Up Front

BIG IS BEAUTIFUL

LCR Group, one of Australia’s leading integrated logistics, transport and crane service providers, recently took delivery of a Tadano Demag AC1000-9, and with a lifting capacity of 1,200 tonnes, it is the world’s most powerful all terrain. Peter Koschel, LCR’s Executive GM Cranes & Transport, provides background to the purchase and the reasons why LCR has gone so big.

PETER KOSCHEL HAS BEEN WITH

LCR for 17 years and has worked in senior management roles in all facets of the business and has been directly responsible for the Australian and Papua New Guinea crane and transport operations for the past five years.

“In 2019 LCR was purchased by Qube Holdings, Australia’s largest logistics provider. The acquisition by Qube has provided the opportunity for us to increase our capability - providing integrated crane and transport services to the civil, mining, and renewable energy sectors.

“LCR Group has been heavily involved in the construction of some the largest infrastructure projects in Queensland. We have built a reputation for providing our customers with reliable solutions for the transportation and erection of precast bridge girders for the construction of many of the States road, rail and tunnel projects, and are grateful for the trust our customers put in us to get a project completed safely and efficiently.”

The integrated logistics model QUBE and LCR offer has been successfully tested and replicated on the Coopers Gap and Stockyard Hill, the two largest wind farm projects in the Southern Hemisphere. LCR Group has put together a team of specialists with experience in the renewable sector from Victoria to Queensland, and are one of very few companies able to offer a complete Port-to-pad package for wind and solar projects. “Our clients benefit from the simplicity and one point of contact approach we bring to the projects. They are not having to write five contracts, and make five phone calls every time a schedule changes. We take care of it all in-house.” Koschel pointed out.

The company’s strong reputation has spread into the Asia-Pacific where it has built a strong presence in Papua New Guinea. “The PNG business was established in 2009 where LCR provided a range of cranes to support the construction of the Exxon gas pipeline and the offshore jetty development,” Koschel said.

“We have continued to progress our business with a key emphasis on the training and development of our PNG staff to manage our business and operate our equipment.” The PNG operation has provided lifting support throughout the region and worked with a range of major resource and construction companies including – Newcrest, Oil Search, Clough, Exxon and CPB.

“Wherever we operate, we take a solution-based approach with our clients with a focus on delivering what we promise, while ensuring safety is always our highest priority,” Koschel said.

Koschel explains how a major crane business works with the synergies of a logistics business.

“QUBE is Australia’s largest logistics company. It has a number of divisions across Port, Bulk and Logistics and we operate across Australia, New Zealand and South-east Asia. LCR are a part of the Qube Bulk business, which primarily focuses on the movement of materials to and from all major ports throughout Australia. Our cranes work within the integrated solutions provided by this business,” he said.

LCR was an easy fit into the logistics offering of QUBE and the crane and transport fleet has evolved since becoming part of the QUBE organisation says Koschel.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve added a significant amount of specialised heavy haulage equipment to our transport business, to provide the capability to complete unique movements of oversized components and equipment. This equipment includes Australian made heavy duty prime movers, multiple axle modular trailers,

platform trailers, steerable jinker trailers, selected European blade trailers, and clamp sets. The addition of the Tadano Demag AC1000-9 is a carefully calculated part of our future, and the capital expenditure to date is only the start of our growth program.” he said.

Koschel discusses the background to the purchase of the Demag AC1000-9 confirming LCR had a couple of options in terms of crane model and brand.

“LCR has always been an advocate of improving safety and productivity in the Australian crane market, and introduced the first 350t and 500t class cranes to the Queensland over ten years ago, so this new acquisition is no exception. The AC1000-9 is going to be the biggest of its kind on the East Coast which provides us with a major point of difference in the market.

“We had been waiting a number of years for the timing to be right to increase our large crane fleet, and we feel there is an abundance of future opportunity for us to showcase the strength and efficiency of this crane too. We see project engineers and designers asking for “Bigger, higher, heavier and faster”, so we wanted to make sure we have the right combination of equipment and people to support our clients’ plans.

“We undertook a detailed analysis of what was available in the market. We have been aligned with the Demag product for a number of years and there were a lot of maintenance and operator acceptance synergies that lead us to select the Tadano Demag product. The supplier relationship we have with Tadano Demag is second to none, and this has been exceptional over a long period of time.” Koschel continued.

“Our suppliers are vital to our success and a strong alignment with them plays a major role in our business success. The selection of the crane was not made from a technical capability alone. We could see it was fleet fit, we knew the support we would get from Tadano Demag, and with the technology built into the crane, we knew it would fit well into our long term plans. The integration into our fleet and the training of our operators and

With a lifting capacity of 1,200 tonnes, the Tadano Demag AC1000-9 is the world’s most powerful all terrain.

personnel provided by Tadano Demag cemented the decision,” he said.

Howard Dean, National Heavy Lift Sales Manager and James Greenwood, Tadano National Sales Manager, with support of the Sales Administration and various other departments within the Tadano Oceania organisation, worked closely with the team from LCR Group on the AC1000-9 project.

“We are very thankful for our strong relationship with LCR Group and grateful to have worked with such a great group of industry professionals,” said Dean.

“We were up against the Liebherr LTM11200-9.1, but the AC1000-9 capabilities are second to none and we were able to demonstrate its abilities, strengths and benefits to LCR Group. In 2010, LCR took delivery of their first AC500-2 which has been a fantastic crane for them, laying the foundations for the lead into a larger mobile all terrain crane such as the AC1000-9.

“Over the years, the aftermarket support of Tadano/Demag Group has been crucial to the LCR business and our Product Support team has worked extremely hard to support their business over many years. We’re excited about the future and look forward to new challenges and strengthening our relationships. We have the ability to support our products in all facets of the business and this was a critical factor in LCR’s decision making processes,” he said.

“Another interesting aspect regarding the delivery of the AC1000-9 has been the presence of technician Rianer Staab. He recently arrived from Tadano Demag Germany to assist with the commissioning, hand over and training for the crane. Rainer was also part of the training and hand over for LCR’s AC5002 when it was delivered over 10 years ago. He contributed to the LCR success story then and he makes an equally valuable contribution to delivery of the AC1000-9 today,” said Dean.

With a lifting capacity of 1,200 tonnes, the Demag AC1000-9 is the world’s most powerful all terrain crane. Designed for “super-size” construction, wind turbine and high-rise building

With a lifting capacity of 1,200 tonnes, the Demag AC1000-9 is the world’s most powerful all terrain crane. Designed for “super-size” construction, wind turbine and high-rise building applications, the AC1000-9 remains remarkably compact and versatile for a crane in the 1200t class.

applications, the AC1000-9 remains remarkably compact and versatile for a crane in the 1200t class.

The crane’s customer-oriented design means it can be driven on the road with its 50-meter main boom to almost any job site in the world, and, once there, has the fastest set-up time in its class. A wide choice of extensions and attachments are available, all designed to fit on standard truck trailer combinations, eliminating the cost and time of tedious permits and special vehicles.

Built for cost-effective operation, the AC1000-9 offers a choice of a 50 or 100-meter main boom, equipped with patented open head and sheaves, to simplify the installation of the additional boom section.

Optional SSL (“Sideways SuperLift”) technology increases chart capacity for a wide range of applications with a telescopic boom. A variable steering system with active, speeddependent, electronically-controlled rear-axle steering provides excellent manoeuvrability and directional stability for optimum performance over all terrain and road types.

TIME-SAVING AND COST-EFFECTIVE CONCEPT

No crane in its class can be rigged faster than the AC1000-9, thanks to its patented luffing jib rigging system, which minimizes the requirements for working at height. In addition, the counterweight frame offers an excellent access system for safely working at height.

With the power to perform a wide variety of jobs with thousands of possible configurations and in the most extreme conditions, the AC1000-9 provides contractors with the versatility needed to meet challenging market requirements today and tomorrow.

The crane cab is equipped with an integrated IC-1 touch-screen control system to provide easy access to valuable information on wind speed/direction, hook load, nominal load capacity, reach, boom length, as well as calculated and actual outrigger loads, at the touch of a finger.

The integrated working range limiter means that slewing angle, height/radius limits and “virtual walls” can be adjusted effortlessly to help prevent collisions during critical operations. Capable of trouble-shooting and analysing information, the IC-1 control system also reduces downtime by assisting maintenance staff in diagnosing and addressing malfunctions rapidly. Comfort and use are further enhanced by a rear-view camera and rear-drive radar control, floodlights at strategic positions on the crane offer excellent visibility, as well as an optional monitoring of winch units.

Koschel discusses LCR ‘s expectations for the new Demag and what it will deliver for customers and the major projects it will be working on.

“Components in infrastructure projects are getting bigger and requiring fewer, but much larger lifts. The team at LCR has always looked at how we can improve the offering to our customers in terms of how we can improve the constructability of a job. Can we complete the job quicker? How do we put ourselves in a better and more competitive position? Everyone can have a crane but what do we have to continually lead the market and be the preferred supplier for major projects and our clients?

“The AC1000-9 will head straight to the front line on several high-profile projects in Queensland. We are also aware that we have to develop the market and an understanding of what this crane is capable of. We are now able to re-examine a whole range of projects with new and existing customers, and reassess how lifts have traditionally been approached. The AC1000-9 certainly offers a competitive edge with its outstanding capacity and useability, but the real benefit comes when we integrate the crane into a package of logistics related services,” said Koschel.

Takehiro Kusumoto, Tadano’s acting managing director and commercial director, presents the AC1000-9 key to Peter Koschel, LCR Group’s Executive GM Cranes and Transport Operations.

With the power to perform a wide variety of jobs with thousands of possible configurations and in the most extreme conditions, the AC1000-9 provides contractors with the versatility needed to meet challenging market requirements today and tomorrow.