day, any time of the week”. “We have a great relationship and, as he increasingly hands the running of the business to his son Ryan, UAA is building a similar strong relationship with Ryan also,” said Grasso. Grasso reckons he has witnessed most of the mistakes made in the crane sector but the same one crops up all the time, managing expenses. “When a crane business grows, it needs to plan the expense and incomes lines.

We find businesses grow generating more income but it’s easy to drop the ball when it comes to the expenses,” he said. “A crane owner can feel ‘fat and happy’ during the peaks because he’s making money, but expenses are increasing as well and insurance premiums can be a significant cost, so it’s important to manage these carefully without jeopardising cover,” said Grasso. According to Grasso, your knowing the value of the cranes in the fleet is the key. He explained that one of the calculating factors of their premiums is how much the client actually wants to insure the machine for. They nominate the sum insured and their basis of settlement is “market value plus”, which provides a 15 per cent buffer for a worst case scenario. “Every year, and before his renewal is due, Gregg Melrose specifically looks at the true value of his machines because he knows if his numbers are too high, he’ll pay for it in premiums unnecessarily. But it is also important not to insure for under the market value otherwise you are exposed to ‘underinsurance’ clauses. If he bought a crane three years ago for $1.5 million and that crane, just prior to renewal, is now worth $1.25 million, he will ensure he changes the value in his policy. He knows it will make an impact on his premium and he’s reducing his costs. This obviously depends on

UAA covers the Melrose Crane fleet and the transport that goes with it. 46 / CAL July 2019

claims history etc. but Melrose does this exceptionally well.” An item, two years old or less is insured for the full replacement value because that is what UAA offer as settlement. UAA will offer a full replacement of a crane if it is within the first two years of purchase and deemed to be a total loss. After the first two years have passed, Market Value depreciation comes into play as normal. Understanding the true value of a crane can make a huge difference to the bottom line. HERE’S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW MARKET VALUE PLUS WORKS. If the crane is within two years from new, the indemnity is New for Replacement (subject to terms and conditions). If it is greater than two years, then indemnity is Market Value Plus. Market Value Plus is if the crane’s determined market value is within 85 per cent of the nominated sum insured, then the indemnity becomes the full sum insured, nominated on the policy. If the determined market value is below 85 per cent of the sum insured, the indemnity is the deemed market value “plus” 15 per cent. Here’s a practical example of how Market Value Plus works. Crane Sum Insured for $100k on the policy. At the time of total loss, the market value is deemed at $75k (under the 85 percent). Indemnity is then $75k + 15 per cent = $86,250. If the market value is deemed at $88,500 (greater than 85 per cent) indemnity is then the full nominated sum insured on the policy, which would be $100,000 in this case.

Grasso mentioned there had been scenarios where Melrose has incurred a total loss and his nominated amount insured was spot on. He explained that when UAA got the valuations done on the machine to determine the true market value, Melrose had already done his homework to make sure the number is right. “It’s not over or under insured, it’s right on the money and therefore he’s paying for what he’s truly going to get,” said Grasso. Growing crane businesses don’t always pay attention to market values. “Time and time again, and particularly with growing businesses, we will see a new machine bought for, let’s say $1.5 million, and five years later the sum insured on their policy is still $1.5 million because they haven’t reviewed it with their broker,” he said. “The obligation is on the client and the

broker to ensure the number against the machine is the right number every year. When there’s a total loss, the client has the perception they are going to be paid $1.5 million when that’s not reality. We are paying Market Value Plus and the machine might only be worth a $1 million.” “Customers are always buying new and selling old cranes and occasionally we see a scenario where they forget to tell their broker, and start using and operating it. UAA provides a 60 day term where, if you forget to tell your broker, we’ll cover you for up to $250,000, and this limit can be increased at the time of policy renewal,” he said. “It’s the same when you sell the machine. It’s important to get the machine off your list of inventory because you are technically paying premiums on a machine you don’t own anymore. “Clients need to be more mindful of this. As the business grows and you buy

and sell equipment, keep your broker up to date with fleet developments. That way you are only paying for what you own and operate, ensuring you are get the right cover at the right premium,” he said. All cranes are rated differently, because they have different risks. “At UAA, we recognise articulated pick and carry cranes at a relatively high risk. “They haven’t had the in built safety features like other types of cranes,” he said. “However, we do recognise that new safety technology is being implemented on the various brands in the market, which is fantastic, but our position isn’t going to change too quickly,” said Grasso. “We’re not going to jump the gun and say ‘there’s new safety technology in place so we’ll start reducing our premiums.’ Over the next couple of years, we will see how this technology impacts the market and we will watch how it impacts on the risk factors,” he said.

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IN FOCUS / IMPERIAL LUBRICANTS

MELROSE TAKES IMPERIAL VIEW ON MAINTENANCE Cranes and Lifting checks in with Luke Holland, fleet manager for Melrose Cranes to find out more about the importance of maintenance of cranes and safety standards. LUKE HOLLAND, FLEET MANAGER FOR Melrose Cranes has been in and around cranes for eight years, spending most of his time “on the tools” as a mechanic, so he knows cranes. “As the fleet manager, I’m responsible for the repairs and maintenance of all of our cranes, trucks, trailers and light personnel vehicles. This extends to maintenance and break-downs of our cranes which are the big-ticket items,” Holland said. The Melrose Cranes fleet has more than 40 cranes ranging from 3t mini crawlers up to 450t all-terrain cranes. It consists of various articulated cranes, all terrain cranes, rough terrain and crawler cranes, making it a comprehensive and versatile fleet. “Availability of machines is paramount to the business,” said Holland. “It would be great if I could manage the maintenance and repairs on Sundays or public holidays, when the cranes aren’t booked for jobs, but that’s not the nature of what we do,” he said. “Maintenance of cranes is a giant revolving door, and the biggest challenge is time. Down time is a killer for us and that would be the same for anyone in the crane industry – down time hurts the most. It’s about trying to ensure our fleet is maintained properly and available to work fault free,” he said. Different cranes require different types of maintenance plans and according to Holland, a maintenance plan depends on how the crane is used and the way it is configured. “Generally speaking, our maintenance intervals are at 500 hours, depending on

how busy the crane is. This will equate to a service roughly twice a year with a quarterly check, as an interim measure, to ensure everything is up to scratch. We have to ensure that every crane meets CraneSafe requirements, Australian Standards, site requirements and our own expectations,” he said. Melrose Cranes has been utilising Imperial Oils for its grease and lubricant requirements. “We started with Imperial Oils soon after I joined the business,” said Holland. “Within the first six months of starting, I could see that the cost of grease and the time it was taking to apply, was too high. I found that Imperial Oils was distributing the same spray equipment we were using and after a couple of phone calls with Brad Langford it was

apparent the cost of grease and the equipment to spray the grease, was substantially cheaper through him.” There are also considerable time savings with the Imperial Oils systems and products. “The grease we were using was difficult to apply and it wasn’t going far in terms of coverage of the booms, so we weren’t getting bang for our buck,” he said. “We tried Imperial’s products and saw it was quick and simple to apply, and we got great coverage on our booms, so the savings extended beyond just the materials to do the job. Imperial specialise in their products and services, and we take advantage of that.” The service from Imperial is also designed to make life easier for Holland.

Luke Holland, Melrose Cranes fleet manager and crane technician, Matt Hall. July 2019 CAL / 49

IN FOCUS / IMPERIAL LUBRICANTS

“The cost of using Imperial products over the whole life of the crane is far less compared to other products I was using, and the service provided by Brad makes ordering simple.” “I ring, text or email Brad, and the next day, I get notification that there’s grease in the post. This role can be very demanding of my time, so I look for simplicity when dealing with suppliers. I enjoy the ease with which I can place orders and deal with Imperial,” he said. Imperial Oils also supply other products for the Melrose Crane maintenance program. “We also use Imperial products for our ropes and slew rings, amongst other things. We keep a stock of pressure pack-based spray grease, which I hand out to the operators and they manage some greasing as part of their regular maintenance,” said Holland. Imperial products used by Melrose Cranes include: Panolin Orcon TEF2, which is a fully synthetic boom grease that contains Teflon and is available in 12 x 400g shuttle cartridges. It is non-toxic, fully synthetic, and provides excellent resistance to water. It is also easy to apply.

Lube-A-Rope Aerosol is a wire rope lubricant in an aerosol can, which can be applied on all cranes or equipment containing wire ropes/chains. It is available in 12g x 454g shuttle cartridges. It’s a thin lubricant containing Moly that protects equipment against dust, dirt and water, which often increases friction, which ultimately leads to wire rope failure/fatigue. This lubricant also penetrates to the core of the wire rope and will not “fly off” meaning it clings on and keeps working long after initial application. MATO Lube-Shuttle Grease Spray Unit is the air-operated grease spray gun specifically designed for applying boom grease via the shuttle cartridge. The need to grease booms can depend on the performance of the crane combined with a visual observation. “If the crane is need of boom grease, the operators will typically let me know. However, they do the greasing themselves. They lay the boom down, get up the ladder and start spraying,” said Holland. “If we haven’t greased a boom in eight to ten weeks, we’d be wanting to grease it but if we’ve got a crane that is spending a lot of time with the boom sections

extended, the time between grease applications might be shorter. Intervals may be longer for a crane that spends a lot of time with the boom sections retracted,” he said. Maintenance is a core discipline for Melrose Cranes. “If I need something to maintain a machine, I never get resistance from the managing director, Gregg Melrose,” said Holland. “He knows what needs to be done, and once we have come up with an economical solution, we simply move forward with repairs. “We’ve recently spent thousands on equipment for our workshop to better maintain our trucks and trailers. Although we are a crane company, our support equipment is extremely important, too. If it doesn’t work, neither does the crane,” he said. “We spend a lot of money on maintenance. It is one of the biggest expenses of our business. Maintaining the fleet is a high priority for Gregg because he knows the nuts and bolts are what holds a crane together. If we don’t maintain them, they won’t perform, and it is their performance that the company relies on,” said Holland.

Imperial’s products are quick and simple to apply, and provide good coverage on booms. 50 / CAL July 2019

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IN FOCUS / MELROSE CRANES

LINK BELT ADDS DIVERSITY TO MELROSE FLEET Melrose Cranes & Rigging is a family-owned Sydney company with brothers Gregg and Tony Melrose at the helm. Ensuring the crane fleet is contemporary and utilised to the maximum, for over 20 years, is a fair juggling act. Gregg Melrose provides the following insights into how he has managed to do just that.

Melrose Cranes focuses on infrastructure program in Sydney. 52 / CAL July 2019

PRIOR TO STARTING THE BUSINESS IN 1998, managing director Gregg cut his “crane teeth” at Wilson Mobile Cranes, a reputable family crane business back in the 80s and 90s. “I learnt a lot about the crane business from ‘The Master’, Laurie Wilson,” said Melrose. “Laurie taught me a lot and many of his lessons have been implemented in this company along with the knowledge I learnt in my earlier, transport-based career, particularly in relation to maintenance. I’ve combined both sets of knowledge and turned them into a self-sufficient crane company. The same principles are also applied to our access division, Melrose Access Hire,” he said. “This is our 21st year, and we’ve grown from one crane with a few subbies to a fleet of 50 plus cranes and staff of almost 140. Most of our staff are employees, but we do have a few sub-contractors in the workshop and specialist tradesmen, including boiler makers, mechanics, fitters, etc.” Managing and accommodating the growth of the business has seen its challenges for Melrose. The company has always had facilities in and around the Seven Hills area, but as the business grew, the demand for more space increased. “Having occupied multiple premises and yards, we finally found a nearby location, bit the bullet, and moved into our new premises in May 2018,” he said. “The new facility occupies 20,500sqm. We ripped down approximately 7000sqm of an old factory, maintained the façade and the office areas, then modified the workshop height to get booms in the air on rainy days.” As the business has grown, so has the company’s capabilities. “We’ve evolved from a general hire company to become a specific crane business focussed on the infrastructure construction program in and around Sydney,” said Melrose. “We’re not exclusive – there are obviously other good crane companies in Sydney – but we would like to think we are in the top echelon. We are asked

to quote on all major works, and we have excellent, long term relationships with some of the major construction businesses in Sydney. Clients include Lendlease, CPB, Laing O’Rourke, John Holland Group, Downer, Mirvac and Keller. “So, we are well known across the Sydney metropolitan area. In days gone by, wind farm work was big for us as this was during a time when there wasn’t a suitable crane in every location. Now you see heavy cranes everywhere. That said, we are currently quoting to build a couple of wind farms in other states, which will mean the purchase of more and even larger capacity cranes,” he said.

“We’ve evolved from a general hire company to become a specific crane business focused on the infrastructure construction program in and around Sydney.” According to Melrose, his crane fleet has changed and evolved to accommodate organic growth and natural attrition and to cover market requirements and customer needs. “Probably the single biggest decision we made was to bring the 450t Grove into the fleet. Twelve years ago, this was the biggest road-going crane and it set

the benchmark. We used to travel to Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland and all over New South Wales. It was the biggest crane on the eastern seaboard for a few years, which really helped to kick our company along,” he said. The GMK7450 is a heavy lift 450 tonner on 7 axles with a 60m boom and the first version of the Grove MegaWingLift (MWL) lifting enhancement. “We now have many cranes in every capacity, including cranes that are offshore on dry hire. We have a great number of what I call ‘grunt cranes’, which are in the 70t to 150t class in mobiles along with crawlers as well. “More recently, we invested in a Link Belt hydraulic crawler crane to diversify the fleet even further and this evolved into more mini cranes also. We now have every type of mini crane between 4t and 10t. The 10t UNIC is the largest mini crane in the world and is currently on site at the airport,” he said. “We’ve had the Link Belt TCC 1400 for just over a year. It’s a great crane and we’re happy with the purchase. It’s so easy we have our own TRT heavy float and dolly combination to move it and we can put it together very quickly on site, given good access. With two B double units, the float and a driver and dogman, the crane is assembled in just over two hours and ready to work. “Clients are impressed with its

Ryan and Gregg Melrose. July 2019 CAL / 53

IN FOCUS / MELROSE CRANES

Link Belt TCC 1400 impresses with boom length and compactness.

“We focus on providing our customers with an excellent service and options in terms of crane selection and we try to remain self-sufficient as a business. For example, we probably have more transport than most businesses. We run 20 prime movers and over 50 trailers, including B double combinations and floats with dollies.” boom length, and its compact nature particularly suits a lot of jobs around Sydney. We’ve lifted it into holes to work and we’ve put it up side streets. Keller is a specific civil and piling contractor that uses it regularly. We’ll put it onto a site for a period of weeks for it to be set up in a hole and then pull it out again. It’s about to go to the central coast for another set of bridges and piling work, so it’s busy,” he said. “It’s proving to be very popular, and my drivers love it. They find it simple to operate and it’s been a very reliable machine. It’s simple to maintain and the 54 / CAL July 2019

service from Ben and Anthony at Crane Connection has been second to none. It’s a great machine and we’re seriously considering buying one of their 220s or maybe another 127, depending on the workload over the next few months.” According to Melrose, customer service is one major focus for the business. “We focus on providing our customers with an excellent service and options in terms of crane selection, and we try to remain self-sufficient as a business. For example, we probably have more transport than most businesses. We run 20 prime movers and over 50 trailers, including B double combinations and floats with dollies. We like to be known as the company that turns up on time, every time, where and when we are needed. We try not to be reliant on sub-contractors; we use our own resources,” said Melrose. However, as far as Melrose is concerned, traditional business values are the most important factor in his success with the business. “I’ve never wanted the business to be too big. I have a great number of excellent managers and staff and that’s the key to the business: keeping and maintaining a high-quality team like ours. It’s the same with the crane fleet. You can have as many contracts as you want, but if you can’t service the client at

a certain level there’s no point,” he said. “I’ve always conducted business face to face, but I realise I can’t be everywhere, so I need very good people around me. I don’t think I’ll ever truly retire, but I plan to work a little less, so my son Ryan will take over the general business management and my younger brother Mick will manage business development. They share my philosophy. We would rather have a smaller client base consisting of extremely loyal clients who will receive our very best service and prices in return. I’ve always been happy to look outside the box. If someone is prepared to make a commitment to me, I’m happy to make the commitment back and buy the machinery to do it.” Melrose recognises how critical it is to plan ahead. “I find equipment quite simple: you buy it, you maintain it, rebuild it and if more is needed, you can ring guys like Anthony Davis at The Baden Davis Crane Connection. He’s always done a good job finding used equipment for me,” he said. “But we don’t always look to the used equipment market – we’re currently talking to Manitowoc about adding to our crawler and all terrain fleet. Groves and Liebherrs dominate our fleet, but we do buy used machines and Anthony has come up with some very high-quality machines. It depends on availability and how quickly you need the machine. “We have long-term plans for our fleet of equipment. We do buy new equipment, but it might be a year before we receive it, so we have to plan ahead. Manitowoc and Liebherr have used equipment divisions and they constantly give us updates on what’s available. In Europe, it appears they only keep machines for three years before they roll them over,” he said. “We don’t want an old fleet, but when you look at a three-year-old crane that I’m going to keep for another three to four years, it will still be well under the ten-year certification and fully compliant with everything we need to do. So sometimes the return on investment versus depreciated value does influence your decision.”

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IN FOCUS / TUTT BRYANT

PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY REDEFINED The New SCX2800A-3 crawler is the latest model from HSC Cranes to be released in the successful SCX-3 series. HSC CRANES, FORMERLY HITACHI Sumitomo Crane, is renowned worldwide for class-leading products of exceptional quality. Drawing from many decades of Japanese crawler crane development, HSC Cranes has recently been introducing to the market its new SCX-3 series. Following the local launches of the SCX1000A-3 (100t) and SCX1500A-3 (150t) crawler cranes, Tutt Bryant Equipment (the exclusive Australian distributor for HSC Cranes) is preparing for the introduction of the next significant SCX-3 model â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the SCX2800A-3 (275t) crawler crane. Building on the highly popular SCX2800-2 crane, which is a mainstay on projects across Australia, the new SCX2800A-3 will likewise come in liftcrane or luffing/tower configurations and it headlines a number of advanced features to further increase performance and efficiency. With backward compatibility that allows interchangeability with Operators view of SCX 2800A-3.

56 / CAL July 2019

components from the older model such as boom insert sections, owners will have much greater flexibility and economical reasons to upgrade to the new SCX2800A-3 while still utilising existing in-service crane components. Coming off a win at the Good Design Awards 2018 in Japan, the SCX2800A-3 boasts a familiar yet elegant design that will enable efficient transportation, assembly and disassembly, and much improved safety of the crane operator and those working in close proximity. Along with extra-wide windows, ergonomic designs such as a new large sliding door, a wide platform, and a comfortable and highly functional operator seat aim to reduce operator fatigue and increase functionality. For better visibility when moving loads at height, a tilt mechanism allows the cab to be angled by up to 18Â°. Optional handrails and walkways from the factory also ensure safety while working at

Swing limitation explained.

heights. Productivity is further enhanced by the fine speed control dials for hoisting, lowering, swinging and boom hoisting operations which are positioned beside the operator for ease of access, while a swing mode selector switch allows the choice between swing-free or swingbrake operation depending on work requirements and personal preferences. The all-new Load Moment Indicator (LMI) with data-logging capabilities records duty cycle and winch hours, as well as load moment and line pull. This should, in theory, increase the safe operational age of the machine from current methods employed in complying with the new Australian regulations. As a standard feature, remote sensing is installed in all machines to minimise downtime, ensure accurate maintenance and improve machine marketability. In addition to a powerful 13.5t rated line pull winch for steady operations, the SCX2800A-3 has an Eco-Winch mode which allows high line speeds under light loads without having to increase the engine speed (low rpm). Bringing lower fuel consumption and reduced noise, this is an eco-friendly feature that will save fuel costs and minimise environmental impacts. Productivity gains will also be achieved via a unique combined hydraulic circuit developed by HSC Cranes. By increasing and optimising the pump pressure through the use of a mixed circuit to control the hydraulic oil from two

hydraulic pumps, operability is enhanced when travelling, hoisting/lowering, swing and boom hoisting, all of which can be undertaken simultaneously. While the SCX2800A-3 will be available with Stage IIIA / Tier 3 engines, customers have the option to order the crane with a Cummins QSL9 engine that meets Stage IV / Tier 4 Final emissions regulations. Along with major reduction in exhaust gas emissions, customers will benefit from reduced fuel consumption, saving cost and decreasing CO2 emissions. A Reduction Counterweight specification is expected to be widely taken up by customers. By removing counterweights on the upper structure, this feature will allow the SCX2800A-3 to be utilised in four different capacity classes (275t, 260t, 250t and 240t). Coming into its own in situations where lower operating weight / reduced ground bearing pressure are required, the

The SCX2800A-3 design enables efficient transportation assembly and disassembly.

Reduction Counterweight specification will further give owners the flexibility to use the SCX2800A-3 as a lower capacity crane, whereupon the amount of

counterweights needed to be transported to a job-site can be reduced. The SCX2800A-3 also has optional 1260mm wide track shoes, some 140mm wider than the standard shoes. Reducing the ground bearing pressure by 12.5 per cent, this will make the crane more flexible and reduce the requirements for ground improvement tools. Another option that will greatly improve safety around the crane is the Swing Restriction system. Used to limit the range of slew to pre-set working zones, the system aims to allow smooth operations when working within tight constrained sites. There is an added slow-down function prior to reaching the no-go zone, thereby minimising load swing . For more information contact Tutt Bryant Equipment at 0411 256 388 or email: cranesales@tuttbryant.com.au

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CC423S

CC1485S

P.A Construction Equipment Pty Ltd 5-7 Lorraine Street, Peakhurst NSW 2210 Tel: 02 9533 5411 sales@pacecranes.com.au www.pacecranes.com.au

IN FOCUS / BORGER CRANES

BORGER BARGES TRUSSES IN BRIDGE DISMANTLE

Borger Cranes recently completed a complex lift for NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) involving the removal of timber truss spans from the Old Sportsman Bridge in Lawrence. THE PROCESS TO COMPLETE THE LIFT WAS not the most straightforward process. The complications included barging a 600t capacity crawler crane to site, the closure of the Pacific Highway, restrictions with tide times and daylight hours, and managing the barge’s ballast to ensure stability throughout the lift. The Borger Cranes team worked closely with New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services, as well as barge provider Ausbarge Marine Services, to ensure the safe removal of the timber trusses from the redundant bridge. Ausbarge Marine Services provided the tug and barge services to the project. Given the choice of crane that Borgers had recommended to NSW Roads

Total weight of the lift was 76t including the rigging equipment.

58 / CAL July 2019

and Maritime Services was a Demag CC2800, and the size of the bridge trusses themselves, the project required a barge with significant deadweight capacity, as well as being able to provide the stability to enable the CC2800 to slew with the bridge truss once lifted off the pile headstocks. Paul Muller has been with Borger Cranes since 2012 and looks after the Demag CC2800 600t crawler crane. He operated the CC2800 throughout the project. “We put the crane’s car body and tracks together on Harwood Marine Slipway and then walked the machine onto the barge. Grillage had been put down and welded on the barge and we walked the crane onto the grillage and finished building the crane,” he said. “A lot of logistics were involved and a lead time of around a week was required to build the crane before it arrived on site at Lawrence. “The barge and crane sailed under the Harwood Bridge on the Clarence River. The optimal time to open the bridge was discussed between Borger Cranes, the Barge Master and Roads and Maritime Services,” said Muller. The traffic on the Pacific Highway had to stop for ten minutes so the deck could be lifted and the bridge opened. The only time the highway could stop was before 8.00am and between 9.30am and 2.30 pm and after 5.00pm. The tide flow had to be slack to enable effective steering by the tugs through the narrow clearance between the bridge piers, and the barge could only move during daylight hours. “A number of elements were out of our control to enable us to travel to site we had to align these elements and meet the small windows of opportunity a number of times during the project. The barge was brought up to the side of the site and

anchored and we put our rigging gear on the hook the total weight we were pulling was 76t including the rigging equipment,” said Muller. “Two trusses were removed – one on each visit. We lifted the first truss and slowly brought it onto the barge and sailed it back to Harwood and unloaded it at the marine slipway and repeated the process for the second. The whole project took close to five days and it was a sensitive lift with a high degree of difficulty,” he said. The Demag CC 2800-1 is a crawler crane with a maximum lifting capacity of 600t. The maximum boom length is 138m with a maximum jib length of 96m. The tracks of the Demag CC 2800-1 are powered by two hydraulic motors, each through closed planetary gear reduction units running in oil baths. The gear units were designed to fit inside of the width of the crawler. The four hydraulic assembly-jacking cylinders are found on the car body for easy assembly of the crawlers and fold to a 3m width. Matt Steain is a supervisor at Borger Cranes responsible for planning the lift. “We engaged Ausbarge to provide the barge for the lift and we also engaged a naval architect who calculated the tides as well as calculating how much ballast was needed in the tanks for us to walk the crane on,” he said. “We ballast the back of the barge opposite to where we planned to walk the crane on which allows for the weight once the crane is walking on. It was a 30-minute process to get the crane completely on the barge. We put the toe of the tracks onto the barge, waited and transferred more ballast, moved the crane half on and transferred more ballast, then three quarters of the way on and

The barge with the crane, ballast and equipment on board had a total displacement of 1,500t

Paul Muller operates the DEMAG CC2800.

transferred more ballast, and then drove the crane completely on,” said Steain. The barge chosen for the project was a 3,000t deadweight barge with an overall length of 180ft and a beam of 70ft. This required approximately 300t of water to be loaded into the barge ballast tanks to compensate for the changes in barge freeboard, list, trim and tidal compensation as the crane was walking onto the barge. This ballast was also required for the bridge lift operations and was transferred by four ballast pumps with a capacity of 100 tonnes per hour each pump. The crane walked on with just car body and tracks then dressed with counter weight and boom after positioning on steel load share mats to distribute the overall weight. The barge deck had a point loading of 20t per square metre. All stability, roll on and deck strength calculations for the barge were carried out by accredited Naval Architects ASO Marine Consultants as were the stability calculations for the crane lifts at the Sportmans Creek Bridge. “We established the crane on steel grillage, and welded it down in the right position and built the crane on the barge.

Once the crane was ready to go we had two tugs, one pushing and one pulling but we had to wait for slack water until the tide changed. We also had a representative from the port authority on board,” said Steain. “They had to close the Pacific Highway and open the Harwood Bridge, which we had to book obviously, and then the tugs pushed us through, under the Pacific Highway and all the way down the river to the bridge.” As part of the approval process, Ausbarge Marine Services developed a Marine Works Management Plan for NSW Roads and Maritimes Services review and approval. The towage from Harwood to Sportmans Creek at the township of Lawrence required passage through the opening span of Harwood Bridge on the Pacific Highway. Given the beam of the barge being 70 feet, and the height of the crane on the barge the bridge had to be opened, highway traffic stopped and the bridge opened to a vertical height of 36 metres. This particular part of the passage had to be carried out in daylight hours only, and at slack water, which is the period where the tidal current stops between the ebb and flood tidal stream. The barge with the crane, ballast and all of the equipment on board had a total displacement of 1,500t. Once towed to site, the barge was moored in position for the bridge lift operation by 4 x 2.5t anchors.

“We used the naval architect for the lift itself. We designed the location and provided him with our slew angles, radiuses, weights, where we were picking the trusses from, as well as track pressures for the crane,” said Steain. “When we had the crane in the position, we had the right amount of ballast in the back of the barge. We lifted and took the weight of the truss. We then had to luff it up and slew it around over the side,” he said. “But before we were able to slew it around, we had to transfer ballast to one corner to allow for the weight. We picked the truss up, luffed it up, transferred the ballast slewed around 180 degrees and luffed it down straight behind the crane. They then transferred the ballast back over so the barge was level and ready for travel,” said Steain. Each individual lift required approximately 150t of ballast water to be transferred from the port to starboard ballast tanks on the barge to enable the CC2800 to slew from over the stern of the barge and place each truss on the deck to maintain an acceptable stability condition. Individual trusses were transported on the barge back to Harwood Marine and unloaded. On completion of the project, the boom and counterweight were removed from the crane and the car body and tracks walked off the barge while again transferring ballast. July 2019 CAL / 59

IN FOCUS / MCG CRANES

AS GOOD AS NEW USED LIEBHERR DELIVERED TO MCG Victorian-based crane contractor MCG Cranes recently took delivery of a refurbished Liebherr LTM 1350-6.1 mobile crane mainly for the construction and deconstruction its fleet of tower cranes. The 350t crane was the 10,000th used crane to have been refurbished in the Liebherr factory. The LTM 1350-6.1 was the 10,000th used crane delivered by the Liebherr LWE used crane workshops.

60 / CAL July 2019

GLENN MARTIN HAS BEEN IN AND AROUND the crane industry for just under 20 years. He initially started in the industry erecting structural steel for a company in Geelong. MCG Cranes was started in 2006 by Glenn alongside his father Mick and brother Danny. “MCG Cranes is predominantly a family-owned and operated tower crane company, but we have a number of mobile cranes as well,” he said. “We have approximately 40 tower cranes and 15 mobile cranes in our fleet and we’re running about 100 staff at the moment,” he said. “We work for the major construction companies in Melbourne including businesses like LU Simon Builders, Probuild, Watpac and Hamilton Marino, and that’s across both our tower and mobile cranes. Our depot is in Thomastown and our work tends to be around Melbourne and the surrounding suburbs.” The MCG tower crane fleet mainly consists of Jost Cranes from the German designer Franc Jost. “We like the Jost brand and design because it is well priced from a purchase point-of-view. In today’s highly competitive tower crane hire industry, you really need a brand that will look after you in terms of purchase price,” said Martin. “We also have some Jost-designed electric cranes that are manufactured in China. The lifting capacity of the tower crane fleet is from 10t to 24t.” MCG Cranes ordered the LTM 13506.1 crane mid-September 2018 and it arrived in Melbourne in early February 2019.

The crane’s refurbishment works were carried completed by the Liebherr Werk Ehingen (LWE) factory at the end of 2018 with the crane delivered to MCG in early 2019. The LTM 1350-6.1 was the 10,000th used crane delivered by the Liebherr LWE used crane workshops since 1969. It was a special occasion for the LWE used crane department and they celebrated with local camera crews and reporters. The 350t capacity LTM 1350-6.1 wheeled mobile telescopic crane has a 70m boom plus lattice jibs from 6m to 78m. “We’re a ‘one-stop-shop’ at MCG Cranes, which means we rent the tower cranes, we erect and then de-construct them, and we also crew them,” said Martin. “That’s why we’ve taken delivery of the Liebherr LTM 1350-6.1 it’s designed to make us a bit more competitive in the market. Prior to its delivery, we were using a 220t crane predominantly for most of our erections and dismantles. However, the 350t machine gives us that much more capacity,” he said. Prior to being shipped, the LWE used crane team had plenty of work to do in terms of preparing the crane. This included: • A thorough washing for AQIS requirements. • Inspection and road testing. • A complete service. • Installation of dolly preparation (both welding and hydraulic installation). • Supply of new components like rooster sheave, anemometer and remote control. • Two- to three-week load testing in all

boom combinations • Customer specific painting in MCG colours. • Reinspection and signoff of all paperwork to offer it in full working condition with a factory warranty. Once the crane arrived at the port in Germany, it underwent a final AQIS wash and BMSB fumigation. When the crane arrived into the Liebherr Australia branch in Dandenong South, there were further checks and works completed prior to delivery to MCG Cranes. Delivery and commissioning into MCG Cranes took place in March and included commissioning and training in the MCG Cranes yard at Thomastown. Further training was carried out on MCG’s first job site, which included the construction and de-construction of a tower crane. “Eighty-five per cent of our mobile fleet is Liebherr,” said Martin. “Although we started out with an olderstyle telescopic UNIC, we soon added a 60t Liebherr and pretty much haven’t looked back since. We receive a great service from Liebherr, we know the guys really well and there’s a lot of mutual respect there. They have a great group of guys in the team and we are looked after unbelievably well,” he said. “The LTM 1350-6.1 is a refurbished machine. I think it was out in the field for about two years prior to Liebherr taking it back. It went back to the factory and received a major check over and was given a full bill of health,” said Martin. “It came to us painted in our livery colours. We’re

Liebherr LTM 1350-6.1 mobile crane mainly used for the construction and deconstruction of MCG’s fleet of tower cranes.

Glenn Martin, MCG Cranes.

really happy with it. It’s the perfect crane for tower cranes. It really ticks all the boxes. “The 70m main boom is longer than its competitors. We’ve found that everything else seems to ‘max out’ about the 60m mark; when you are reaching up to a tower crane you need every metre you can get,” said Martin. “The wire guide system on the back gives unbelievable strength to the boom. Recently, we actually put the 350 tonner up against a competitor’s 400 tonner and, for the work we need it for, it absolutely excelled,” he said. Martin remains focussed on what MCG Cranes does best. “We tend to steer away from the infrastructure market. We really bought the crane for our tower crane business and while other companies might be out there really gunning hard for the infrastructure work, we’ve found that it can be quite patchy if you are only focussed on that work. We’ve got strong relationships with builders and developers and that’s really our niche market,” he said. “We’re a member of CICA and we’re becoming more involved in the association. As our company grows, we are certainly keen to have a say in what the association is pushing for and where it’s all heading,” said Martin. “We’re certainly a strong supporter of CICA and the Green Sticker system and we are constantly seeing the benefits of being a member.” July 2019 CAL / 61

IN FOCUS / TADANO ATF

THINKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE Tadano sets benchmarks with the launch of two new all-terrain cranes. EVERY NEW TADANO IS AN EVEN BETTER Tadano – that is the claim from the manufacturer and this is reinforced with the two new all-terrain cranes, the ATF-100-4.1 and ATF-120-5.1. By combining tried and tested features with innovations. Operating companies, operation planners, and operators can still trust in the economical 2-engine concept, the efficient crane control AML-F, the innovative Lift Adjuster, and the unique jib HTLJ – telescopable even under load, one of the options available only from Tadano. There are new features as well. Among them, the ATF-100-4.1, in addition to the newest EUROMOT 5 standard, it features high axle load reserves and the performance of the 150t class. This is similar in the case of the ATF-120-5.1. All models are available from the end of 2019. 62 / CAL July 2019

STRONG LIFTING CAPACITY AND LARGE RADIUS The centrepiece of both cranes is the new 60m main boom of the superstructure which is the same for both models. With it, the ATF-100-4.1 achieves lifting capacities that are way ahead of the competitive environment. The ATF-120-5.1, in turn, is consistently the most powerful crane in its class for radiuses between 16m and 56m. Another quality of the 120-5.1 is the high loadbearing capacity on the road. With a 12t axle load, 9.2t counterweight plus additional equipment may be taken along in addition to the 17.7m jib with integrated heavy-duty jib. OPTIMISED FOR SPECIFIC JOBS The agile and compact ATF-100-4.1 scores particularly highly on narrow

roads and confined construction sites. With the versatile ATF-120-5.1, you can do something that is not possible with any other five-axle crane – travel on public roads with an axle load below 10t or 48t total weight. And, even with 24t counterweight both cranes remain lean at 2.75m. Furthermore, the ATF-100-4.1 with full 30.4t ballast still has a tail swing radius of only 3.8m. With a maximum 35.4t counterweight, the ATF-120-5.1 still has a tail swing radius of only 4.0m. MODULAR EQUIPMENT, UNCOMPLICATED HANDLING As both models have the same superstructure, the jibs (3.5m to 31.7m) and counterweights can be used on either of the two cranes. Thanks to a hydraulic folding device, a single person can fold the jib transported next to the main

ATF 120-5.1 enables travel on public roads with an axle load below 10t

The centrepiece of both cranes is the new 60m main boom of the superstructure which is the same for both models.

boom and pin it via a crank handle from the ground. SUPERB UTILITY EVEN IN DETAIL In practice, it is often the details that simplify routine handling for users. For example, the unusually large luffing angle of 84.7Â° allows particularly small working radiuses. With a load radius of only 9m at 60m boom length, both cranes can be positioned very close to the object on confined construction sites. While on the road, the new ZF-TraXon gearbox with its hill-holder ensures high comfort and low wear on the clutch.

ATF-100-4.1 achieves lifting capacities that are way ahead of the competitive environment.

Technical Data of the ATF-100-4.1 Max. lifting capacity: 100t Main boom: 11.4m - 60m Boom extensions: 3.5m - 31.7m Max. sheave height: 91.8m Max. radius: 68m Carrier engine: Mercedes-Benz OM 470 LA, 462hp, EUROMOT 5 Superstructure engine: Mercedes-Benz OM 934 LA, 175hp, EUROMOT 5 Transmission: ZF-TraXon 12.1 Drive: 8 x 6 x 8 Dimensions Length: 13.15m Width: 2.75m Height: 3.99m

Technical Data of the ATF-120-5.1 Max. lifting capacity: 120t Main boom: 11.4-60m Boom extensions: 3.5m - 31.7m Max. sheave height: 91.8m Max. radius: 72m Carrier engine: Mercedes-Benz OM 471 LA, 530hp, EUROMOT 5 Superstructure engine: Mercedes-Benz OM 934 LA, 175hp, EUROMOT 5 Transmission: ZF-TraXon 12.1 Drive: 10 x 6 x 10 Dimensions: Length: 13.51m

July 2019 CAL / 63

IN FOCUS / PACE CRANES

EXPANDING THE FLEET WITH THE NEW SENNEBOGEN All Terrain Services expands its mini crane capabilities with the purchase of a new Sennebogen telescopic crawler. ALL TERRAIN SERVICES IS A FAMILY owned and run company based in Perth, Western Australia (WA), providing a vast array of specialised, high standard and high-quality equipment to various industry sectors including construction, mining and agriculture. According to general manager Todd Jackson, the business is significantly growing its mini crane capabilities. “We specialise primarily in telescopic handlers, rough terrain forklifts and mini cranes; these are our three core markets,” he said. “At the moment, we are significantly growing our mini crane range and that’s the reason for the purchase of the new Sennebogen.” All Terrain Services has recently taken delivery of a new Sennebogen 613E telescopic crawler crane. Although there are numerous Sennebogen cranes operating within the Australian market, this is one of the first of the new 613E series. The crane is far more compact than the original D series. The 2.5m transport width provides 24-hour road travel in most states. The crane has a capacity of 15t and is fitted with an 18.8m telescopic boom, 5m fly boom, elevating cabin and rubber track pads. Jackson explained a bit more about the fleet at All Terrain Services. “The mini crane fleet comprises mainly mini crawler and spider cranes from the renowned Japanese manufacturer Maeda. We are now extending our range by introducing Sennebogen telescopic crawler cranes 64 / CAL July 2019

Sennebogen MultiCab elevates to 1.75m.

which will enable us to offer greater capacities ranging from 15t up to 130t in the telescopic crawler category,” he said. “Demand for these machines is coming from a whole range of applications, including infrastructure construction projects such as road, rail, bridge and tunnel projects – which are starting to utilise mini crawler cranes

to their advantage – as well as maritime construction, mining, demolition and civil construction projects. This demand is due to a greater focus on safety and efficiency within the workplace and projects becoming more congested and technically difficult in their construction. This involves a lot of fine movement work where the bigger mobile and tower

Todd Jackson, general manager, All Terrain Services

cranes are less practical.” There are a number of new features in the new Sennebogen MultiCab including, as standard, its ability to be hydraulically elevated to 1.75m. The cab also features “super sound” insulation, all-round glazing in safety glass and a large hood window and adjustable windshield. The cab is also fitted with a flexibly mounted adjustable seat, dashboard overview and automatic climate control. “We find there’s much clearer communication, visibility and an increase in safety and efficiency using a small mini crawler cranes as opposed to a big mobile crane particularly on modern congested projects. We’re finding it a lot more practical with the mini cranes and we’re increasing safety and efficiency to our customers by using them,” said Jackson. “We’ve had Maeda spider cranes in our fleet for around 10 years but the relationship with the Sennebogen product is new. We’re expanding from the small mini crawler and spider crane range offered by Maeda, to the middle of the range and larger capacity machines that Sennebogen offer.” Everything about the 613 E’s undercarriage and drive system is built to cope with tough operating conditions. The undercarriage of the 613 E series features a torsion-resistant box design, precision-crafted, steel bushings for boom bearings and strong, and a hydraulically telescoping crawler undercarriage with an integrated

protected drive transmission. The strong drive system features a two-stage variable displacement hydraulic motor with direct-mounted, automatically actuated brake valve and compact planetary gear on each running gear side, a spring-loaded disc parking brake, maintenance-free tractor running gear with hydraulic chain tension, and 600mm 3-grouser base plates. The 18.8m telescopic boom features hydraulic telescoping and the hoisting winch includes a Slant-Axis hydraulic motor drive with compact planetary gear, 35kN traction, 0-95/min cable speed and 14mm cable diameter. The 613 E boasts a “next-generation” load monitoring panel displaying all the important data via the SENCON display and safety features including a lifting limit switch, cable exit protection, pressure relief valves and a pipe fracture safety device. The engine is a powerful FPT N45, 92kW/125hp at 2,200 rpm. According to Jackson, All Terrain Services took delivery of the 613 E in mid-May. “We recently took delivery and commissioned the Sennebogen 613E mini crawler crane and we also went through an extensive process of operator

and technical familiarisation training. We focus on providing a professional service in everything we do, and we want to ensure we are knowledgeable and intimate with our machines” he said. “It is a slightly different approach to a typical hire company who generally focus on volume and utilisation, but we try to be really specialised with our machines, hence our focus on training during the commissioning. We want to ensure everyone involved from our operators to our technicians completely understand the features of the crane before we put it out to work. This is only the second machine in the country and the first in WA, so there’s quite a bit of interest in the crane.” “We have a good relationship with Pace Cranes. They have a similar attitude to business as us, they are very focused on service and support and the reputation of their machines. We receive exceptional service and support, and this has been a considerable factor in the reasoning behind the purchase of the first of our new Sennebogen range. We have that existing relationship, we know we can trust the support and service from Pace Cranes and that gave us the confidence in taking on the Sennebogen product,” said Jackson.

The Sennebogen has a capacity of 15t and is fitted with an 18.8m telescopic boom, 5m fly boom, elevating cabin and rubber track pads. July 2019 CAL / 65

IN FOCUS / MANITOWOC

BRISBANE CRANE COMPANY EXTENDS ITS CAPABILITIES Superior Cranes is a medium sized crane hire business based in Brisbane’s suburb of Gumdale, has upped its game with the purchase of the Grove GMK5150L all terrain. DIRECTORS LACHLAN STINSON AND RYAN Smith have been around cranes their entire careers and founded Superior Cranes in July 2013. They recently took delivery of a new Grove GMK5150L all terrain. “I’ve been around cranes my whole career and worked in Wagga for Riverina Cranes, and when I moved to Brisbane, I started work with Hanchard and that’s where I met Ryan,” said Stinson. “We worked together for eight years, and over that time we could see opportunities to go out on our own. After plenty of planning, we took the

The Grove GMK5150L features a compact design for improved manoeuvrability and an overall load chart increase of 20 per cent. 66 / CAL July 2019

plunge, left, and formed Superior Cranes. “We set the business up with the first Franna, which was quickly followed by a 30 tonner and then a 10 tonner, and we simply kept going, buying cranes to meet specific demands,” he said. According to Stinson, the cranes in the fleet have always determined what work the company takes on. “In the early days, and with the Frannas, we mainly focussed on work in the residential construction sector, lifting roof trusses, for example. When we purchased the bigger cranes, we were able to move into commercial construction with the larger builders, lifting mining equipment and also relocation projects,” he said. “We then purchased a 100t crane and started working on much heavier lifts around machinery, and, since then, it’s been a fairly steady growth. The company growth has been based on the capacities of the cranes in the fleet.” “At Hanchard, Ryan and I drove his biggest cranes. So, we made good contacts in that bigger crane industry network around town. Now, we’ve got a couple of the bigger cranes, including the 100t Liebherr and, with the new 150t Grove, we’re able to offer more solutions.” Over the last couple of years, Superior Cranes took advantage of some of the larger crane companies closing including NQ, Metro Lift and Hanchard. “The demand is there, and we’ve been chasing the business and with bigger cranes we’ve been able to broaden our offering,” said Stinson. “We’re excited about looking into our next purchase at the end of the

year which will see our fleet grow into the 250t class of cranes and expand our capabilities even more,” he said. Superior Cranes took delivery of the Grove GMK5150L in October of last year. It’s the first Grove the company has owned and according to Stinson, they’ve been really happy with it. “There were a number of selling points with the150t machine with the main advantage being it’s the biggest crane we could get on the road in Queensland without a dolly. When you compare that to Victoria (where you can get 250 tonners on the road without a dolly), being a 150t, it’s got a bigger chart and we can get a better rate, so it pretty much sold itself,” he said. The Grove GMK5150L features a compact design for improved manoeuvrability and an overall load chart increase of 20 per cent. The five-axle crane has the best load charts in its class, both when working in their taxi configuration and when configured with their maximum counterweight for optimal capacity. Maximum counterweight for the GMK5150L is 44.5t and helps the crane achieve an overall load chart increase of 20 per cent over the GMK5130-2. 1t of counterweight can be carried by the GMK5150L in its taxi configuration. With a capacity of 11.8t with its boom fully extended to 60m, the GMK5150L is ideal for tower crane assembly or other applications where strength at height is required. Boosting the cranes’ overall reach is an 18m hydraulic bi-fold swingaway jib which can be extended with an 8m boom extension and an 8m jib extension for a total jib length of 34m.

The 150t machine is the biggest crane you can get on the road in Queensland without a dolly.

Superior Cranes directors, Ryan Smith and Lachlan Stinson

The jib also offers an improved offset of 50°. “The crane has been busy and done a lot of hours, 1000 hours in the first eight months, and we haven’t had a problem with it,” said Stinson. “Our operator hadn’t operated a Grove before, but he loves it, he reckons it’s the best crane he’s driven. It’s smooth, very easy to operate and he’s impressed with the safety features which include a ‘birds eye view’ camera, so he can see everything around him when he’s working,” he said. Operator efficiency is maximised through the inclusion of Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS), a standardised and user-friendly interface whose components and operating software have been designed, developed

and tested by Manitowoc to ensure the highest standards of reliability. It includes the highly intuitive Boom Configurator Mode which makes it quick and easy to select the optimum boom position for a specific lift. The operator simply inputs lift parameters such as radius, load or required distance the boom should be moved, and the system calculates the best configuration. Once the operator selects the preferred option, the boom automatically extends to the required length. “It’s really quick to set up, two trailers and the counterweight and you can be set up in well under an hour. It’s got a 60m boom, it’s a good heavy lifter and the roadability is good. The single engine provides a lot of grunt and drives really nicely on the road. I’ve got to say it’s a

really good crane. The operator is very happy with it and so are Ryan and I,” said Stinson. The GMK5150L is powered by a single engine allowing the weight to be redistributed throughout the structure of the crane, allowing for greater strength in a lighter overall package. The engine is a Tier IV Final/ EUROMOT 4 Mercedes-Benz OM471LA 6-cylinder diesel engine with a 390kW rating at 1,700rpm and a maximum torque rating of 2,460Nm at 1,300rpm. With 16-inch tyres and an overall width of 2.75m, the compact five-axle crane can be easily manoeuvred on congested job sites. The aesthetics of the GMK5150L crane has also been improved with a facelift that includes a new ergonomic Mercedes carrier cab. Grove features such as the Twin-Lock boom pinning system, Megaform boom shaping and Megatrak independent active suspension are all included. The cranes’ boom also benefits from the laser-hybrid welding technology in place at the Wilhelmshaven plant, which increases welding precision and creates booms that both weigh less and perform better. “We bought the crane through the local Manitowoc dealer, TRT Australia and our contact Phillip White. We’ve been happy with the back up and support from TRTA, whenever we call, they pick the phone up and get straight onto the issue, whatever it is. Their aftersales care is tip top and the Grove technicians have been great,” said Stinson. July 2019 CAL / 67

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IN FOCUS / TRT

TIDD PC28 in action at TRT open day.

PICK AND CARRYING SAFETY TO THE NEXT LEVEL TRT Australia recently launched the all new TIDD PC28 articulated crane designed to revolutionise safety in the pick and carry crane industry. THE TIDD PC 28 FEATURES IMPROVED operational features designed to help operators work more efficiently and comfortably on construction sites and also on the road. Increased lift capacity and greater manoeuvrability in smaller work areas are key benefits of the new crane. The TIDD PC28 is constructed using the highest quality components with safety a major focus in every element of its design. According to Stephen Dance, country manager, TRT Australia, the crane’s safety features are designed to minimise the chances of a harmful incident occurring on a worksite. “There are approximately 70 crane incidents per annum resulting in insurance claims or injury,” said Dance. “Forty per cent of the mobile cranes in

circulation are prick and carry cranes, yet 50 per cent of all insurance claims can be attributed to articulated/pick and carry mobile cranes, making this one of the most significant issues facing the crane industry today. This new crane is the answer to maximising safety and minimising risk on the work site and on the road.” “Safety features include Dynamic LMI with a deadlock switch inside the cabin and the LMI bridging switch outside the cabin. Slew Safe is an optional safety addition and we recommend this technology for the TIDD PC28,” he said. TRT has developed a significant new safety feature called Slew Safe (patented: 741038) Slew Safe is designed to prevent rollovers and works with a number of features including audible alarms, ECU

warnings and an engine de-rating to prevent further slewing. According to Dance, the TIDD PC28 is the only pick and carry crane with this level of safety and Slew Safe can be retro fitted to all existing TIDD PC25s. “Slew Safe is a real game changer for the industry. It delivers peace of mind for operators, dogman, crane owners, site managers and site owners by improving safety, reducing risk and improving duty of care,” he said. Slew Safe is an effective system to restrict the driver from operating off the chart. With audible and visual alarms along with steering restriction, the system cannot be overridden but will operate again when the load is back in the green. In addition, the system is accepted on many Tier 1 sites. July 2019 CAL / 69

IN FOCUS / TRT

COMFORT IN OPERATION The TIDD PC28 has also been designed with operator comfort in mind. “The ergonomically designed forward-mounted ROPS cabin – with two-door configuration, ducted air conditioning, 150kg rated air suspension seats and 3-point safety belts – means comfort over long hours, helping to reduce operator fatigue,” said Dance. Many of the key features are designed on industry feedback and include: • European standard automotive finish; • Shortest forward projection in its class; • An outstanding turning radius, articulating 44° either side; • 2.3t roadable, front and rear counterweight; • Mercedes Benz DM906 six-cylinder, turbo charged intercooled 205kW diesel engine; • 6.12-18.64 high tensile with 3 telescopic sections; • 28t capacity on fixed tug (stationary) 27.6t capacity on running rope; • Allison 3000 series automatic transmission, 6 speeds forward; • Kessler high-speed planetary axles with diff lock o front axle; • Meritor transfer case.; • Two stage engine and exhaust brake; • 410l tank with locking cap; • Automatically activated emergency hydraulic steering; • Dual line airbrakes on all wheels with ABS; • Pneumatically released spring applied emergency/park brake on all wheels. The new 18.64m high-tensile fullpower boom features a 75 per cent stationary chart for the heavy lifts and 66 per cent pick and carry chart. The boom’s telescope Sections 1 and 2 are fully synchronised and provide hook compensation. Telescope Section 3 is independently operated with its own hydraulic cylinder. The TIDD PC28 features a 28t maximum lift on the lug and 27.6t on the hook block, delivering lifting capacities for improved efficiency and greater lift options. Moving from the stationary 70 / CAL July 2019

chart to the pick and carry chart is as simple as turning off the hold brake. Greater road-ability is also built into the design, and getting from site to site is made easier with a maximum speed of 80km per hour (speed limited). Full ABS braking is included for improved safety whether the crane is operating while stationary or at speed. Driven by a Mercedes Benz 6-cylinder turbo charged engine, and with improved suspension,

TIDD PC28 features the Slew Safe System.

the TIDD PC28 is 12t per axle on the road, including its 2.3t removable counterweight mounted on the front. TRT’s tyre pressure management system, Traction Air CTI, is another option for the PC28. The system is designed to improve crane safety on varying road surfaces, maintain the correct tyre pressure at all times and is backed by a three year/500,000km warranty.

FURTHER, HIGHER. NEW 275t. With outstanding workability and high-precision operation, the HSC range of Crawler Cranes sets the benchmark for eco-friendliness, fuel economy and worksite efficiency across Australia. For more information, contact Tutt Bryant Equipment on 0411 256 388 or email cranesales@tuttbryant.com.au

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Cranes and Lifting July 2019

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