Cranes and Lifting December 2022

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FEATURES Official Media Partner Surf City continue to upgrade bauma surpasses expectations
SHOCK
PILING THE DEDICATED RESOURCE FOR THE CRANE INDUSTRY / DECEMBER 2022
TAKING THE
OUT OF

TWO

POWERHOUSE For more information about UAA’s insurance products please contact your insurance broker or visit www.uaa.com.au With dedicated local claims teams specialising in both Mobile Plant and Contract Works claims, providing a one stop, end to end, award winning claims service.
EXPERT BRANDS ONE INDUSTRY

When things go wrong UAA and MECON will help make it right

For more information about Mecon’s insurance products please contact your insurance broker or visit www.mecon.com.au

8 Up Front Pilequip

Pilequip launch a range of rubber shock absorbers and customers are impressed.

14 CICA CEO report

Brandon Hitch discusses the conference.

16 Impor tance of having the right insurance cover

UAA go the extra mile for WA contractor.

22 Liebherr at bauma

Liebherr launches new all terrain at bauma.

26 Grove at bauma

Grove launches new GMK4070L at bauma.

30 Comansa at bauma

Comansa launches new hydraulic luffing jib crane.

32 Tadano at bauma

Tadano launches AC 4.070-2 70t capacity all terrain.

37 Bet ween Hook and Load

Our regular feature focusing on the importance of the lifting equipment sector.

38 LEEA

Justin Boehm looks back at 2022 and discusses what we’ll see from LEEA in 2023.

41 Andromeda

Andromeda continues to develop products for a broad range of applications.

44 Crosby Group

Crosby Group takes home LEEA award.

46 Bremco

Australian designed, engineered and manufactured lifting equipment, from start to finish with Bremco.

50 Pacific Hoists

Taking a look at the new M-series from Pacific Hoists.

56 RUD

RUDs offering for the lifting sector.

59 Lif ting Victoria

New name but same great service.

62 Patterson Cranes

The Jekko mini crawlers an asset.

66 Tutt Bryant Heavy Lift and Shift

Impressive bridge replacement from the team at TBHL&S.

70 Surf City

Surf City Cranes invests in new Liebherr all terrains.

75 Cranes 4 Hire

Turning to Pace Cranes and Maeda proves to be a game changer.

78 Terex flat top

New city class tower crane released by Terex.

80 Tadano straight boom

Advantages of Tadano vehicle loading cranes over knuckle booms.

83 Walz Group

Two new TIDD pick and carry cranes delivered to Walz.

86 Fred Blake Cranes

Fred Blake Cranes invest in brand new Grove GMK 3060L-1.

90 Centur y Cranes

Century Cranes continue to grow the fleet with Liebherrs.

94 Lif t of the Month

What our industry does best.

34

Sennebogen at bauma

Sennebogen launches all electric 50t capacity telescopic crawler.

36 Liebherr at bauma

Liebherr launches new duty cycle crawler.

52

Bunzl

Bunzl reaffirms its commitment to the heavy lifting sector.

54 LEEA awards

LEEA Australia and New Zealand take home award.

4 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
IN THIS ISSUE
22 78

FROM

Published by:

WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER ISSUE OF CRANES AND LIFTING

IN THIS ISSUE THE TEAM AT CRANES and Lifting is delighted to bring you insights from bauma, the world’s largest trade fair for the construction and crane sectors. In terms of exhibition space, bauma is the leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles, construction equipment and every type of crane.

More than 3,100 exhibitors from around 60 countries presented their innovations and products on 614,000 square meters of exhibition space - the equivalent of 86 football pitches.

We highlight numerous products released by the crane manufacturers and you can expect to see these new models being offered over the coming months.

The team at Cranes and Lifting thanks

products Liebherr manufactures.

This issue also includes a look at the importance of rigging equipment with our regular Between Hook and Load feature which also includes a review of the recent LiftEx event organised by the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association.

A selection of crane hire companies discuss the reasons for purchasing the cranes they do and the projects they have been completing with them. Tutt Bryant Heavy Lift & Shift emphasises the importance of planning complex lifts where there is no room for error.

As always, the team at Cranes and Lifting has worked hard to bring this content to you, we hope you enjoy the read.

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THE EDITORIAL TEAM

ABSORBING THE SHOCK FROM PILING

Pilequip’s range of Tünker rubber shock absorbers are taking the shock out of piling for leading civil construction and piling organisations.

MITCHELL MARINE CONSTRUCTIONS specialises in waterfront and marine construction. Matthew and his brother Chris Mitchell have over 30 years of combined experience in the sector. They started Mitchell Marine Constructions three years ago. Matthew and Chris explain more about the business and how closely it works with piling equipment specialist, Pilequip.

“Mitchell Marine Constructions specializes in marine construction. We find ourselves involved in a variety of projects including the construction of wharfs, bridges and boat ramps. More recently and following the floods in Brisbane, we now find ourselves working in the residential side of the construction sector and this work includes the demolition of existing pontoons and piles and fabricating and installing brand new ones.

“We manage a lot of work commercially as well, and this is for Brisbane City Council, MSQ, Port of Brisbane, and in early October we sent a crew to Sydney to work on the new Fish Markets development. We work up and down the East Coast of Australia, but primarily we’re based in Brisbane,” said Matt.

Chris discusses the capabilities of the Mitchell Marine Constructions fleet.

“We own a crane barge which is called ‘The Flea’. It’s a small but really versatile barge on the water, and it can be pushed with a tin boat. We own two work punts and what you call a pusher boat which is like a small tug.

“We’ve also just hired a piling barge, which is 45m by 14m and this has 120t Kobelco crane on it. Our driver for this piece of kit has been in the marine construction industry for 30 plus years. We’ve got riggers, dogmen, bridge and also wharf carpenters. We have a crew that varies from six to 10 guys and we ramp up when we need more resources especially when we win some of the bigger jobs,” said Chris.

“It’s a pretty versatile crew in terms of the marine construction industry and it is hard to get guys with experience on the water, but all our guys are well equipped and confident about working in and around the water and on barges and with cranes and all that,” he said.

Matthew goes on to discuss the piling

8 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au UP FRONT / PILEQUIP
The Tünkers rubber shock absorbers will help prevent general wear and tear on the crane

equipment supplied by Pilequip and the relationship he has with National Sales Manager David Hopkins.

“Piling is a big part of what we do, and the use of vibratory hammers and hydraulic hammers are essential in our trade. We use Pilequip for all this equipment. We currently have got a 1223 ICE vibratory hammer on hire, which is a smaller vibrator, but ideal for the residential market. It’s compact, not too big and not too small, and it’s a really good hammer for the smaller steel piles.

“We have a job coming up and we’re going to hire a 6t or 7t Dawson hydraulic hammer. We generally always use Pilequip for our pilling equipment requirements. They provide a great service and we have good relationship with David Hopkins, the National Sales Manager. We currently have a brand new vibratory hammer on hire which is ideal,” said Matthew.

Mitchell Marine Constructions was recently involved on a project which involved a vibratory hammer being attached to a hydraulic all terrain. Normally an application most crane hire companies will say no to because of the damage the vibrations can do to the crane. Chris explains how they were able to circumvent this problem.

“The Tünkers range of rubber shock absorbers was new to us, and we used it recently on a project in Grafton, where we were installing some piles with the vibratory hammer. Because we were using a hydraulic all terrain, if we hadn’t had the Tünkers rubber shock absorber we couldn’t have done the job to be honest.

During the testing, the Tünkers rubber shock absorbers reduced the vibration by up to 93 per cent.

“The majority of crane hire companies we’ve dealt with, will not let a vibratory hammer operate on a hydraulic all terrain because of the damage the vibration can cause to the main boom and the structure of the crane.

“But we introduced the Tünkers rubber shock absorbers, which David had sent up to Grafton, to Wicks and Parker the crane hire

company we used. We installed four piles, two steel piles and two fiberglass piles, and the Tünkers range of rubber shock absorber took the shock out the vibration and worked a treat,” said Chris.

“It’s the first time we’ve ever used Tünkers rubber shock absorber and it’s the first time we’ve ever had a vibratory hammer on a hydraulic all terrain, and the

end result was great. There was minimal vibration and Wicks and Parker were happy and said they’ll be happy to hire a crane for a vibratory hammer application any time as long as there’s a Tünkers rubber shock absorber fixed to the crane.

“In terms of our projects, a hydraulic all terrain is ideal compared to mobilizing and setting up a lattice boom crane, which takes days and costs a lot of money, you can just get a hydraulic all terrain on site much quicker and more cost effectively,” he said.

Pilequip’s David Hopkins explains more about the impact vibration has on a crane and how the Tünkers rubber shock absorber helps to negate the problem.

December 2022 CAL / 9 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
“Piling is a big part of what we do, and the use of vibratory hammers and hydraulic hammers are essentially in our trade. We use Pilequip for all this equipment.”

“There are, typically, two types of vibratory hammers. There’s a Static-Moment Vibratory Hammer and a Variable Moment Hammer. The biggest issue with the StaticMoment hammers is when you turn them on, they spin through the low frequency until they get to their peak frequency. When it’s moving through the low frequency, it starts to shake. It’s a bit like an off-balanced frontload washing machine. When it’s a little bit off balance and starts to spin slow, it starts to jump around, but once it gets up quite fast, it quietens down.

“When it starts and stops, we get those really big shock load vibrations going up into the crane. It’s not good for the computers. It’s not good for any componentry on the crane itself and some of the crane OEMs state in their literature that they need to have shock absorber when using vibratory equipment,” he said.

“It’s not just the start and stopping of the equipment. There are heavy vibrations even at the peak frequency, particularly if you’re pulling up on the vibratory hammer, you’re still getting quite a lot of vibration going up through the crane line and into the crane. We found the Tünkers shock absorbers eliminate up to 75 per cent of that shock load vibration and up to 93 per cent of peak frequency vibration.”

Pilequip tested the shock absorbers in its yard, on its crane a 75t capacity crawler. They engaged VMS Australia, a specialist vibration monitoring company, to measure the vibration. VMS put up four different measuring points on the crane. Above the hook, at the top of the jib, midway on the boom, and in the cab.

“We tested the shock absorbers on a Static Movement Hammer, an ICE 32NF and we also tested a Variable Moment Hammer, a PVE 28VM. A Variable Moment Hammer doesn’t have that start and stop shock as I mentioned earlier. So essentially it doesn’t start vibrating until the frequency is high. But as soon as you start pulling on that vibrator, you get that same peak frequency vibration going up through the crane. That doesn’t change whether it’s variable moment or a normal frequency hammer.

“As I have said the Tünkers rubber shock absorbers reduced the vibration by up to 93 per cent. Obviously, there are huge

Anyone that owns a crane and is planning to put a vibratory hammer on it, utilising the Tünkers rubber shock absorbers seems to be a fairly straight forward business decision

benefits for crane companies considering this product. I’ve spoken to customers operating cranes and computer systems can’t handle the vibrations. It keeps resetting or it keeps getting errors.

“Obviously, the absorbers will help prevent wear and tear on the crane. I’ve spoken to customers who have got a crane down because they started a big StaticMoment Hammer, the ropes were jumping around all over the place and this caused damage to a point where they couldn’t operate it anymore, they had to fix it,” said David.

Anyone that owns a crane and is planning to put a vibratory hammer on it, utilising the

Tünkers rubber shock absorbers seems to be a fairly straight forward business decision to make says David.

“They’re relatively inexpensive to either rent or buy, when compared to the cost of a crane or fixing the damage vibration has caused your crane. It’s the unknown damage that needs to be considered. I don’t know if there’s any studies on the impact of long-term use of a vibratory hammer on your crane, but you can only assume that it would be significantly less when we’re talking about the vibration reduction that these shock absorbers can achieve,” he said.

Matthew was impressed with the Tünkers rubber shock absorber performance.

UP FRONT / PILEQUIP 10 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au

“The performance of the shock absorber was pretty amazing, and I’d say it definitely reduced the level of vibrations by around 70 to 80 per cent. It’s changed things from our point of view, we can now quote a lot more jobs knowing we can use one of these absorbers with a piece of vibratory equipment on a hydraulic all terrain. We’ve now got the proof because

we’ve completed a project with it and Wicks and Parker were happy, so it’s a massive win,” said Matt.

Another fan of the Tünkers range of rubber shock absorbers Paul Wood from Fitzgerald Constructions. Paul is Plant Supervisor and has been with the organisation for 25 years.

For more than 30 years, Fitzgerald

Constructions Australia have been providing civil engineering and concrete construction services to numerous industry sectors including bridge construction, building construction, civil construction and infrastructure, marine construction transport and remedial concrete.

Paul explains a bit more about his role within the organisation.

“I’m a plant superintendent and look after all the cranes, piling barges and equipment we run. We operate 40 plus marine vessels, 30 plus crawler cranes, and driving piles anywhere from 457 cm diameter to two and half metre diameters. Our crane fleet includes 20t capacity Frannas through to 600t capacity crawlers. The crawlers are mainly Kobelco and Manitowoc.

“Fitzgerald Constructions operates in a range of industries including the marine, concrete and civil sectors and we building anything from bridges to tunnels and wharfs. Currently, we are building the biggest multi-compartmental silo in the world, Lorimer Street in Port Melbourne. It’s 78 metres high and being constructed of slipform concrete,” said Paul.

Fitzgerald Constructions has a close relationship with Pilequip which dates back many years.

“Pilequip has always been fantastic with service and pricing. We have hired a lot of gear from Pilequip over the years and they will hire gear from me occasionally. We have also purchased a number units from them and their backup and support is second to none. Their mechanics are factory trained, they are highly skilled and knowledgeable. I rate the team at Pilequip very highly,” said Paul.

David Hopkins introduced Paul to the Tünkers range of rubber shock absorbers.

“Dave called about the Tünkers rubber shock absorbers and gave me a week’s free trial, and I really liked them. I think they’re a great innovation, they are simple to use and really effective. I am in the process of matching the right size of shock absorber with our equipment. The shock reduction built into the Tünkers rubber shock absorbers is fantastic. I’m extremely impressed and so were our crane operators,” said Paul.

December 2022 CAL / 11 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
“As I have said the Tünkers rubber shock absorbers reduced the vibration by up to 93 per cent. Obviously, there are huge benefits for crane companies considering this product.”

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MODULIFT SPREADER BEAMS PERFORM HUGE 2420MT LOAD TEST

Modulift, the market-leading manufacturer of modular spreader beams, was recently involved in an exceptionally heavy load test in Dubai.

Two MOD 1000 spreader beams were used in a crucifix configuration to perform the test, with each beam lifting a load of 990 tonnes, and the remaining load being supported directly by the crane hook.

The project was a collaboration between several specialist equipment suppliers across the world, with 600T & 500T P-6043 Green Pin shackles provided by Royal Van Beest; wireless load links, load pin shackles and T24 electronics from Load Monitoring Systems; and 110MT & 50MT Waterbags, Cable Laid Grommets & Round Slings manufactured by Liftek International.

spreader beams

Sarah Spivey, Managing Director at Modulift, said: “It’s encouraging to see our beams being used as part of such a demanding project, a real testament to the quality of our products. The MOD 1000 is ideal for this type of lift due to its relatively low self-weight.

can work at maximum capacity.”

All products within the Modulift Spreader Beam range are compliant with ASME, BS and DNV standards. Capacities range from 6 - 3000t and can be re-used without the need to re-test or re-certify even when dismantled and re-configured, wherever the lift is, anywhere in the world.

INDUSTRY NEWS December 2022 CAL / 13 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
Our
are specially designed to provide a lightweight solution so that cranes
Two MOD 1000 spreader beams were used to perform the load test The Modulift spreader beams were used in a crucifix configuration
“It’s encouraging to see our beams being used as part of such a demanding project, a real testament to the quality of our products.”

CICA NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEADS THE WAY

Brandon Hitch,

Executive Officer of The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) reviews the highly successful National Conference and Exibition

WITH THE THEME OF ‘LEADING THE WAY ’ CICA National Conference 2022 looked ahead to the future of our industry, explored new technology, and innovations in crane operations.

We shared a fabulous three days in Adelaide, and it was great to be back together again for a face-to-face conference, being able to reconnect with old friends, and network with new ones.

Attendees were treated to informative speakers, workshops and delightful opportunities to network and enjoy the food and wine for which South Australia is renowned. This year

the Year’ entries, and I congratulate all who entered, your entries were complex and showcased the tremendous and intricate lifts being done all over this great land. The ‘Lift of the Year’ Awards are Australia’s premier crane lifting excellence awards, recognising and rewarding outstanding planning, teamwork and execution. I encourage you to keep the 2023 awards in the forefront of your minds, when planning lifts over the next nine months, and I would also like to thank Cranes and Lifting for their sponsorship of these awards.

Brandon Hitch
CICA CEO REPORT

(UAA) were this year’s platinum sponsor, and it’s fair to say that an event of this calibre wouldn’t happen without the valuable support of UAA, and the support of all the sponsors. Thank you to our fabulous speakers, delegates, sponsors and exhibitors for supporting the 2022 CICA Conference and our industry.  We look forward to re-connecting with you in Perth in 2023.

Once again Sue and her team from WISE Connections worked hard to organise, plan and deliver a wonderful conference experience, and a special shout out and thanks to Cheryl Woodhart, Jeff Wilson, Karli Sutherland, Peter Koschel and Susan Stagg for giving of your time to put together the conference program.

The CICA AGM saw the election of a new CICA President and with that, I would like to thank Tom Smith, the outgoing CICA President for his invaluable contribution. During Tom’s tenure as president, CICA has seen incredible growth and strategic and operating improvements. CICA has really benefitted from Tom’s leadership and vision. They say that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he handles lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights, but the tests of the last three years, make those minor annoyances, pale in comparison. The difficult COVID days, marked by lockdowns and evolving restrictions are thankfully behind us, but very fresh in our memories. Throughout the most trying days, Tom’s character and exemplary leadership shone through. He unwaveringly put the needs of others and the needs of CICA ahead of his own, and I really appreciate his commitment, guidance, selfless leadership and friendship.

I hope you enjoy this issue of the magazine and wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe Christmas. We look forward to working with you in 2023 for a safe and progressive crane industry.

Hitch

CONTACT

Unit 10, 18–22 Lexia Place, Mulgrave Vic 3170

Phone: 03 9501 0078 Fax: 03 9501 0083 Email: admin@cica.com.au Website: www.cica.com.au

CICA OFFICE

Brandon Hitch

Chief Executive Officer

03 8320 0444 04 2822 8048 ceo@cica.com.au

Paul Arztenhofer

Membership Engagement/ Business Development Specialist 04 9093 9274 paul@cica.com.au

Alice Edwards Technical Project Engineer 03 8320 0440 alice@cica.com.au

Patrick Cran

CraneSafe and CrewSafe Technical Advisor 048 800 4274 pat@cranesafe.com.au

Damien Hense

CICA Road Policy Advisor

03 8320 0460 04 8800 7575 damien@cica.com.au

Jed Kenwright Road Technical Engineer 04 3955 6867 jed@cica.com.au

Julie Turner

CICA Executive Assistant / Office Manager/Vic Secretariat Direct: 03 8320 0411 Email: julie@cica.com.au

Shane Coupe CraneSafe & CrewSafe Administration Officer  Phone: 03 8320 0455  Email: shane@cica.com.au

Michelle Verkerk

Marketing Communications Officer 040 493 8714 michelle@cica.com.au

For information, please visit our website or call the CICA office.

December 2022 CAL / 15 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
Brandon

UAA GOES THE EXTRA MILE

When JD Rigging had an incident with its new Liebherr LTM 1230 5.1, managing director Jack Walsh turned to UAA for help. The response from UAA and that of other parties was immediate and designed to get the crane back and operating as soon as possible.

There were two stages to the process including the recovery of the crane and the assistance required from Liebherr when the crane was back on its wheels.

IN FOCUS / UAA 16 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au

JD RIGGING HAS BEEN OPERATING IN PERTH for close to 25 years. Specialising in heavy lift crane hire in tilt up and precast concrete construction. JD Rigging has grown in line with the exponential growth of its mining clients during the resources boom.

JD Rigging provides a range of services including erecting concrete tilt panels, erecting steel structures, shutdowns, heavy lifting and specialised crane services, heavy equipment recovery, panel layouts, lift Studies and consultative project planning with clients.

Jack Walsh is the Managing Director of JD Rigging and he’s been in this line of work for over 35 years.

“We do a fair amount of panel lifting work in and around Perth and some heavy lifting for clients in various industry sector including resources. We cater for these markets with heavy lift cranes including two Grove GMK5220 220t capacity all terrains and the brand new Liebherr LTM 1230 5.1,” said Jack.

JD Rigging has been insured by UAA for the last eight years explains Jack. He also confirms how quickly George Grasso, UAA Group CCSO - Chief Claims and Services Officer, and the team at UAA responded to a recent incident.

“We’ve been with UAA for about eight years and before that we were with Wesfarmers. We’ve never had a big claim that we’ve had to go to UAA with, so I really didn’t know what they were like and what to expect. I thought we going to be just another number, until we had this incident with the brand new Liebherr tipping over. The incident was nobody’s fault, just one of those things; soft ground which nobody knew was there, it can happen to anyone,” said Jack.

“After going through four boxes of tissues, I heard from our contact at UAA who said George Grasso, UAA Group CCSO - Chief Claims and Services Officer was coming over to Perth. He had other business to attend but he said he would catch up and have a look at our problem. I spent a day with George, and to be perfectly honest, it was the best thing I have ever done. I have never felt so relieved and happy with a person to deal with in all of my life.

“There was no nonsense with George, he said, ‘Jack we’re right here to back you’ and when someone like George has your back, I tell you, I’d go the extra mile for him any day. I put the boxes of tissues away, and we got back to business,” said Jack.

Both Jack and George visited the Liebherr workshop where they met with Richard Gulpis and the team.

“Liebherr were really helpful and we’re now waiting on Germany to ship some parts required for the repairs. It’s not a big drama, but it’s just the inconvenience of not having the crane and not making any money with it. It’s also financially painful because we are still having to make the repayments on the crane. It’s a lesson for everyone to ensure you have the right levels of insurance including the loss of revenue cover.

“George is working with us to try and get the crane back on the road as quickly as possible, through Germany and UAA, which I really was surprised at because I didn’t think they would help us so much,” said Jack.

looking for support from us, for someone get to site, and what could we offer in support. So, I got in touch with young Brayden Lawrence, one of leading technical hands, and he headed to site to offer his assistance wherever it was required,” said Richard.

“The early stages of the recovery were quickly underway. Like we always say, we are not lifting specialists, we’re specialists in repairing cranes when they break down. At the end of the day, the lifting side of things is done by the customer, and we’re there to support and that’s essentially what Brayden did,” said Richard.

Brayden worked with the guys on site and saw no problems in the way they planned to manage the recovery. He also examined the machine and prepared a quick assessment of the damage he could see. So, in the background there two stages to the process. There was the recovery of the crane and the assistance required from Liebherr when the crane was back on its wheels.

LIEBHERR WA

Richard Gulbis is Liebherr’s Regional Service Coordinator for Liebherr Mobile Cranes in WA. He explains how Liebherr handled JD Riggings’ crane incident and how responsive a crane OEM needs to be when a customer is in trouble.

“It was first thing on a Saturday when I received a call from Stefan De Silva, Sales Manager, WA/SA Mobile Crane Division Australia & New Zealand. Stefan had received a call from Jack Walsh saying there’d been an incident and could I give Jack a call. I returned Jack’s call within half an hour and understandably, he was in a state of panic.

“Obviously, I’d seen no pictures or anything by this stage, and Jack was just

“Brayden was working directly with their crane operator and the supervisors, and they had recovered the crane by the Sunday. By this time, we’d identified a few damaged axle components, and there was no way the crane was going to be driven back in this condition, the damage was too severe. Luckily, the two main damaged components were an axle strut and a suspension cylinder and Brayden ordered those parts,” said Richard.

“All this was done with good will towards the customer, because you want to support the customer in these difficult situations. The last thing the customer needs is you asking for a purchase order. We contacted Matt Clark in spare parts who confirmed everything was available. To make the situation a little easier for the technician on site and to demonstrate

December 2022 CAL / 17 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
our
“There was no nonsense with George, he said, ‘Jack we’re right here to back you’ and when someone like George has your back, I tell you, I’d go the extra mile for him any day. I put the boxes of tissues away, and we got back to business.”

spare parts support to Jack and his team, Matt decided to quickly jump into a ute and deliver the parts directly to Brayden. This allowed the repairs to be conducted in a much more efficient time frame,” said Richard.

“There were a number of calculated risks in driving the crane back. I had a question regarding the condition of the engine. We needed to know how long crane had been on its side with the engine running? Oil starvation always needs to be considered, but we checked the oil, and we had a listen to the engine, and everything sounded okay. We replaced the spare parts that needed replacing, and we managed to get the crane back. It arrived in the Liebherr yard on the Sunday evening,” said Richard.

With the crane being brand new it was still covered by the warranty, says Richard.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt insurance companies would prefer to repair a crane which is brand new. If it were five or a 10-year-old crane, maybe the repairs go out to tender, but because it was such a new crane, UAA Groups’ CCSO - Chief Claims and Services Officer George Grasso said, ‘It’s going to come to you guys. It’s as simple as that. We want the repairs to be right, and we want the warranty to still be valid for the remainder of the crane’s warranty period,’” said Richard.

MCT EQUIPMENT PREFERRED UAA REPAIRER

MCT Equipment is UAA’s preferred repairer thanks to its hugely experienced team, its industry-leading expertise across a diverse range of mobile lifting equipment, and its commitment to innovation and efficiency.

MCT will soon host a 5000m2 facility in Henderson, with almost a third of the facility dedicated to workshop space. The workshop houses one of WA’s largest teams of specialist mobile lifting equipment technicians and has the capacity for the team to complete up to eight major works at any one time. These works regularly include UAA insurance claims and range from large structural repairs to minor repairs. The new facility boasts the ability to accommodate overhead cranes, which allows MCT to minimise turnaround times

and costs, without compromising quality or safety.

MCT’s customer satisfaction can be accredited to the team’s efficient workmanship and the savings that are passed on. As a privately owned company, the team is able to make fast in-house repair decisions to hasten the insurance claim process.

The relationship between UAA and the MCT team goes back more than 10 years, with MCT valuing the partnership we have formed during this time. The long-term relationship is reflected in the strong, solid workflows across the entirety of their business, and is particularly noticeable in the workshop’s refurbishment section. MCT looks forward to continuing the successful partnership with UAA long into the future.

UAA AND MECON INSURANCE WA Martyn Shirley is UAA’s Regional Manager, Central and West and he has been with the organization for 15 years.

“The crane sector is a large part of our portfolio, but we also insure earthmoving equipment, concrete pumps, drilling contractors, road making equipment, aerial access equipment in fact most types of mobile plant.

of mine work. This work including shutdowns, servicing of equipment and the number one priority for a crane hire company is the safe operation of the crane and this is generally the result good lift studies and planning before the work has started. Planning has to be a major responsibility when operating in a highrisk environment,” he said.

Martyn discusses the Western Australian team and how claims are managed. He also confirms how the merger with Mecon Insurance will impact the WA market.

“We have a team of eight here in the WA operation and we are all underwriters and business development managers. Claims are handled by our specialist WA claims team based in Newcastle, the birthplace of UAA. The merger between UAA and Mecon is exciting. We complement each other because Mecon is in construction insurance and insure the actual construction side of the industry, and we insure the plant, so they go hand in hand, and we dovetail nicely into each other’s activities.

“MCT’s customer satisfaction can be accredited to the team’s efficient workmanship and the savings that are passed on. As a privately owned company, the team is able to make fast in-house repair decisions to hasten the insurance claim process.”

“The crane sector has been a fundamental pillar for UAA over the years and we insure most of the large crane hire companies here in Western Australia. But servicing an industry like the crane sector has its challenges and maintaining a profitable book due to high volatility and claims costs for cranes, is a major one. When cranes go wrong or when they are involved in incidents, they are very expensive pieces of equipment to fix,” said Martyn.

“The crane sector in WA is resources driven and cranes are involved in a lot

“We are fitting out new office accommodation which will enable to the two teams to come together under then one roof which is exciting for everyone. This will enable to teams to work even more closely together which will ultimately see our customers benefit from a more comprehensive and responsive service when it comes to insurance,” said Martyn.

In July of this year, Underwriting Agencies of Australia and MECON Insurance announced they had agreed to merge the businesses. Daniel Joiner is MECON Insurance’s State Manager for Western Australia and has been in the role since 2015.

Daniel originally started at MECON Insurance in 2013 as an underwriter in

IN FOCUS / UAA 18 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au

the Melbourne office as a construction underwriter before transferring over to Perth to manage MECONs newest branch. Daniel explains how the business has grown in WA and how the merger is going to benefit customers.

“We’ve seen significant growth over the last few years due to an increase in the number of construction projects throughout WA and continued with the Government investment into the industry during the ‘COVID pandemic period’. Because MECON is based in the state, we can remain engaged with the changes throughout the construction market in Western Australia. Although our connection with builders remains entirely through insurance brokers, we work with our broker partners to provide flexible insurance solutions for builders throughout the construction sector whose projects range from owner builders, small to medium businesses taking on speculative projects, to larger commercial, residential and civil builders requiring annual policies.

“Over the years that MECON has been in Perth, we have seen Perth and Western Australia grow immensely, and I take much enjoyment that we have been involved in the expansion in some small way,” said Daniel. “Being a construction underwriting agency in Perth has allowed us to be involved with many major and exciting projects within WA, such as certain portions of Perth Stadium, Elizabeth Quay and more recently Busselton Jetty redevelopment”

With the merger with UAA, MECON has moved its mobile plant portfolio across to the UAA team to manage.

“UAA is the best in the market for mobile equipment, and I know that our existing portfolio is in great hands being managed by Martyn and the UAA team. This will allow our team at MECON to focus on our core strength, which is construction insurance. From that point of view, the merger has been great, and it’s gone hand in hand with what we’re looking to achieve as a business,” said Daniel.

The WA team at MECON is experienced and customer-focused.

“We have a team of seven based in Perth, managing business from WA as well as business from South Australia and the Northern Territory. We have built a formidable team with what I consider to be the best construction underwriters in the state, our underwriters actively engage with our brokers and are passionate about finding the best solutions for our mutual clients” said Daniel.

The teams at MECON and UAA are planning to physically join forces and will be moving into the same office.

“Our new offices are currently in the process of being fitted out. Due to both MECON’s and UAA’s Perth-based team’s rapid expansion, joining offices was the most logical solution, however, we will still operate as two brands, one family”.

“Martyn (UAA WA State Manager) and I have a solid relationship. We share a good level of banter and have been mates for some time before the merger. One of the most surprising things which came from the merger was how well our teams get along and how similar our company cultures are. We are looking forward to exploring the obvious synergies that the merger brings, and offering a more comprehensive service to our customer base,” said Daniel.

KNIGHTCORP INSURANCE BROKERS

Knightcorp is seen as a market leading Insurance broking firm. The team at Knightcorp approaches business with customer centric values and passion. A key business objective is to create a company where professionals can thrive and be their authentic selves. This has resulted in a culture where clients feel completely secure and valued through strong relationships and stand-out personalised service. We have a national portfolio of customers across Australia with our head office being based in WA where the company was founded.

Knightcorp has been servicing the insurance and risk management needs of customers in the Civil, Mining and Construction industry for over 13 years, we are very familiar with Small and

December 2022 CAL / 19 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
MCT Equipment’s hugely experienced team features industry-leading expertise across a diverse range of mobile lifting equipment.

Large Mobile Plant Fleets and are very experienced with providing strong solutions In this sector, we have a combined industry experience in excess of 60 years and are experts in this field.

The Knightcorp team has vast experience in dealing with clients within the Crane industry sector, whether you are an owner, operator or are in the crane hire business, they understand the sector and are able to help customers of all sizes and complexities says Bernie of Norwest Crane Hire.

“Our decision to partner with Knightcorp Insurance Brokers for all of our insurance needs has been a great decision for our company, they understand the Crane Industry very well and always deliver great solutions and professional service. The Crane sector and the contracts within it can change so quickly and it was important to us that we had an insurance partner that understood this and could come on our journey with us. The construction industry also comes with a lot of risk and potential insurance claims, Knightcorp have always been in our corner and they are a team we have been able to rely on.

When next considering your insurance broking partner we would recommend you get in contact with the team at Knightcorp.”

The Knightcorp team has an in-depth understanding of crane hire agreements and are able to assist with the insurances clauses found in industry contract reviews. From a claims handling perspective, they understand that if a client suffers damage to its fleet, there is a need to act quickly and

Throughout the process, UAA has been cooperative and keen to see everything resolved - getting that crane out of the yard and back to work as quickly as possible

effectively to begin the process. Our large network and high level of claims services is a significant part of the difference Knightcorp make to our customers.

Recovering, assessing and repairing a crane is an intricate and costly operation that involves all parties working closely together and Knightcorp’s expert claims team is the perfect conduit to ensure this process happens seamlessly between all parties involved.

Over the years, Knightcorp has found UAA to be a great supporter of insurance

for plant & crane fleets, with a product that consistently performs. Knightcorp continuously finds UAA policies have special benefits that can be negotiated. Their breadth of cover is amongst the best in the market.

UAA’s team are realistic, commercially minded, technically proficient and always approachable. Their claims service is consistent and knowledgeable, which reflects positively in reaching a favourable, fair and reasonable outcome for our UAA clients.

IN FOCUS / UAA 20 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
“UAA’s team are realistic, commercially-minded, technically proficient and always approachable. Their claims service is consistent and knowledgeable, which reflects positively in reaching a favourable, fair and reasonable outcome for our UAA clients.”

BAUMA 2022 SURPASSES EXPECTATIONS

When the grounds of Messe München become the centre of the construction machinery industry for seven full days, bauma is finally taking place again.

A TOTAL OF AROUND 3,200 EXHIBITORS from 60 countries (2019: 3,684 exhibitors from 63 countries) and more than 495,000 visitors from over 200 countries (2019: 627,603 visitors from more than 200 countries) came to Munich for the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment held from October 24 through 30. The proportion of international visitors was around 50 percent.

The top 10 exhibitor countries were, in this order: Germany, Italy, Turkey, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, France, the U.S., Austria, Spain and China. The share of international exhibitors was nearly 65 percent.

Stefan Rummel, the CEO of Messe München responsible for the event, is pleased: “This bauma has again stoked enthusiasm and fascination! After the world fundamentally changed following the last bauma, we’re really thrilled that bauma 2022 demonstrates the trade fair remains a powerhouse of the construction-equipment industry thanks to our customer’s great variety of innovations, good business deals and many visitors from all over the world.”

INDUSTRY EXPECTATIONS GREATLY

SURPASSED

And this is because bauma displayed its usual strength even in these unsettled times, as Domenic Ruccolo, CSO of Wirtgen Group and Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Support for Global Construction Equipment at John Deere confirms: “The WIRTGEN GROUP’s joint trade show appearance with John Deere was a resounding success. The interest in our company and our innovative and sustainable products was simply overwhelming. Our participation in the industry leading trade fair bauma was the most successful in the history of the WIRTGEN GROUP.” Steffen Günther, a member of the Board of Directors of Liebherr, also expresses his satisfaction: “bauma proved to be a very successful trade fair for us. We generated a lot of enthusiasm among the large audience. The conversations were outstanding. We’re already looking forward to the next bauma trade fair now.” Fred Cordes, Chairman of the Management Board at Zeppelin (CAT), adds: “bauma was long overdue — as demonstrated by the overwhelming rush of visitors to our booth and the extraordinary interest in Cat construction machinery and Zeppelin services.”

And in terms of business deals as well, bauma proved once again it is THE platform for the industry. Alexander Greschner, Chief Sales Officer at Wacker Neuson Group, says: “Visitors flocked to our stand, and we had a lot of very good discussions. From the very first day we were able to achieve sales success on the same level as 2019 and beyond.”

Alexander Schwörer, owner of PERI, had a similar experience, saying: “The entire team was very keen to see how the trade fair would develop in these difficult times. But even after the first day it was clear to see that this bauma would be a complete success. What’s particularly noteworthy to mention is the quality of the conversations we had during the week of the trade fair: They were exceptional in all respects. And something I certainly want to mention: We signed a number of very attractive contracts right at the trade fair. In short, bauma 2022 more than exceeded our expectations.”

These are assessments the co-CEOs of Messe München, Stefan Rummel and Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, like to hear: “In these challenging times, bauma has sent a strong signal to the trade-fair sector: Industries need precisely such in-person events like bauma where everyone can directly experience products and hold personal conversations.”

A FOCUS ON TOPICS OF THE FUTURE

But bauma did not just showcase its strength as a business platform; the trade fair also lived up to its leadership claim in setting topics for the event. Franz-Josef Paus, Managing Director of Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Chairman of the bauma Advisory Board says in summary: “We’re very satisfied with how bauma went. The trade fair was enormously popular among our customers and guests. Digitalization and automation are topics that dominate the trade fair, and this trend is irreversible.”

Joachim Schmid, Managing Director of the Construction Machinery and Building Material Association of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) echoes this, saying: “The exhibitors are offering solutions to address current challenges related to CO2 neutrality as well as tackling the issue of skilled worker shortages with automation and digitalization. This is the future.” The next bauma will be held in Munich from April 7–13, 2025.

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LIEBHERR LAUNCH LTM 1100-5.3

At bauma, Liebherr presented a new all terrain that takes the combination of mobility, economy and performance to a new level. The LTM 1100-5.3 offers a powerful 62-metre telescopic boom and carries up to 16.9 tonnes of ballast with a 12-tonne axle load on public roads.

THE NEW CRANE ALSO OFFERS

economical mobility worldwide, as it can travel with an axle load of only 9 tonnes. For this reason, Liebherr will present the new LTM 1100-5.3 under the slogan ‘The master of all roads’. It is the second crane in the Liebherr range to feature the new LICCON3 control system.

In the all terrain section of the Liebherr stand at bauma, two mobile cranes visibly stood out. They both feature a new driver’s cabin and crane cab, new paintwork and the LICCON3 control system – the previously unveiled

LTM 1110-5.2 and the all-new LTM 1100-5.3.

When designing the LTM 1100-5.3, Liebherr focused above all on lightweight construction to allow as much ballast as possible to be carried with a 12-tonne axle load; and to achieve the lowest possible axle loads by reducing ballast. In addition, the new crane was designed with a long, strong telescopic boom in mind.

HIGH MOBILITY, WORLDWIDE

Even in countries where mobile cranes with a 12-tonne axle load are permitted

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on the roads, crane operators have been demanding cranes which can be driven with low axle loads and total weights by simply removing the ballast. These models deliver major benefits when it comes to obtaining licences and route permits. In addition, day-to-day circumstances often require reduced weights, such as when driving over bridges and in inner cities.

When it comes to flexible axle loads, the new LTM 1100-5.3 sets unprecedented standards. With 0.8 tonnes of ballast, it reaches a total weight of 44 tonnes with axle loads of 9

The new Liebherr LTM 1100-5.3 mobile crane offers a new level of combined mobility, economy and performance.

tonnes. With 4.4 tonnes of ballast, it can travel with 10 tonnes of axle load and a total weight of 48 tonnes. With an axle load of 12 tonnes, the new 100-tonne crane can carry up to 16.9 tonnes of counterweights. At 75 per cent of the maximum ballast of 22.5 tonnes, this is a new record for mobile cranes worldwide. This allows the new LTM 1100-5.3 to perform the majority of its jobs as a taxi crane without additional ballast transport. Even with maximum ballast, the axle loads of 13.4 tonnes are low and evenly distributed across all axles. The new LTM 1100-5.3 has a narrow width of

2.55 metres – an additional advantage when driving on roads and construction sites. It is the first 5-axle mobile crane worldwide based on this narrow design.

LARGE WORKING RANGE WITH THE 62-METRE TELESCOPIC BOOM

At 62 metres, the telescopic boom is two metres longer than the next most powerful Liebherr 5-axle machine, the LTM 1110-5.2. In addition, a 9.5 to 16-metre folding jib is available which, as an option, can also be adjusted hydraulically between 0° and 40°. This enables the LTM 1100-5.3 to achieve hoisting heights of up to 76 metres and radii of up to 64 metres. Other options include a 2-metre assembly jib and a side-folding rooster sheave, which offer additional flexibility in use.

The new 100-tonne crane offers extra safety, flexibility and lifting capacity thanks to the VarioBase® variable outrigger system. Greater flexibility on the construction site is also provided by the standard VarioBallast®, which allows the ballast radius to be adjusted between 4.0 and 5.1 metres.

LICCON3 CRANE CONTROL SYSTEM

The third generation of the LICCON (Liebherr Computed Control) system relies on proven control features, but also includes a completely new software package and programming language as well as a faster databus, significantly more storage space and more computing power. Crane operators who are familiar with the previous control system

December 2022 CAL / 23 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
will
“When designing the LTM 11005.3, Liebherr focused above all on lightweight construction to allow as much ballast as possible to be carried with a 12-tonne axle load; and to achieve the lowest possible axle loads by reducing ballast.”

quickly and easily get to grips with the new version, as the recognition value is very high. Proven hardware components, such as the mobile operating and display unit BTT, have been adopted. The touchscreen function on the new large display in the superstructure cab means that it is now even easier and more comfortable to control. The way in which the information is shown has also been revised and simplified. In addition, LICCON3 cranes are prepared for telemetry and fleet management as standard. In the future, crane contractors will be able to view and evaluate all the relevant data using the MyLiebherr customer portal.

NEW DRIVER’S CABIN AND CRANE CAB

As a result of the high synergy effects involved, Liebherr is launching the new driver’s cabin at the same time as the

LICCON3 control system. The modern design features premium materials and timeless lines as well as delivering a whole host of improvements for the crane driver. These include the new multifunction steering wheel, side roller blind on the driver’s door, improved instruments and modules as well as new displays. Additional convenience is offered by options such as a central locking system with remote key and the “Coming and Leaving Home” function.

A completely new, modern automatic heating and air-conditioning system in the driver’s cabin and in the crane cab, which features an adapted design, ensures a high level of comfort. A sun sensor detects strong sunshine and automatically adjusts the heating settings.

The lighting packages for the crane cab, the superstructure, the rear of the

vehicle, the front headlights and the telescopic boom as well as the lattice fly jib have been optimised and can be operated with LEDs. The benefits of LED technology include a longer service life and superior lighting performance.

ZF TRAXON DYNAMICPERFORM GEAR UNIT

The innovative DynamicPerform coupling module is installed in the new LTM 1100-5.3. It ensures virtually wear-free starting and manoeuvring without overheating for the modular ZF TraXon gear unit, because it transmits the engine output via an oil-cooled clutch plate pack. The friction heat generated when starting is dissipated in the clutch oil and supplied to the vehicle’s cooling system via an oil/water heat exchanger. Crane operators thus benefit from greater efficiency and lower maintenance costs.

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The safe choice

Liebherr rough terrain cranes

Off-road, powerful, robust. With maximum safety thanks to VarioBase as standard and automatic outrigger levelling as well as global load tables to ANSI, EN, GOST and AS. The safe choice – even for beginners! www.liebherr.com

Mobile and crawler cranes

The Grove GMK 4070L offers the strongest load charts and at 60m, the longest boom in its class.

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60M
GMK4070L
GROVE LAUNCHES
BOOM

To strengthen its four-axle all-terrain crane line-up, Grove unveiled the GMK4070L at bauma. The 70t capacity GMK4070L offers the strongest load charts and the longest boom in its class at 60m. At its full 60m length the crane is able to lift an impressive 4.4t, while at 49m owners will be capable of picking loads of up to 8.3t. When working at its maximum radius of 46m, the GMK4070L will lift 1t.

UP TO 78M OF MAXIMUM TIP HEIGHT IS available when the 60 m main boom is paired with its 15 m swingaway jib option. These are capabilities more commonly associated with 100t cranes and allow the new model to take on jobs that would typically require larger cranes.

“The Grove GMK4070L offers improved engineering design and adopts several latest technologies to deliver a new level of performance, operation, serviceability, and fuel efficiency,” said Andreas Cremer, vice president of product management for mobile cranes at Manitowoc. “It’s a crane that will be a true game changer, surprising many customers with just how much more a 70 t all-terrain crane can achieve.”

ONE FOR THE ROAD

Offering unmatched versatility, the GMK4070L will give owners a host of options for travel. At a configuration of 16.5t per axle, the crane will carry an impressive 17.8t of counterweight, just shy of its full 19t complement. In situations requiring 12t per axle, it will carry up to 13.3 t, while at 45.8t for NSW Level 4 GVM, it will be able to travel with 11t of counterweight while for 10t per axle configurations it will be able to travel with 5.3t of counterweight.

A Telma retarder packaged in the carrier design will reduce the risk of overheating and overall wear and tear on the conventional service brake system. The frictionless, maintenance-free Telma braking system remains effective even after the engine is switched off, or when the gearbox is in neutral, ensuring full braking power is available, regardless of the crane’s speed.

The new high-visibility carrier cab offers the best levels of protection in line with European ECE R29-3 regulations, ensuring exceptional security in frontal impact, roof, and rear wall strength. Power for both the carrier and the superstructure will come from a single 320 kW (430 HP) Mercedes Benz OM470LA 6-cylinder diesel engine. Compliant with Euromot 5/Tier 4 Final requirements, this clean, efficient engine is approved for use with HVO Diesel, for customers looking to

December 2022 CAL / 27 www.cranesandlifting.com.au

“Also making life easier for the operator is Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS), which supports both setup and lifting.”

further reduce their CO2 emissions or meet tight environmental jobsite requirements. The engine’s ECO mode can be used in conjunction with the transmission’s Fuel Saver mode, for unbeatable fuel efficiency.

TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION TO THE FORE

The GMK4070L will be one of the first Manitowoc cranes to offer the exciting new Grove CONNECT™ digital platform that provides owners with real-time access to fleet data. Through Grove CONNECT™, fleet managers can get instant insights into the crane’s performance with just a couple of taps on a screen. Service technicians are supported with remote, optimized troubleshooting, reducing the frequency of onsite trips and strengthening preventative maintenance programs.

The optional MAXbase feature helps users reduce setup time at the jobsite and give them a wider choice of outrigger positions. With this option, the crane becomes an ideal choice for confined spaces or projects where obstacles are preventing setup in the preferred location. The productivity-enhancing MAXbase allows the crane’s four double hydraulically telescoping outriggers to be easily extended to a range of symmetric and asymmetric positions. This maximizes flexibility and enables lifting work to continue in less-than-ideal environments.

Also making life easier for the operator is Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS), which supports both setup and lifting. Using its Boom Configurator feature, the operator can select the optimal arrangement of the seven-section MEGAFORM® boom with TWINLOCK® dual-pinning system.

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LONGER, STRONGER, AND MORE COMPACT. and the most compact carrier design in the • • loadcharts •Access tight building sites, city centers and indoors with unmatched compactness • Increased safety and flexibility with MAXbase variable outrigger positioning •Lower fuel consumption through latest Cummins engines with ECO Mode • Manitowoc Australia www.manitowoc.com Western Australia WATM Crane Sales &Service Queensland New Zealand TRT Australia TRT NZ trt@trtaust.com.au trt@trt.co.nz LEVEL ACCESS MAXbase Equipped The NEW GMK3060L-1 delivers excellent reach NEW GMK3060L-1

COMANSA LAUNCHES NEW LCH300 HYDRAULIC LUFFING JIB CRANE

During bauma 2022, the Spanish tower crane manufacturer presented its innovative model, the all new LCH300.

COMANSA EXPANDS ITS RANGE OF LUFFING jib cranes with the launch of the LCH300, its first hydraulic model, with a maximum load capacity of 16 tonnes and reach of 60 metres.

The LCH300/16 t is available in various versions: embedded, supported on bases of 6 or 8 metres, or movable. The crane can be assembled with 2.5 x 2.5m tower sections. Its modular jib has a reach of 25 to 60 metres, with configurations every 5 metres. It has a minimum working radius of 4 metres and a minimum radius of 9 metres when out of service.

It has manual transmission combinations of 1T (direct pulling) and 2T. The maximum load capacity is 8t with the 1T configuration and 16t with the 2T configuration. The

maximum load at the jib end is 3,400 and 3,150kg, respectively.

Its 1t configuration can reach the 60m boom with a 2t configuration reaching a maximum 55m.

The luffing moves the jib and counter jib jointly by a hydraulic cylinder at the cathead and jib hinge assembly. The hydraulic pump unit is located on a movable platform in one piece.

From the cabin there is direct visibility of the lifting mechanism of between 50kW (standard) and 65kW (optional). Thanks to the Effi-Plus technology, it is possible to increase the speed of the lifting mechanism without affecting consumption, which allows loading cycles to be considerably reduced,

thereby improving the productivity of the crane.

The design of this new rotating part - jib, cathead and counter jib - as well as the mechanism, cabin and hydraulic unit platforms, optimises the transport of this model, which may be supplied by 8 trucks or containers.

This new luffing jib crane from Comansa incorporates the award-winning CUBE Cab (L or XL) with Split type air conditioning. The cabin platform, like the lifting and hydraulic unit platforms, can be transported in a single piece.

Now, with the incorporation of the LCH300 hydraulic model, the luffing mechanism is optimised to offer even greater performance and an efficient assembly, as well as reduction of the radius when out of service.

from Comansa incorporates the award-winning CUBE Cab

conditioning. The cabin platform, like the lifting and hydraulic unit platforms, can be transported in

30 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
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With a main boom length of 50 metres, the crane can lift a good 7.1 tonnes at a radius of 12m.

TADANO LAUNCH NEW AC 4.O70-2

WHEN DEVELOPING ITS NEW AC 4.070-2 all terrain crane, Tadano made sure to pursue some extremely ambitious goals: “To put it simply, we wanted to bring to life a powerful and cutting-edge 70-tonne crane that would deliver the best performance on the market in as many axle load configurations as possible. And to put it plainly, that’s exactly what we did,” explains project manager Sascha Scholler, who was responsible for the development.

Among the various impressive characteristics, one stands out in particular: The AC 4.070-2 can transport its sizeable maximum counterweight of 11.9 tonnes by itself while staying within an axle load limit of 12 tonnes, and it can still manage an impressive 4.4 tonnes when the axle load is reduced to 10 tonnes instead. Needless to say, this makes the AC 4.070-2 an extremely flexible and versatile

taxi crane. And there are also the lifting capacities, which are just as impressive: For example, with a main boom length of 50 metres, the crane can lift a good 7.1 tonnes at a radius of 12 metres, and this goes up to a total of 7.3 tonnes at a radius of 10 metres. “No other crane in its class can reach these lifting capacities,” Sascha Scholler underscores with a glint of pride in his eyes. Among other things, this means that the Tadano AC 4.070-2 is the perfect assist crane for erecting large lattice boom crawler cranes, as well as an outstanding crane for residential and functional building construction projects. Moreover, the crane’s extremely compact design only helps to boost these advantages even further: With a total length of 11.7 metres, a width of 2.55 metres, and a traveling height of 3.8 metres, it is the most compact four-axle

unit of its class on the market.

The boom solution also plays a crucial role in the AC 4.070-2 crane’s versatility: Tadano offers two extensions for the crane’s 50-meter main boom – a swingaway jib with a length of 6.5 metres and a double folding swing-away jib with a length of 16 metres, making it possible to reach a system length of up to 66 metres. In addition, there is also an optionally available runner.

COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD EQUIPMENT WITH IC1 PLUS AND FLEX BASE

It goes without saying that the new Tadano AC 4.070-2 would not have been complete without the highly coveted IC1 Plus control system, which determines the crane’s lifting capacity for every boom position as a function of the superstructure’s slewing angle. Moreover, the way these

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Tadano continues its innovation campaign with the launch of the most powerful 70t capacity all terrain on the market.

computations are carried out directly in the cab means that the lifting capacity for a specific radius is no longer limited to the lowest value for a pre-calculated 360° lifting capacity, but is instead determined in real time. As a result, the AC 4.0702 is always able to take advantage of the maximum lifting capacity available to it, and the advantages provided by this system literally deliver invaluable support for lifts over the outriggers. And when used together with the Flex Base, an outrigger system that comes as standard and features outriggers that can be extended to any point within their available range, this enables the crane to take care of jobs that would normally be the exclusive purview of larger cranes. In fact, the Flex Base can be used to extend the outriggers in asymmetrical configurations instead of predefined extension positions, making it possible for crane operators to get the outriggers as close to obstacles as possible and use the maximum possible outrigger spread in any scenario. After this, all the IC1 Plus has to do is to incorporate every single centimeter of outrigger extension into determining the lifting capacity.

The AC 4.070-2 can transport its maximum counterweight of 11.9t by itself while staying within an axle load limit of 12t.

FEATURING AN E-PACK PREP PACKAGE

In addition to the Flex Base, the innovative Tadano IC-1 Remote telematics solution for location-independent crane and fleet management is also available for the AC 4.070-2. This cloud solution provides remote access to all relevant crane data from anywhere, enabling online troubleshooting by Tadano Support.

Another highlight behind the new AC 4.070-2 is the one-of-a-kind Tadano Surround View System, which features a separate monitor in the carrier cab that provides 360° visibility and graphically shows the maximum possible extension lengths for the outriggers and the counterweight tailswing radius from a bird’s eye view perspective. Accordingly, Tadano Surround View makes it significantly easier to optimally position the crane at work sites without the need for additional personnel. The system also provides assistance on the way to the work site by making it easier for crane operators to notice pedestrians and cyclists. For example, the area to the right of the crane, which traditionally does not have the greatest visibility, is highlighted on the monitor when the turn signal is activated.

The AC 4.070-2 can also be equipped with another Tadano innovation at the factory: With a special transportation cradle and the required hydraulic connections, the four-axle unit is optionally prepared for work with the ESTA-award-winning E-Pack. This feature is an electro-hydraulic system that comes with an integrated 32-kW electric motor that makes extremely quiet zero-emission crane operation possible. The E-Pack can be used to carry out all AC 4.070-2 crane functions without any negative impact on the corresponding maximum lifting capacity. Not only that, but other performance characteristics are comparable to those achieved with operation with a diesel engine in many work areas, expanding the range of applications of the AC 4.070-2 to indoor projects and cleanrooms, for example. On top of this, the costeffective single-engine design allows for climate-friendly crane operation thanks to its compatibility with various alternative diesel fuels, such as HVO. The use of these fuels generates fewer emissions and makes operating the crane more environmentally friendly. The AC 4.070-2 shares these advantages with a number of other units, including Tadano models AC 4.080-1 and AC 4.100L-1, which feature a drive train that is virtually identical – this is also part of Tadano’s current shared component strategy, which is intended to provide customers with standardized controls and easier maintenance options.

THE BOTTOM LINE

With the new AC 4.070-2, Tadano is once more introducing the most compact crane of a class while raising the bar in many areas with the best lifting capacities out there. Thanks to comprehensive standard equipment and a flexible range of accessories, the new four-axle machine is a particularly versatile representative of its class, and technical highlights such as the IC1 Plus, Flex Base, Surround View, and E-Pack prep package are sure to make it an extremely attractive option for many crane service providers.

December 2022 CAL / 33 www.cranesandlifting.com.au

The Sennebogen 653 E Electro Battery, has a powerful 130 kW electric motor instead of the diesel engine, powered by a lithium-ion battery in the uppercarriage.

THE NEW 653 E ELECTRO BATTERY 50T capacity battery-powered crane combines the benefits of battery technology with the proven advantages of the telescopic crawler crane design. This means you work completely emission-free and retain maximum flexibility thanks to the Dual Power Management system.

The 653 E Electro Battery is the first battery-powered telescopic crawler crane in the range.

Especially in inner-city areas, environmental requirements are becoming increasingly stringent in Europe, and these are increasingly including construction machinery. Sennebogen already has two battery-powered material handlers in its material handling product portfolio.

SENNEBOGEN LAUNCH NEW 50T CAPACITY BATTERYPOWERED CRANE

During bauma Sennebogen presented the 653 E Electro Battery, its first batterypowered telescopic crawler crane.

Thanks to sales partner Van den Heuvel working closely with Dutch crane rental companies and construction companies, the valuable market requirements from the progressive Dutch market have now been factored into in a development partnership and a 50t telescopic battery-powered crane has been developed in collaboration with the dealer. With coordinated battery technology and analog charging management, this crane is perfectly adapted to applications in the construction industry thanks to the collaboration.

NEW, BATTERY-POWERED VERSION OF THE SENNEBOGEN 653 E

The battery-powered version of the 50-tonne SENNEBOGEN 653 telescopic

crawler crane, the 653 Electro Battery, has a powerful 130 kW electric motor instead of the diesel engine, powered by a lithium-ion battery in the uppercarriage. The high-quality, liquid-cooled battery system, which is particularly durable and has already proven itself on- and off-road under the toughest conditions, has a capacity of 210 kWh and is connected to an intelligent battery management system (BMS). Depending on the type of use, the crane operates in battery mode for up to 14 hours. For charging, the machine simply needs to be connected to a standardised 32 A CEE industrial socket, which is usually available on any construction site.

Thanks to the 22 kW on-board

34 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au

charger, there is no need to invest in additional charging stations. The integrated power electronics also ensure a particularly smooth motor start-up that is gentle on the mains power grid.

MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY THANKS TO DUAL POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The machine’s Dual Power Management system guarantees maximum mobility and uninterrupted work, all with the same performance as usual. Like the SENNEBOGEN battery-powered material handlers, 817 and 825 Electro Battery, the electric crane can continue working whilst charging from the power grid. As soon as the machine is connected, the mains power is used for the lifting operations, while excess energy is simultaneously used to recharge the batteries.

In the future, you will not only continue to benefit from the flexibility of the telescopic crawler crane itself on the construction site, which is characterized by unique off-road capability and maneuverability – even with a load on the hook – but will now combine this with the technological advantages of state-of-the-art battery technology. The crane’s hydraulics have basically remained the same, but the control of the battery-powered machine has proven to be even more sensitive due to the more directly acting torque, which customers and crane operators find very pleasant.

ZERO EMISSIONS ON SITE

The 653 Electro Battery is not only free of fossil fuels such as diesel and engine oil, but also works noticeably more quietly and with less vibration than its diesel-powered counterparts. When generating energy from renewable energy sources, the battery-powered crane also saves more than 23 t CO2 per year in single-shift operation. In addition to the positive CO2 footprint, the machine also has a further significant advantage - it requires less service work, as maintenance procedures such as engine oil changes are completely eliminated.

The new 653 E Electro Battery 50t capacity battery-powered crane combines the benefits of battery technology with the proven advantages of the telescopic crawler crane design.

benefit from the flexibility of the telescopic crawler crane itself on the construction site, which is characterised by unique off-road capability and maneuverability – even with a load on the hook – but will now combine this with the technological advantages of state-of-the-art battery technology.”

December 2022 CAL / 35 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
“In the future, you will not only continue to

The new Liebherr HS 8070.1 is versatile, flexible and compact

LIEBHERR LAUNCH NEW DUTY CYCLE CRAWLER

Liebherr launched the new all-rounder duty cycle crawler crane, the HS 8070.1. The new cycle crawler is particularly suited for material handling, deep foundation work and lifting work. It features a modular counterweight system for various applications and a new A-frame system for dynamic operations.

VERSATILE, FLEXIBLE AND COMPACT:

these attributes are combined in the new duty cycle crawler crane HS 8070.1. It represents the all-rounder qualities of Liebherr’s HS series and is equipped for an especially wide range of applications. Thanks to the new design it can be individually fitted depending on the application and customer requirements.

Liebherr revealed the latest generation of duty cycle crawler cranes at bauma. The machine has a lifting capacity of 70 tonnes and is the first choice for a multitude of applications: material handling, deep foundation or lifting work.

Using the new jack-up system, the crawlers can be easily disassembled for transportation, so reducing the transport weight to less than 35 tonnes. The platforms and railings must no longer be removed before transportation.

FLEXIBLE DESIGN

Instead of a single counterweight, the new model is fitted with a modular system. Thus, the customer can mount the counterweights individually as required, depending on the operation. Further, the boom of the HS 8070.1 is compatible with the HS 8100.1. Therefore, customers can use attachments such as the slurry wall grab HSG 5-18 on both machines and install thicker slurry walls with a more compact machine.

As opposed to the fixed system, the new floating A-frame system ensures higher performance in dynamic applications. It also simplifies and speeds up the assembly and transportation of the machine. The userfriendly design extends to the tank neck, which is easily accessible via a platform on the uppercarriage - a perfect example of the modern and individual design strategy.

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FOCUSING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RIGGING AND LIFTING EQUIPMENT

BUSY TIMES FOR LEEA WITH ATTENTION TURNING TO 2023

What a year it’s been so far. It feels like 2022 has been a thrilling rollercoaster ride, with dizzying highs and out of control lows and as things progress, we’re heading through the last bends, travelling at an alarming pace towards 2023.

AS WE STEAM TOWARDS THAT FINISH line, it’s good to reflect on the achievements and progress that LEEA has made over this past year. Bursting out of the pandemic was probably not on many people’s radar, but we had different ideas at LEEA. We put into action a number of new and exciting initiatives, both in this region and globally.

LEEA is a global association, and we have members in 80+ countries and gather expertise from our membership across all manner of industries throughout those countries. They share their knowledge with us, which helps shape our global industry best practice guides. This global connection was evident at the dinner for the LEEA Awards 2022 where we welcomed 250 guests from across the world during the two days of LiftEx in Aberdeen. At this event the LEEA Australia and New Zealand Regional Council was awarded – Member of the Year 2022, as a collective group. This was an outstanding reward for a group that I am most fortunate to be able to work with and on behalf of. They are exceptional industry leaders who dedicate their time to progressing LEEA’s global best practice agenda and assist in shaping products and services specifically for our local members. I thank the eight regional council members for making my role so rewarding and highlight them publicly for their contribution.

These members are:

• Steve Flint (Chair) – The Rigging Shed

• Adam Thompson – Stenhouse Lifting

• A ndy Campbell – Bunzel Safety

I was fortunate enough to attend LiftEx in Aberdeen, Scotland where thousands turned out to see the latest in products and services relevant to the Lifting Equipment Industry. As part of the event schedule, I had the opportunity to speak with a group of senior school students

from local Aberdeen High Schools. This engagement formed a part of a promotional program to build interest in learning more about the huge range of opportunities available to them in the lifting industry locally and around the world and, I highlighted the many prospects they would have available to them in this region. These students were invited to come along and learn more, engage with industry professionals and interact with global companies and organisations as part of the “Think Lifting” campaign which introduces

38 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au LEEA REPORT
Rob Smit – Cookes (NZ) A shley Thacker – Ranger Lifting Navin Kumar – Lifting Victoria M ark Eberhard – LiftQuip R hys Goldsworthy – Nobles Justin Boehm, LEEA regional manager –Australia & New Zealand.

school ages students to the great industry in which we work.

Also during my time in the UK I spent a week with colleagues at LEEA HQ in Huntingdon. There I had the chance to reconnect after 3 years and this opportunity afforded me a closer look at LEEA’s brand new online learning platform prior to the official launch at LiftEx. This new platform is state of the art and gives our learners greater flexibility to learn at their own pace, in the office, on the road, on PC, Mobile or tablet. Additionally, the use of an offline study capability with auto-sync updates (once back online), means that learners can study literally anywhere at any time. Our team has been working overtime on ensuring this new system is second to none and I can happily say we’ve delivered on an incredible piece of work for the benefit of our members and the broader industry.

Tailing into the new learning platform is the brilliant new LEEA TEAM Card. The TEAM Card is a way to quickly and easily identify a qualified and capable LEEA trained Lifting Equipment Testing Inspection

and Certification professionals. The new TEAM Card is NFC enabled, which when tapped against a mobile phone – links straight to the TEAM Card database, showing all credentials, is updated automatically and doesn’t need to be re-issued. The TEAM Card is a way for end users to be certain that their equipment is being inspected by a true industry trained professional, quickly and easily in any location. We look forward to promoting this as the best way to ensure lifting equipment inspections are being carried out be suitably qualified people.

Finally, in March 2023 our members and end users will be able to see all our new services in action, as we will host our very own LiftEx event and exhibition in Darling Harbour, Sydney. This will be our first event since

before the pandemic. We’re looking to celebrate with a showcase of innovative products and services that highlights our industry. One that is incredibly important to so many supply chains throughout the world. As highlighted at the LEEA Awards in Aberdeen in October, Australia is a world leader in safety in the Lifting Equipment Industry and this is an ideal opportunity for our members to be rewarded for their commitment and dedication to this industry. The event will span two days, with a major portion highlighting our work for members, but giving an insight as to what the key business drivers, pitfalls and highlights business should be watching for in 2023. I look forward to welcoming our members and guests to the event and we will make further announcements closer to the event.

December 2022 CAL / 39 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
Justin and some of the LEEA Australia members had the opportunity to attend Liftex.
“Tailing into the new learning platform is the brilliant new LEEA TEAM Card. The TEAM Card is a way to quickly and easily identify a qualified and capable LEEA trained Lifting Equipment Testing Inspection and Certification professionals.”

Don’t leave it to chance!

The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) is established across t he world as t he leading trade association for all t hose involved in t he lifting industry. Trust t he professionals, always insist on a LEEA member.

Lifting Equipment Engineers Association

LEEA member near you visit www.leeaint.com or email mail@leeaint.com

The recycled mats are tough and durable, perfect for difficult work.

ANDROMEDA CONTINUES TO GROW ITS OFFERING

Andromeda Industries has a diverse range of products, not only are they a manufacturer of Superflex slings and Steel Flat woven sling , it has a division that recycles used conveyor belts for the mining industry.

Andromeda has been working tirelessly to develop fresh products for the lifting sector.

LOCATED IN REGIONAL NSW ON A FIVEhectare site in the village of Moonbi, 22 km north of Tamworth, Andromeda Industries is a proudly Australian-owned and operated, with its present entity been of a series of businesses created and operated by Raymond McLaren for close to 60 years.

One very interesting product that Andromeda makes out of the used conveyor belt is its blasting mats. The Andromeda Industries Rubber Blast Mats are massive rubber mats woven from conveyor belts

using a specialised technique to fix the weft and warps together. They come equipped with wire rope slings to lift the mats, which are NATA tested to Australian Standards.

Rubber Blasting mats are designed to stop rock fly when using high explosives. The high density and weight of the rubber provides mass to absorb the energy of flying rocks while-releasing-gas-pressure.

Another application they have been used is for a barrier/protection curtain when building are getting demolished.

December 2022 CAL / 41
IN FOCUS / ANDROMEDA

“If a customer is having a specific issue with a sling and it’s not performing to their expectations, we will examine the application and discuss with them if they have the right sling for the application or whether they can do something to better protect the sling, or if they could change the way they are using the sling to make it last longer and perform better.”

Being made from recycled materials with minimum embodied energy, they provide great value and durability under normal conditions.

Andromeda pulling-in cable is yet another product stocked onsite. With all the activity within the power industry at the moment the company is primed to provide this to industry.

Andromeda’s plaited wire rope is made from strands of high tensile wire. The configuration of the plait is known as four by three sinnet. In this rope four groups each three strands are closed in a special machine, known as orbital square plaiter.

Annette Williams is the General Manager at Andromeda and explains how Andromeda serves it clients.

“Andromeda Industries is National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited and we are full member of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) so everything we manufacture comes fully tested and certified to the relevant Australian standards.

“Our distribution network then provides the inspections, service, and support on the products they sell. Our distributors’ technicians are fully trained on our products but if there are issues which can’t be resolved, we can offer technical support and backup.

“If a customer is having a specific issue with a sling and it’s not performing to their expectations, we will examine the application and discuss with them if they

have the right sling for the application or whether they can do something to better protect the sling, or if they could change the way they are using the sling to make it last longer and perform better,” Williams said.

As reported in previous editions of Cranes and Lifting have recently released the XL Superflex slings to the market designed to cater to heavier lifts.

New maximum capacities will be 80t in a straight lift and 330t cradled. These larger slings will retain the ultra-flexible nature of the original product by using the same wire rope construction.

Andromeda continues to develop a divers offering for the lifting sector working closely with industry experts to create impressive offerings.

42 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / ANDROMEDA
Andromeda has a fantastic stock of ropes for immediate use.
A NDR OMEDA I NDU ST R IES PT Y LTD Plaited & Woven Division Ph. 02 6760 3773 andromedaindustries.com.au SUPERFLEX STEEL SLINGS • manufacturing • infrastructure • construction • shutdown Australia’s leading manufacturer of high quality cable and lifting slings such as our very own cable and Steel Flat woven slings. Featuring aluminium or steel ferrules. Slim tapered under loads. GIVE YOURSELF A LIFT FROM THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS • mining • LNG ops Flat Woven Slings

THE CROSBY GROUP GLAD

“Our core values—safety, reliability, and innovation—go very much together with GLAD, a day where we increase the knowledge of the lifting industry, to make it safer and better together. I’m extremely proud of the team spirit we have within the company—no win is a one-person show, and neither was this. We worked closely together in the marketing team to turn ideas into concepts and eventually a full GLAD campaign. We were especially proud of the many videos we created for the day. With a global footprint we had

Contributions and messages were made by companies and individuals with an interest in lifting around the world, including LEEA and its other members. The association’s packed schedule of new program launches, and informative presentations, ran throughout GLAD. Members that had done the most to raise standards had the opportunity to enter the award, which was one of several distinct categories. All winners were announced during a ceremony at the P&J Live arena on October 5, 2022.

our sector to the younger generation. They are the future of any workplace, and we want to show that the lifting segment is a dynamic, exciting, and innovative industry. Regardless of if you are a fresh graduate engineer, a smith, or a HR professional, we want to show that this industry has a place for everyone.”

The Best Contribution to GLAD followed The Crosby Group claiming the prestigious LEEA Best Innovation Award last year for its Crosby BlokCam crane camera systems.

44 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / CROSBY GROUP
Justin Whelan accepted the award at the awards night.

For more than a decade, Dynamic Rigging Hire has provided high quality, fully

maintained and certified

equipment for dry hire.

stock more than 2000 items and cater to the needs of the crane and construction sectors.

stock rigging equipment, so you don’t have to. Everything is stored under one roof and is always ready to go. All equipment is issued with current certification, and we work with the client to supply exactly what is needed when it is needed. Our highly experienced team can discuss any requirements at any time. We dry hire rigging gear, that’s what we do best

CALL 03 8360 8910 e: sales@dynamicrigging.com.au www.dynamicrigginghire.com.au
SPREADER BEAMS LIFTING BEAMS ALL RIGGING GEAR PRECAST LIFTING GEAR CHAIN SETS ROUND SLINGS SHACKLES CRANE WORK BOXES MATERIALS CAGES CHAIN BLOCKS AIR HOISTS WINCHES LOAD CELLS LOAD SKATES
serviced,
rigging
We
We

CRANE ATTACHMENTS FROM START TO FINISH WITH BREMCO

Bremco have prided themselves on creating crane attachments from the initial design through to its attachment on the crane, working with some of the biggest rigging companies in the country, they continue to supply equipment to even the most challenging lifts.

STARTING LIFE AS A SOLE TRADER business in 1996 the company has regularly identified opportunities for growth in its short history. Beginning as a general metal fabrication business it quickly pivoted to incorporate forklift products after recognising a gap in the market in Queensland.

After this initial step into the forklift

Bremco now finds itself working closely with a range of lifting houses and on an array of projects tackling any challenge thrown its way. Bremco was recently asked to support Bullivants in Newcastle with the updated design and manufacture of a new lifting beam for Toshiba Australia.

This involved the manufacture of a

eyes to suit both the Rotor and Stator assembly.

These assemblies form part of the internal components in the electrical generation system that is located at Bayswater Power Station. The Power station had a limited window for the installation of a new rotor and stator unit in Generator number 4 onsite and had asked Bullivants for support in purchasing the lift beam based on designs from Toshiba in Japan.

The Bayswater power station provides power for an estimated 2 million homes across New South Wales showing the importance of keeping the site online during this time.

Bremco ran with the drawing that was supplied and engaged its engineer for assistance in developing the new unit required for Muswellbrook. The project was completed with limited down time and allowed the new lift to take place on time and inside the budget allocated. Brett Moody explains how Bremco serves its clients.

“We are at the point now where it is not great quantities of our product we are putting out there, company’s come to us needing a solution like getting an excavator out of a hole and we take that brief and create a solution for them.

“As we entered the crane space we got the opportunity to work closely with Bullivants and Bunzl and that was fantastic for us to understand what is expected from us. We continue to work with both companies providing specialist gear,” Moody said.

Throughout covid, Bremco found itself completing more standard rigging gear as lead times ballooned out as

46 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / BREMCO
Bremco can design and manufacture a range of crane attachments.

“We have access to our own testing rigs that allow us to complete all phases of our design and approvals in house which is a major benefit.”

the pandemic took hold as Moody explains.

“The standard equipment for cranes requires anyone manufacturing it to be qualified. All of our designs have to be engineer approved with a stringent testing regime, we brought an engineer on board to work in house to help us meet these requirements.

“We have access to our own testing rigs that allow us to complete all

phases of our design and approvals in house which is a major benefit.

“Before covid a lot of the gear was being brought in from China and other countries and we simply could not compete with the price they were offering. Covid allowed it to be mixed up a bit and people started coming to us for their crane attachments,” Moody said.

“We are seeing now that a lot of

these big sites turn to us as they can trust the testing has been completed. It is fantastic now that safety expectations are so high so it is one less headache for company’s when they come to us for crane attachments,” Moody said.

Bremco’s strict testing requirements include:

• Weld testing

• Utilise lifting company testing rigs that allows testing up to 100T load capacity

• Us e hydraulic testing rigs with load cells

• Us e dead weights to maximise load pressure

December 2022 CAL / 47 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
Brett Moody and his team work closely with their clients to design solutions for any challenge.

“When you look at that AS4911 or 2359, that’s standard for fourth and fifth attachments that they are fairly tight and they do require some engineering conformity, which we have been doing.

“We’ve been addressing it in our drawings, trying to address it in where we weld, by doing this it gives users a clear understanding of what has been done to meet standards and added peace of mind when they go out

to site that the guys using it are safe and that they will not be holding up jobs for not meeting requirements,” Moody said.

Bremco can fabricate:

• C rane Drums

• C rane lift bins and devices

• C rane attachments

• C rane lifting cages

• C rane man cages

• G eneral crane attachments

“We have reached the point where we have complete confidence in what we are sending to market so we can offer our 12-month warranty, it’s the benefit we have in that we manufacture in Australia so we can offer this peace of mind.

“We manufacture items in accordance with the new requirements in the Australian Standards for a Working Load Limit (WLL). This means that we have our engineering team design items with a minimum factor of 2 times the WLL. For example: If your frame is required to sustain a WLL of 1000Kgs then Bremco must design and engineer the frame to 2000Kgs WLL,” Moody said.

48 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS /
BREMCO
Bremco worked closely with Bullivants to create a lifting beam.
“We have reached the point where we have complete confidence in what we are sending to market so we can offer our 12-month warranty.”
bremco.com.au | 1300 273 626 59 Railway Parade ROCKLEA QLD 4106 MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT Building it Safe

THE JUUKO M-SERIES, A GAME CHANGER FOR THE CRANE INDUSTRY

Pacific Hoists has brought the Juuko range of products to Australia and New Zealand with the team excited by the new M-series and what it can bring to the sector.

at Pacific Hoists Indent and technical manager at Pacific Hoists Australia and New Zealand and explains the M-series and what drew the company to add it to its range of products.

“We look at what can go wrong on a site and what can be done to mitigate these risks when deciding what to import and this made the decision to turn to the M-series so simple, as we saw it had a range of features to suit the Australian and New Zealand market and safety features that really stood out to us.

“The M-series can be used across a range of products and machinery, it is truly universal ensuring it is an investment for a whole fleet,” Purves said.

A feature that is a standout on the Juuko M-series is the ‘MyMode’ system which allows restrictions to be placed on machinery around a number of parameters.

“The ‘MyMode’ promotes safe and responsible controlling, you can set a range of restrictions including to the top speed,

which systems can control which machine, transmitting power among a myriad of other options.

“The ‘MyMode’ system also allows users to utilise the ‘MyKey’ restrictions, which allow certain parameters to be set for particular users. This can be easily setup using the battery packs, so the driver simply plugs in the pack and the restrictions are instantly set. This is ideal for new and learning drivers who may not have the same skills as a seasoned operator,” Purves said.

The user has the option to get the M series with either stepped or stepless controls including variable speed for precise load handling.

The M-series is extremely intuitive to use, with 12 LEDs at the top of the

controller, it gives quick and accurate feedback of the status of each receiver.

“Another feature that is a standout is the black box function which allows the user to record all the data from both the M-series and the machinery it is connected to,” Purves said.

“This function is good for the hoist service and maintenance work, and also for those companies who provide lease or rent out services for their machinery. It is more than simple to see the usage data of both transmitter and receiver just by connecting the transmitter to the Juuko’s control pro configuration software,” Purves explained.

The system comes standard with a primary working frequency and a secondary working frequency. Automatic Channel Switching (ACS)

50 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / PACIFIC HOISTS
“The M-series can be custom designed and built completely to the customers requirements ensuring the investment matches the customers needs completely.”
The layout of the remote is extremely customisable to suit the needs of the operator.

allows continuous operation free from interference for the user. When radio interference occurs during normal operation, the radio communication automatically switches to the secondary frequency.

The remote system has an eco-power management system and a wireless QI charging capability again to make it as simple as possible to use.

“The zero-g-safety function is extremely impressive; it prevents uncontrolled output of commands in specific emergencies. The G sensor can detect if the transmitter receives a hard impact, is dropped or even thrown. These features can deactivate either the complete radio system or only the safety relevant function relays,” Purves said.

“The system comes with a range of inputs including 418, 429, 433, 447, 470, 915 MHz and 2.4 GHz. This allows the M-series to be truly universal, it can be fitted to all machines which can be a

challenge when sourcing these controllers.

“The system comes with a 100 metre operating range with receivers having an onboard range limiting function for both start up and working range for added operator safety.

“A lot of thought has gone into the system and making it as simple to attach as possible, this is why we wanted to bring it to Pacific Hoists.

“The M-series can be custom designed and built completely to the customers requirements ensuring the investment matches the customers needs completely,” Purves said.

For the team at Pacific Hoists products like the M-series shows the company’s commitment to bringing high quality products that stand out from the crowd.

Pacific Hoists is a carbon neutral

company that provides innovative lifting solutions to customers in Australia and New Zealand.

It is one of the largest importers in the Australian market with a diverse product line, which Purves explains.

“We pride ourselves on having a product for any and all challenges, people can come to us and find a solution, we are a solutions-based company,” Purves said.

“We source high quality products at varying price points to ensure we can find a perfect match for everyone we work with. We look for high quality as our initial entry level and then go up from there to really deliver something impressive.

“From our founding roots Dennis, Ray and the team at Pacific Hoists built a company based on honesty, integrity and a commitment to quality and we look to continue that,” Purves said.

Pacific Hoists markets world-leading brands such as Hitachi, J.D. Neuhaus, Vital, Liftket, Yale and Comeup, supported by an extensive range of Pacific Hoists’ own products.

Pacific Hoists has worked closely with a range of companies to deliver major projects across the country.

The company is committed to innovation, environmental and social responsibility as well as operational and safety excellence, and it is demonstrated by its accreditations which include ISO 9001, ISO 45001, NATA and LEEA.

December 2022 CAL / 51 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
The M-series is an extremely versatile remote for the lifting sector

Utilising online asset management better protects equipment from being used when it has not been inspected.

WHY REAL TIME REPORTING OF LIFTING EQUIPMENT INSPECTIONS BY SPECIALISTS IS IMPORTANT

Keeping up with compliance and tracking of lifting gear can sometimes seem like a complicated task; especially when times are busy, if operators rely on static lists from old inspections, or are forced to contact a third party to update asset records.

ENSURING LIFTING GEAR IS INSPECTED BY

trained specialist inspectors and ensuring they are using the latest mobile asset management software helps businesses stay compliant and safe.

Real time asset management systems allow service technicians to update equipment registers during the inspection

process. All data, including manufacturers information, location of the asset, when it was last inspected and whether it passed or failed, is all held in one central database.

This one central point of data can then be accessed at any time of the day, via a laptop, computer, tablet, or smartphone device.

Andy Campbell, Bunzl Safety & Lifting’s technical manager spoke about the benefits of real time lifting asset reporting.

- Inspections, updates, and changes are immediate – businesses and their staff are kept up to date instantly once an item is inspected.

52 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / BUNZL SAFETY & LIFTING

- Assets are more easily located – the location of an asset at the time it was inspected is recorded, making it easy to log in to the asset register to track and locate the equipment – especially if the business has several sites.

- Historical equipment data is stored –all previous equipment information, inspections, as well as any testing and repairs, can be accessed easily by required staff. This can be important if a safety incident does occur and reporting is required.

- Users have total control and visibility –real time asset management software provides the user with 24/7 control and visibility of their heavy lifting equipment assets and inspection records.

- Immediate notification if an asset fails an inspection – if an asset fails a periodic inspection, users are notified immediately. Notifications include photos of failures, asset details, and outcomes.

For 50 years, Bunzl Safety & Lifting (previously Robertsons Lifting & Rigging) have been supplying, inspecting, testing, and repairing heavy lifting gear and were one of the first businesses in Australia to go fully electronic with equipment inspections as Campbell explains.

“The business now uses the latest state of the art Pervidi asset management system to record all inspections, test results and required repairs and outcomes,” Campbell said.

Bunzl Safety and Lifting currently manages over 350 ,000 assets over 1,980 customer sites on the locally supported Pervidi Asset Management System.

Each asset also has the relevant Australian Standard linked to it for immediate and easy reference to safety guidelines.

“Bunzl Safety & Lifting’s real time asset management database alerts users when compliance inspections are due and best of all, we contact our customers

to arrange a suitable time and day for an inspection,” Campbell said.

As a full member of LEEA, all of their field testing Officers are LEEA trained and most branches are NATA accredited for testing of equipment to Australia Standards.

The most consistent way to avoid a safety incident is for all staff to recognise signs of equipment failure as well as ensuring periodic inspections by professionally trained inspectors is undertaken. Bunzl Safety and Lifting can also provide training on safe lifting practices and as one of the largest suppliers of chain slings, hoists, wire rope, materials handling equipment, PPE and more, they are a one stop shop for crane and construction companies throughout Australia.

“With the recent construction boom across the country and the heavy workload allot of lifting equipment has been under, the slower months over the Christmas and New Year period is a very good time to ensure all assets are inspected by competent persons,” Campbell said.

To book an inspection of your heavy lifting equipment, including chain slings, soft slings, hoists, wire rope, height safety equipment, and accessories at any of Bunzl Safety and Lifting’s participating branches, phone 1800 967 573 or visit the Bunzl website.

December 2022 CAL / 53 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
Bunzl safety and lifting is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a continued push to improve safety in the lifting sector.

LEEA AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND SECURE AWARD AT INTERNATIONAL AWARDS NIGHT

The awards are an important night for the industry.

about how proud he was to win the award and what it means for the region.

LEEA CEO ROSS MOLONEY WAS HOST FOR the night along with special guest, London based Irish Comedian Jarlath Regan. Congratulating the winners and thanking the sponsors and all those who entered, Ross Moloney spoke of the importance of the awards.

“The LEEA Awards continues to develop as a chance to give people, companies and colleagues who have made significant contributions to lifting standards in our industry the recognition they deserve.

“They play a vital role in promoting excellence to customers and supply chains around the world, as well as encouraging new recruits.

“I am pleased to say that we received an outstanding level of entries. Through rewarding the best of the best, the LEEA Awards broadcasts the positive signal that our industry is coming together to celebrate the raising of standards,” Moloney said.

LEEA Member of the Year is bestowed to the member who in the opinion of the LEEA senior management team has demonstrated outstanding commitment to lifting standards in the lifting equipment industry, was awarded to the LEEA Regional Council of Australia and New Zealand.

Regional Manager Justin Boehm spoke

“It was fantastic for the Regional Council to be recognised at the LEEA awards. The council have been working tirelessly since its formation, bringing local issues and challenges to the fore and helping over come them for the benefit our Australian and New Zealand members. The local industry is truly a world leader and we are happy to be an integral part of it.

“The Regional Council will continue to deliver, to help improve standards in Australia/New Zeland and utilise our position to improve safety for all of those that work in our industry,” Boehm said.

THE OTHER WINNERS OF THE LEEA AWARDS 2022 ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• The Stuart Everitt Award for Outstanding Contribution to LEEA, given at the will and recommendation of the LEEA Board, went to Richard Money, former Chair of the LEEA Board.

• Best Digital Innovation, which recognises a product or service that highlights successful digital innovation, providing a unique value proposition and tangible benefits to the lifting equipment industry, was presented to Select Plant Hire (Laing O’Rourke) and was received on its behalf by LEEA’s Robert Wilson. The judges were impressed by the excellent software for asset control. Select Plant Hire has developed the system further to set the standard for the management of everyday lifting equipment and accessories’. LMS (Load Monitoring Systems) was runner up.

• The Outstanding Apprentice Award – sponsored by Bridger Howes –recognises talented apprentices who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to their professional development in the lifting equipment industry and was awarded to Lewis Barr of GAP Group. This award goes to someone who starts with

54 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au LEEA AWARDS
The fourth annual LEEA Awards winners were announced during the ‘party of the year’ at the Awards Ceremony, held at P&J Live in Aberdeen on the evening of 5 October 2022.

Carrick of Sunbelt Rentals was the runner up.

• Best Accredited Training Scheme Member recognises innovative approaches to ATS scheme membership and service delivery excellence. It was presented to GGR Group. This company has a wellconstructed process for the candidate and shows clear evidence of how it uses feedback to amend and improve courses. A variety of resources are used, making the training attractive to learners and client feedback is good. The physical training sites themselves are impressive. JCD Training Ltd was runner up.

• The Rising Star Award – sponsored by LHI Magazine – is for an individual who has demonstrated excellence in their work at the beginning of their career in the lifting equipment industry and exceptional talent that will support their career development. It went to Connor Prentice of EMCOR UK - Aviation Services. Connor strives to continually learn and progress his learning at every turn. This is reflected in a high level of knowledge and professionalism: proactive in his role and advocating safe use of lifting equipment with LEEA principles to the fore. Tyler Spendiff of GAP Group was runner up.

• The Robert Gordon University Award was presented to Adam Blaikie. This Award goes to an outstanding mechanical engineering student as nominated by Robert Gordon University, who was awarded the LEEA Award for Excellence for his final year project which was based on comparing the analysis methods used to determine the allowable sea states and loading on structures during subsea deployment.

• Best Contribution to GLAD Award went to Crosby Group. Crosby’s content on social media during Global Lifting Awareness Day 2022 stood out.

• The Kevin Holmes Award for Excellence in People Development recognises HR professionals and training leaders who demonstrate excellence in supporting and facilitating the continual professional development of their teams. It was presented to Tony Bergman of Shell. Our winner operates at a high level across the globe. It has made a large positive impact on many different companies and

people and is clearly passionate about competency development in Lifting and Hoisting. Nicola Tocher of First Integrated Solutions was the runner up.

• LEEA CEO’s Award, which goes to an exceptional individual or company who did something particularly notable in line with LEEA’s aspirations, was presented to Jonathan Djanogly MP.

• The Craig Morelli Award – Accredited Training Scheme – Best Trainer focuses on LEEA’s Accredited Training Scheme and the professional trainers delivering high quality end-user training courses. It went to Rob Ballantyne of GGR Group. Rob takes his trainer role beyond the usual limits, exceeding his job duties to serve customers to the highest possible levels and he has very high personal standards in the safe operation of lifting equipment. Rob is clearly more than a deliverer of training: he is involved in many other aspects related to the courses. Andy Dowd of Speedy Hire was the runner up.

December 2022 CAL / 55 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
“The LEEA Awards continues to develop as a chance to give people, companies and colleagues who have made significant contribut ions to lifting standards in our industry the recognition they deserve.”
The Australian team was on hand to accept the award in Aberdeen.

Based in Brisbane, the RUD Australia head office includes a 6000m2 purpose built manufacturing facility.

RUD WORKS CLOSELY WITH UNIVERSAL TO DELIVER PACIFIC HIGHWAY UPGRADE

RUD Australia supplied the hoops and lifting design for the erection of bridge girders in the Pacific Highway Upgrade Project on Exit 41 which was completed by Universal Cranes (part of the Smithbridge Group) along with Georgiou Group.

THE TWO-SPAN BRIDGE CONSISTS OF 7 girders per span with each girder weighing 85 tonnes, a total of 14 girders.

The Grove GMK7450 160t crane used in the project was located in the median strip between the northbound and southbound pavements of Pacific Highway and hence required closure of the highway for four nights to ensure safe installation.

RUD/Philipp Lifting Hoops are simple to use for safe lifting of various concrete products such as beams, decks, and girders. Wire-rope is bonded to form

a lifting loop that encloses a concrete core - enabling high load-bearing capacities.

The benefits of RUD/Philipp Lifting Hoops are:

• Can be installed without the needs of recess formers

• It can be used safely for high load capacities

• No need for heavy and awkward lifting clutches

• Connection is simple with a shackle and wire protection pulley or directly to the hook in smaller hoop sizes

The project was completed on time and shows the capabilities of RUD to work closely on projects to help them to be completed safely and efficiently.

The RUD Group manufactures and supplies high-quality round steel link chain solutions and lifting technologies worldwide.

The Australian subsidiary of RUD Group was established by the Nuttall family in 1984. Peter Nuttall, the current

56 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / RUD

Managing Director continues to grow the company based on quality, integrity, and customer service.

RUD Australia has a 6000m2 manufacturing facility located in Brisbane, Queensland and a dedicated in-house team to offer complete engineered manufacturing solutions. Its qualified team of CPeng/RPEQ engineers and experienced tradespeople can manage every aspect of a project or service

requirements to ensure users receive only the highest quality RUD solutions.

With the head office in Brisbane, RUD Australia now has branch offices throughout Australia and New Zealand. Its highly skilled team of more than 90 people continue to maintain a focus on building strong relationships with industries and customers across Australia and New Zealand. RUD works with clients in the defence, infrastructure, mining,

quarry, power station and engineering industries along with a variety of other sectors. Together, it engineers and manufactures tailored solutions to address industry-specific materials handling problems.

RUD’s collaborative approach makes it a partner of choice for organisations who value quality. All of the RUD products are rigorously tested and assessed against strict quality-control measures. In addition, all

December 2022 CAL / 57 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
RUD worked closely with Universal to deliver the Pacific Highway Upgrade Project on time.

products are complemented with dedicated technical support and training services, delivered by in-house engineers.

RUD’s product range includes more than 700 lifting slings and lashing points for multi-directional loading. Every product gets tested and certified to ensure it meets RUD’s standards for quality, strength, performance, and endurance.

Laurie Patterson from Patterson Mobile Cranes spoke about how fantastic it has been to work with RUD.

“Half the amount of gear for the same result” Patterson said.

“Patterson Crane Hire loves a challenge and RUD lifting gear helps us solve these challenges. The weight saving gains when we use their Grade 120 ICE range really makes a difference and minimises our risk when we are managing difficult, heavy lifts. Simply put, this is why we choose to work with quality suppliers like RUD,” he said.

WHEN STRENGTH AND SAFETY MATTERS

RUD has been manufacturing solutions in lifting technology and load securing for more than 35 years. Such as the RUD ICE (Innovative Chain Evolution) Grade 120 chain which offers 30% reduction in weight compared to a Grade 80 chain. Or the RUD VLBG-PLUS lifting point which has up to 45% higher WLL capacity and 360º lifting point rotation. Whatever your requirements are, we have the right solution for you! CONTACT

IN FOCUS / RUD
ON OUR COMPLETE
LIFTING
LASHING SOLUTIONS. 07 3809 1300 | www.rud.com.au 12 Commerce Place, Larapinta QLD 4110
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GLOBAL LIFTING EXPERT CERTEX ENTERS AUSTRALIAN MARKET

Certex Lifting is set to become a major player in Australia’s lifting and rigging market. Axel Johnson International acquired The Rigging Shed, Lifting Victoria, Elevate Lifting & Rigging, Schillings Hoisting Equipment and On Call Lifting last year. The consolidation of these companies under the highly regarded Certex brand will make it one of the largest lifting equipment and service companies in Australia.

THE LAUNCH OF CERTEX LIFTING WILL bring together 125 employees, ten sites across Australia, and decades of experience under one united, internationally recognised brand. The national rollout of the Certex lifting brand will commence in November 2022 and will promote their ‘Lifting KnowHow’, expertise and quality services to clients nationwide.

Steven Flint is the managing

December 2022 CAL / 59 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / CERTEX

director at Certex Lifting and spoke about what the move could look like in the future.

“We are excited about this opportunity to build and grow as Certex Lifting here in Australia,” Flint said.

“Our customers will benefit from our service-orientated philosophy, combined with the strength of a national footprint and international backing,” he said.

Certex Lifting is working closely with its new parent company to introduce new product names to the Australian market through supply chain diversification and will continue its collaboration on national operational initiatives and marketing campaigns that will set Certex Lifting apart.

To learn more about Certex Lifting

and its capabilities visit the Certex Lifting website.

Lifting Solutions is a global player specializing in lifting equipment, steel wire rope and services. It operates as a group of companies that supply wire rope, hoists, overhead cranes and other lifting products supported with connected technical and engineering services.

It is a group of 22 companies in 19 c ountries worldwide, with over 1500 employees and an annual turnover of approximately 304 million euros. It operates as a group of companies with strong local brands such as Certex, Mennens, Traction Levage, Cables y

Eslingas, REMA, Haklift and AMC.

Axel Johnson International is a global industrial group of more than 170 companies in 30 countries. It drives business development and growth through a long-term approach to ownership in strategically selected niche markets, primarily technical components and solutions for industrial processes. Axel Johnson International is organised into six business groups: Driveline Solutions, Fluid Handling Solutions, Industrial Solutions, Lifting Solutions, Power Transmission Solutions and Transport Solutions. Axel Johnson International is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

60 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / CERTEX
“By combining a range of company’s under one banner, Certex can provide a range of lifting solutions.”
125 employees across 10 sites will now come under the Certex banner.

GLOBALLY RECOGNISED

TECHNOLOGY.

Tadano Loader Cranes are globally recognised for excellent quality, safety, easy operation and maintenance.

CAPACITY: 2.6t to 15t BOOM LENGTH: 6.6m to 18.5m.

Designed to load / unload cargo and transport freight over long distances with ease. The Tadano Loader Cranes are integrated with globally recognised technology, Strong pentagonal booms and central control panels that elevate the ease of use on various sites and projects.

WWW.TADANO.COM.AU I 1300 823 266
©Tadano Ltd. 2022. Tadano is a registered trademark of Tadano Ltd. or its subsidiaries

HOISTING EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

Hoisting Equipment Specialists (HES) is quickly proving to be one of the preeminent lifting and rigging companies in Australia with a diverse range of products for any challenge.

JASON FRANCIS IS THE CEO OF HES AND explains how the company came to be where it is today and what has helped it succeed.

“The company was started in 1982 by Greg Jones and we have always maintained a focus on lifting, lashing, rigging, materials handling and height safety equipment and applications.

“I started in the industry back in 2002 at HES but when I relocated to Queensland, I had to unfortunately depart the company, I remained in the industry working for a family business in the lifting sector and returned to HES back in 2017.

“I returned in 2017 as I needed a challenge and wanted to help grow something and HES saw an opportunity to continue its growth in Queensland, so I became a partner in 2019 and took over as CEO in 2020 just before covid took off.

HES now has two branches in both Sydney and Brisbane and are continuing to grow despite the challenges of covid. Jason and the team are continuing to search for ways to better serve the lifting sector including increasing its overhead

crane division on a larger scale.

The company has a range of partners and suppliers across the country including in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria with an important cornerstone of the business the OzBlok range of products as Jason explains.

“We import our range of OzBlok products, it’s a high-quality product that we sell to distributors, wholesalers and directly to the market,” Jason said.

The OzBlok range includes chain blocks, lever hoists, electric chain hoists, clamps and winches. The range starts from 250-kilogram capacity all the way through to the 50 tonne.

“For us it is important to have a good relationship with our suppliers, it means

we can approach them for a greater understanding of our equipment and to ensure we are able to maintain short lead times for delivery,” Jason said.

“We have also been working hard at bringing the Nagaki wire rope products from Japan into Australia. It has been extremely popular across a range of sectors including the power industry, energy and those in netting, we’re one of only two distributors here in Australia.

Jason explains how HES has set itself up to serve the lifting market and what it may look like moving forward.

“We try and set ourselves up as a one stop shop. We work a little bit differently to some other companies. We align ourselves closely with businesses that can

62 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / HOISTING AND EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST

“Safety is the cornerstone of everything HES does in the industry, with a range of height safety equipment including harnesses, lanyards and fall arrestors offered.”

allow us to service our clients either as a third party or in house.

“We have got engineers that work with us, we’ve got partners working in servicing that do other parts of height safety equipment that we tie in with. If we can’t deliver that service internally, we’ll then steer the customers to where they need to go, which some companies don’t like to do,” Jason said.

Safety is the cornerstone of everything

HES does in the industry, with a range of height safety equipment including harnesses, lanyards and fall arrestors offered. These come from recognised companies including Spanset, 3M, Austlift and Honeywell.

“As a company we will look to continue moving forward and growing what we can offer to the industry, we have numerous exciting announcements for the near future,” Jason said.

December 2022 CAL / 63 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
Jason Francis is growing HES to a one stop shop for lifting equipment. With branches in both New South Wales and Queensland, HES continues to serve much of the east coast.

SANY DISPLAYS NEW BATTERY ELECTRIC TELESCOPIC CRAWLER

features dual cylinder, full power rope row for telescoping.

The SCE800TB-EV includes a number of features designed to provide safe and reliable operation whilst reducing maintenance costs. The battery electric telescopic crawler is equipped with the Danfoss EM-PM1375-T1100-1500 motor with peak power up to 336kw and dual motor controller which can provide torque of up to 2500N.M.

The SCE800TB-EV is also equipped with a 282kWH lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP battery) which is capable of managing eight hours of operation depending on the work required on site. The BMS intelligent piping system monitors the battery voltage and temperature in real time, and the battery interior is made from VO grade fire-proof material.

For the SCE800TB-EV, Sany has developed the SYIC-III Integrated Control System which is designed to deliver high levels of integration, precise operation and reliable levels of crane operability.

The battery power system includes a main control and a slave control in each battery pack and these adopt a ‘daisy-chain communication’ to achieve the required levels of power in real time and efficient battery system data acquisition and control.

The vector control drive motor system achieves high precision control of motor output and prevents overload, over heating, short circuiting, over voltage protection as well as other safety functions.

The SCE800TB-EV is a battery electric powered telescopic crawler with a lifting capacity of 80t.

During bauma 2022 Sany displayed the first model of the battery powered electric telescopic crawler, the 80t capacity SCE800TB-EV.

THE SCE800TB-EV IS A BATTERY ELECTRIC powered telescopic crawler with a lifting capacity of 80t. The new battery electric crane is based on the highly popular SCE800TB, with the engine replaced by an electric operating system capable of retaining the high level performance of

the diesel powered version.

The SCE800TB-EV has a maximum boom length of 47m with an optional jib length 17.5m. The boom is made of highstrength steel structure with a U-shape section area. It features five sections, of which the basic boom is 12.2m. It also

The SCE800TB-EV Control System manages the battery system, the drive motor and power supply systems, main control, torque limiter, auxiliary and safety monitoring systems. The controller features CAN bus technology which is applied between the display monitor, the battery power system and the drive motor system providing line data communication.

The display screen in the cab can then display the battery’s state of charge (SOC), power battery voltage, power battery charge and discharge. It can also display the instantaneous power of the driving motor, charging mark, lifting weight and boom angle, as well as other working parameters and numbers relating to the working status of the crane.

IN FOCUS / SANY 64 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
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WHEN THEY WANT TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, PATTERSON MOBILE CRANES TURN TO JEKKO

Servicing the Mornington Peninsula since 1988, Laurie Patterson has cultivated a clientele that turn to him for challenging lifts and niche projects. Patterson Mobile Cranes regularly use their Jekko mini cranes and mini crawlers for these lifts as Laurie Patterson explains.

“WORKING IN AND AROUND THE Mornington Peninsula we have some of the best views in the country, this means that majority of our work is with glass. These can be 500-to-800-kilogram panels and no one around us really does anything similar,” Patterson said.

“A lot of our work can also revolve around challenging and extremely delicate lifts into brand new homes. A recent lift we completed was for a well-known racing identity. He had a life size bronze statue of his daughter on a horse that needed to be brought in through the rear of the house.

The statue came in at an impressive 2600mm high and weighed a staggering 700 kilograms.

“We utilised our Kato city crane for the initial lift in between the trusses in the entertaining area of the backyard, then we used our Jekko SPX424 and the MPK06 to take control of the delicate procedure of bringing it inside. This included turning the statue 90 degrees to get it through the rear sliding door and utilising the MPK06 to move it through the house with a great deal of control as to not damage the

The whole lift was a delicate procedure that required a strong amount of forward planning and communication between the team, but these traits are what Patterson Mobile Cranes has been built on.

Started in 1988 with a little 12 tonne Coles crane, Laurie Patterson has grown his company by taking calculated risks. Patterson Mobile Canes brought in one of the first Jekko SPX424’s to the country, which Patterson explains was an incredible opportunity for the company. It then recently took delivery of an MPK06 minipicker which again was one of the first

“We have had a few Japanese mini crawler cranes in the past and we were limited in what we could do with it so we turned to 600 Cranes and the Jekko’s to see what they could offer.

“We looked at the specs on the Jekko SPX424 back in 2017 and thought to ourselves, let’s take the risk and see how it performs and it has opened so many doors that we did not even think of,” Patterson

IN FOCUS / PATTERSON CRANES 66 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
The SPX424 was the first Jekko brought on board by Patterson Mobile Cranes and is an asset for the team.

The SPX424 has a capacity of 2400 kilograms and a maximum height of 15.2 metres and a reach of 11.8 metres.

A challenge facing most mini cranes is the ability to operate in confined spaces such as in and around building sites or indoors. With outriggers extended the SPX424 has a footprint of only 3710mm x 3710mm. To aid getting indoors it is only 775mm wide and even with tracks extended it still comes in at an impressive 1065mm in width.

With a top speed of 1.8 km/h the SPX424 has a gradeability of 20 degrees and has a 360-degree ability to rotate.

Patterson Mobile Cranes decided to opt for the lithium battery in its SPX424, allowing them greater ability to operate indoors and making the machine truly versatile.

The SPX424 comes with three different jib options including an 800 kg hydraulic flying jib, 800 kg mechanical flying jib and an 800kg searcher hook depending on what the user desires for its specific applications.

The mini crane comes with a range of added safety features to protect the operator and those working in tandem with it, the SPX424 has an Anti Two Block (A2B) which prevents the hook from blocking or being pulled against the boom end. It comes with a system that interlocks the functions of the crane and of the carrier and an onboard diagnostic system for troubleshooting.

“We have found the more time we spend with the crane we understand how to rectify any issues, so much so that we get other operators calling us to ask how to fix an issue and I can tell them in a matter of seconds, that is how simple these machines are,” Patterson said.

The fully electric MPK06 which was recently delivered to Patterson Mobile Cranes is an impressive piece of machinery and has been put straight to work by the team. The MPK06 is the only minipicker with the capability to be used with a manipulator with suction cups or in hook mode. With the ability to complete up to three movements at the same time without losing power it is extremely versatile.

The MPK06 is the only pick and carry

the SPX424 and MPK06 were used to bring the 700 kilogram horse into the house.

SPX424 is always able to find a firm footing for Patterson Mobile Cranes and is used for a range of work.

December 2022 CAL / 67 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
Both The

Coming in at only 775mm in width the SPX424 is perfect for indoor work.

crane with +/- 10° electric rotation of the main column. Also coming with a removable counterweight, it gives the user plenty of adaptability for any task.

The minipicker is slight when on site with a width of only 760mm,with narrow wheels and 835 with out door off road tires a length of 1845mm and a height of 1470mm it is perfect for indoor use. The option for white wheels is a major plus to provide a clear indication of dirt before it is brought inside. With a capacity of 600 kilograms and a reach of 2.1 metres it is surprisingly dexterous for its size.

For Laurie Patterson all of these features are what drew him toward the Italian made Jekko mini cranes and mini crawlers as he explains.

“With the SPX424 we were impressed by the amount of boom it had for a machine of its size, the fly jib was a big plus along with the versatility of that jib.

“Its extendable tracks were a massive benefit, and it is so stable along with the 240-volt battery system and its fully remote control, meaning we can get it into some pretty impressive spaces.”

“Three months after we had purchased

the machine, we had a thorough understanding of its capabilities and word of mouth started to get around with people talking about our Jekko and just what is was capable of.

“One of the best aspects has been the communication between both 600 Cranes and Jekko in terms of feedback we can provide for the machine. Once we had the SPX424 for a short period they asked if we wanted to change anything for future models. They have brought in the small changes we recommended for the Australian market which shows how intent they are on the success of the machine here.

“The Italian flair of Jekko means they are extremely passionate about what they do and coupled with the passionate team at 600 cranes we always find the support we need for our machines,” Patterson said.

Both the SPX424 and MPK06 came with USB ports to allow operators to charge phones and other pieces of machinery such as tools on site, thus

“Its extendable tracks were a massive benefit, and it is so stable along with the 240-volt battery system and its fully remote control, meaning we can get it into some pretty impressive spaces.”

creating a machine that can be the pillar of any site.

Patterson Mobile Cranes continues to service the Mornington Peninsula, always willing to take on a challenge with the company receiving great feedback from clients.

“It is simple for us; we offer good cranes and strong service. We will never skimp on gear, if we need to purchase gear, we will go out of way to source it and bring it to the job, the challenging lifts are the kind of thing that gets me up in the morning,” Patterson said.

IN FOCUS / PATTERSON CRANES 68 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
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ANOTHER BRAND NEW LIEBHERR ALL TERRAIN FOR SURF CITY CRANES

Surf City Cranes a Queensland, Gold Coast based company, continues to invest in its fleet and recently welcomed a new Liebherr LTM 1120-4.1. This is the most powerful four-axle all-terrain crane the manufacturer has ever built.

SURF CITY CRANES JON MORRISH advises that the latest addition to the Surf City Cranes group will support the unprecedented growth that the construction sector is currently experiencing. “For the the past three years we have been re-investing in the general fleet upgrade, offloading quality used and our well maintained cranes, and replacing with brand new Liebherr

The LTM 1120-4.1 has an impressive reach.

cranes. In 2019 we purchased a LTM series 100t class capacity machine on four axles, followed by the compact 60 tonne in 2020.”

“With the sale also of our Grove 130T in September 2021, we were quick to sign on the line for the Liebherr 120t machine on four axles, with a incredible boom length of 66 metres fully extended. These machines were all painted in our company colours at the Liebherr factory, and we ordered them with every possible option available for each unit. This extended from the amazing looking shiny alloy rims, the hydraulic offset fly/jib and two winches for operator convenience. This assists fast lifting variables from light to heavy lifting capabilities, without the need to de-reeve hook blocks offering huge TIME SAVINGS to our customers, and reducing risks or temptations of overloading or taking short cuts.

Running with the Liebherr Brand solely with the All Terrain Cranes has a list of many benefits from the great resale values, low maintenance, including reduced breakdown track records and less servicing. Local support really assists but they also have great load charts and lifting capabilities, awesome roadability with counterweight options and most importantly of all, these machines allow the crane operators greater familiarity across the fleet. Having the Liccon operating system across all models and with the VarioBase® load charts on the

newer models our operators can switch machines If needed, with this familiarity.

The new Liebherr LTM 1120-4.1 breaks into a performance class which has previously been the sole preserve of five-axle cranes. As far as boom length is concerned, it is on a par up with 200t

IN FOCUS / SURF CITY CRANES 70 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
“Running with the Liebherr Brand solely with the All Terrain Cranes has a list of many benefits from the great resale values, low maintenance, including reduced breakdown track records and less servicing.”

LTM 1120-4.1

class cranes with the longest boom ever on a road registered hydraulic four axle crane.

Surf City Cranes new 120 Tonne can tackle jobs which customers would normally require the larger five axle crane, eliminating logistics work needed for the larger models and enables it to work where there is insufficient space for larger cranes. This is a common restriction problem for city construction projects across South East of Queensland. Our machine can tackle jobs with faster mobilisation, reduced counterweight costs and set up times with much greater flexibility. It truely is the largest Taxi Crane available for general hire. Who would of thought we would be doing the “Milk Run” with these classes of cranes.

To update our progress as mentioned earlier Surf City Cranes list of equipment additions that we have invested in recently includes:

• April 2019 – Liebherr LTM 1090-4.2 - 100 Tonne Class

• August 2020 – Liebherr LTM 10603.1 - 70 Tonne Class

• March 2021 – Terex Franna 28 Tonne Super Lift

• April 2021 – Manitou Telehandler

MT-X 1030 -3 Tonne

• August 2021 – Terex Franna 25 Tonne

• June 2021 – Manitou Telehandler

MT-X 1033 -3.3 Tonne

• May 2022 – Liebherr LTM 1030-2.135 Tonne Class

• June 2022 – UD / Volvo Hi-Ab Flat Bed Crane Truck and Dog Trailer (12 Tonne Crane )

• August 2022 – Manitou Telehandler

MT-X 1440 - 4 Tonne

• September 2022 – Liebherr LTM 1120 - 4.1 -120 Tonne

Surf City Cranes has always attracted a great team culture, both in safety and systems, where we continue to reinvent. Our progress through innovation offering solutions, which ultimately save costs for the customer and our outcomes through collaboration and communication with our customers right through to the end product has brought us great clients. Loyalty is important to us. Our point of differentiation is our team and our value added service. We don’t follow the norm, we don’t ‘set and forget’, we offer CONTINUOUS service and expertise. All companies in our space have one thing in

December 2022 CAL / 71 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
The will help Surf City Cranes meet the needs of the construction industry.

LTM 1060-3.1 has been a great addition as well.

common, we all have mobile cranes and load shifting equipment, however we like to deliver a top notch product, through high quality performance equipment, and more importantly, to take the stress away and be easier to deal with, which is the “WHY” we do what we do.

Utilisation of our machines is important. We have to factor in the rainy days, (100 days recorded in SE Qld), holidays, maintenance schedules and customer needs. Rule of thumb is generally 1000 hours and 10 000 klm’s travelled per year, per machine. Our team is efficient at keeping machines on track, ensuring utilisation and safety. Since purchasing our Terex Mac 28 Super Lift in March 2021, the crane has recorded 3,360 engine hours and 43,000 kms in 19 months, punching way above our anticipated averages we were expecting to achieve on our investment.

When we take a look up the other end of our fleet, the 2019 Liebherr 100 Tonne Class unit, it has had some impressive

numbers as well. With 3700 operating hours and a further 1200 carrier hours it has delivered just under a total of 5,000 hours in 42 mths. A reasonable outcome through Covid and all.

The next forecast for Surf City to consider will be to plan long term on what or where we anticipate is the best time to trade / upgrade these units in, from a resale or change over given this current data. With current wait times and orders on the books with both Terex & Liebherr, some models are not available until 2024, meaning all players in our industry will be giving some serious thought on what their business model should be

regarding fleet upgrades.

Nobody has a crystal ball to predict the future. Nobody saw Covid coming and the effects it played on businesses across the board. Just over ten years earlier we saw the GFC in 2007-08 and sure enough there will be more hiccups in the future to factor in. We live in the present, we plan for the future and with the current planning and development occurring for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, the future is positive. Huge interstate migration numbers of 50,000 plus moving to QLD through the pandemic, the low housing stocks and market increases of around 25% for real-estate is keeping our cranes

72 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / SURF CITY
CRANES
considering
“To ensure our fleet remains compliance and reliable through our workshop maintenance program, our team keep on top of the regular servicing and the scheduled maintenance we have in place for our equipment.”
A Liebherr

busy. More people relocating their businesses into QLD will certainly add to more demands on hospitals, schools, roads, rail, water/waste, Shopping Centres, huge increases on demands of every infrastructure that already is at its capacity.

Surf City Cranes has been registered with ISO safety management system for the past 5 years, AS/NZS 4801:2001 and one of the select few companies who have a current registered EBA in place over and beyond the Mobile Crane Hirers Award. I believe both these two attributes attracts a better employee culture and we are really proud of our team and trust in their commitment, safety and work ethic. The ISO accreditation helps our staff deliver and maintain a high level of compliance which at the end of the day is to go home safe. It’s about looking out for their work mates, about encouraging and increasing better work practices and getting rid of the old school analogy of ‘She will be right’ culture of the past. I believe this helps us attract a better customer base who saves the business energy and time.

Jon goes on to discuss the various capacities within the Surf City Crane fleet.

“With the cranes, we offer wet and dry hire options.“ The smallest capacity slew cranes start with the 3 Tonne Mini Crawler crane, then next the very handy user friendly 13 tonne Kato City Crane. Because of the shift towards the bigger units we now have three, down from the peak of 5 Tadano Rough Terrain cranes. Our All Terrain cranes start with the 35t Liebherr two axle, which we bought four months ago out of Melbourne. It was originally an ex-John Holland crane with low hours and kilometres, a very tidy crane which has much faster road speeds than the Rough Terrain Cranes. This model from Liebherr has built over 2,500 since 1997 making it the most popular mobile crane unit ever built worldwide by any manufacturer.”

Our Liebherr All terrain fleet consists of the 35t, 55t, 60t, 70t, 90, and now the new 120 Tonne. We’re updating the fleet as much as possible to reassure our customers that we not just are capable provider with a modern fleet, but have

machines featuring awesome lifting capacities.

“To ensure our fleet remains compliant and reliable through our workshop maintenance program, our team keep on top of the regular servicing and the scheduled maintenance we have in place for our equipment.”

To complement our mobile crane hire Surf City Cranes have been providing Manitiou Telehandlers, predominately for Dry Hire Rental, with additional skilled operators when required. This bolt on to our business started just a couple of years in from start up, when we were asked to source a machine on behalf of our client we were suppling the cranes for. Our customers use these tele-handlers day to day shifting materials around site, emptying bins and unloading materials from transport at unscheduled times.

To recap and cover what we have achieved since commencement with the one Rough Terrain crane by Tadano in 2006, and where we aim to be in the future from now some 16 years later, is to continue to be leaders in what we offer. We have played a big part in infrastructure with Road Works, airports, rail, offshore accommodation, quarries, radio communications, high-rise developments, and theme-parks on top of the day to day general hire and cottage industry projects.

With Christmas just around the corner we still have our work cutout because of the shortage of labour for everyone in our industry. Cost increases have meant companies need to find ways to increase efficiencies. For us the whole newer equipment philosophy is our way to to create these cost saving results over the long term.

December 2022 CAL / 73 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
MODERN FLEET RANGING FROM 12T TO 130T CLASS LIFTING EQUIPMENT, FORKLIFTS & TELEHANDLERS SUSTAINABLE FLEET MANAGEMENT YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR TAILORED SOLUTIONS bookings@surfcitycranes.com.au | www.surfcitycranes.com.au BURLEIGH HEADS | BRISBANE | NORTHERN NSW 0402 269 535 1300 444 737 FOR BOOKINGS CALL NOW OR TEXT YOUR INQUIRY TO BOOKINGS MOBILE PROVIDING STRESS FREE SOLUTIONS SURF CITY CRANES IS ISO ACCREDITED FOR QUALITY, ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY. Follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn CRANES

CRANES 4 HIRE TURNS TO PACE CRANES FOR ITS SOLUTIONS

It

no secret

glass sector

unique

none more so than the sheer fragility of the lift, this is why Hayden Roper from Cranes 4 Hire turned to the Maeda range of mini cranes.

STARTING HIS GLAZING APPRENTICESHIP

in 2007, the pull of the crane industry was simply too much for Roper and when he moved to Melbourne, he completed his tickets and began to utilise the Maeda cranes which soon became the cornerstone of his own business.

“It proved a little challenging initially to find my way into the industry when I first got my tickets, eventually I decided to go it alone and bought my own crane and decided to specialise in what I knew and remain in the glass sector,” Roper said.

Cranes 4 Hire began with a Maeda MC285C-3 before quickly establishing a need for a greater capacity turning to the MC305C and then also approaching Pace Cranes for a tracked carrier to solve unique challenges they faced.

“We focus in on the glass side of lifting, we understand the ins and outs and by going with the Maeda range we know what we are doing and have a lot of confidence in what we can achieve. We don’t really complete much of the ‘standard’ crane work, we point people in the direction of companies in Melbourne who are better placed to complete those kinds of lifts.

“We went with the MC285C-3 initially as the size of it was impressive, the weight of the machine came in at bang on two tonnes so we were able to reduce the floor point loading on certain slabs,” Roper said.

The MC285C-3 has a capacity of 2.82t working at a distance of 1.4 metres with a maximum radius of 8.2 metres and a maximum lifting height of 8.7 metres. The MC285C-3 comes with multi angle position outriggers making it ideal for tight glass work.

“We love the MC285C-3, it’s so

slight when in position it is perfect in and around homes particularly in Melbourne where space can be at a premium,” Roper said.

It comes with an array of added safety features including tilt alarms, working status lamps and a data logger offering the safest working environment.

December 2022 CAL / 75 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
is
that working in the
poses a number of
challenges,
IN FOCUS / CRANES 4 HIRE
The Cranes 4 Hire team work across Melbourne on a vast array of projects

The MC285C-3 has a fantastic ability to fit through tight doorways with a width of only 750 millimetres which once again drew Roper to the machine initially.

“We have had it for about four years now and it has hardly missed a beat, the only time it stopped was a seal in the track getting damaged and that was from me driving it through mud that was too thick and it was a simple $30 part.

“The MC285C-3 has been fantastic but we needed to go a little bigger so we turned again to Pace Cranes for the MC305C which would just give us a little bit more,” Roper said.

The MC305C has a capacity of 3 tonnes at a distance of 2.5 metres and a maximum radius of 12.16 metres and a maximum height of 12.52 metres. Coming with many of the same safety features as the MC285C-3.

Roper explains why the company went with the Maeda and how they have been well supported by Pace Cranes

“The main reason why I went with Maeda, is because of Pace Cranes, there are a lot of good machines out there, don’t get me wrong, but the service from Pace is second to none.

“Its after sales service, and the

reliability of the machine has been proven across the years. There are some old ones getting around still and that shows the quality of the Maeda brand and put that with the care Pace put into them, it just makes compete sense,” Roper said.

The two Maeda mini cranes are not where the servicing from Pace Cranes ends with the team at Cranes 4 Hire utilising a tracked carrier for its glasswork as Roper explains.

“I’d say two years ago, we looked at getting a bigger crane because we were finding that most big bits of glass normally come in at about 500 to 600 kilograms and they are only going to get heavier from here, so we had to start to make these considerations and look at future proofing our fleet,” Roper said.

“The physical size of the crane poses a number of challenges. Then we had the idea to go with the tracked carrier, we thought instead of spending a heap of money on a massive crane, we can just build this tracked carrier, and then you can take the glass with a smaller crane, this allows us to pass

“Often big pieces of glass are going to be at the back of a house. To get it out at the back of the house, we were sitting there thinking; ‘We’re going to get a bigger crane, and throw it over the top.

“The physical size of a crane to go over a house poses a number of challenges. Then we had the idea to go with the tracked carrier, we thought instead of spending a heap of money on a massive crane, we can just build this tracked carrier, and then you can take the glass with a smaller crane, this allows us to pass these savings onto our customers.

“Bremner Glass Equipment designed

76 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / CRANES 4 HIRE
these savings onto our customers.”
The Tracked carrier has been an asset on site.

the top part for us, they do all the truck bodies and A Frames for the glass and glazing industry. The engineers there had the expertise to design the machine. The top is effectively the same as a bench used for glass cutting that has been engineered to tilt at varying angles depending on how low the roof it has to pass under,” Roper said.

By using the tracked carrier Cranes 4 Hire saves on street permits and issues associated with flying glass over buildings.

“We wanted something that could carry a tonne as very rarely we get something bigger than that. The challenge

was always being able to carry an 800 kilogram piece of glass and have the ability to lay it flat to get it under a low ceiling or stand it up to be as skinny as possible to get it through doorways.

“We do a lot of shopping centre work, they can have large pieces that can prove to be very challenging to get into the building. One we completed work with recently, they were unable to get a piece of glass in using standard glass manipulators.

“We were able to adjust the tracked carrier so it had 10mm of clearance in the top and bottom corner and get it into the

building with no issues, it has been such an asset.

“The tracked carrier has been a great addition, it gives us the opportunity to think outside the square but also we know the machine itself is high quality,” Roper said.

Cranes 4 Hire is quickly become one of the pre-eminent glass lifters in Melbourne, recently appearing on the channel nine program The Block. The company has plans to continue growing the fleet and Roper expects to once again to turn to Pace Cranes for fresh Maedas.

December 2022 CAL / 77 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
The Maeda’s have an impressive capacity on site with a firm footing making them perfect for delicate glass work.

The CTT 222-10 is an exciting addition to the city class fleet.

TEREX CRANES UNVEIL THE NEW CTT 222-10 FLAT TOP CRANE

The new CTT 222-10 is the newest in the line of city class flat top cranes that is to be offered by Terex Tower Cranes.

‘CITY CLASS’ REFERS TO THE DESIGN feature of the crane that ensures it is the best option for use within city settings, and this is the adaptability of the crane.

Specifically, this refers to the premium design features such as:

• Terex Power Plus (TPP) – a design feature that enables the crane to up the power by 10% when needed.

• Terex Power Match (TPM) – an economic addition to this fleet of cranes, this puts the crane into an energy saving mode.

The S-pace cab is designed for the ultimate level of comfort for operators.

• T-Link – the Terex telematics system that enables remote access to the fleet

78 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / TEREX FLAT TOP

data at anytime and from anywhere via the web

• A nd very important the T-Torque –the Terex slewing technology that gives better control and increased precision over the crane slewing, including customizable settings, no matter the wind direction, tower system and jib configuration.

These features allow the crane to perform as required in whatever setting it is used. The CTT 22210 can be easily set up and erected with a 1.60m, 1.95m or 2.10m tower mast depending on the needs and requirements of the user and setting it is in.

This particular model is fitted with the industry-known S-pace cabin giving optimal comfort and visibility for the operator. Wide glass panels, protected by side bars, ensure excellent

visibility; multifunction joysticks and a 7 inch touch screen color display provide simplified crane control and monitoring. The adjustable slewing seat and built-in heating and air conditioning system keep operators comfortable, productive and focused on their work to maintain safety. This model has a 10t maximum capacity and a maximum jib length of 65m, a maximum free-standing height (C25) is 54.35m, 72.95m and 67.85m (respective dependent on tower mast lengths).

Terex Cranes Senior Marketing Manager spoke about the importance of the new CTT 222-10 to the industry.

“We are excited about this new model that will enlarge our offering in a key capacity class; this will help us to even better support our customers with many residential, commercial but also infrastructures projects.”

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“We are excited about this new model that will enlarge our offering in a key capacity class; this will help us to even better support our customers with many residential, commercial but also infrastructures projects.”

TADANO VEHICLE LOADING CRANES

Tadano vehicle loading cranes have been manufactured for over half a century and are a safe and efficient solution for loading and unloading applications. The range is also designed to install a wide variety of equipment and building materials.

The straight booms range from 2.6 tonnes all the way through to 15 tonnes.

IN FOCUS / TADANO STRAIGHT
RANGE 80 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
BOOM

It comes with a simple to use remote.

wering equipment such as pumps and pipe below ground level with precision. A greater ability to reach accurately over walls, fences, and obstacles. vide safer handling of cargo through more precise placement of loads. bility to lift straight up and down, making loading in narrow spaces possible, with reduced risk of damage to

Tadano vehicle loading cranes also feature safety technology designed by Tadano to get the job done safely.

‘SAFETY EYES’ AUTOMATIC MOMENT

distributed in Australia by Tadano Oceania and its associated agents around the country ensuring the after sales service, support, and parts availability is second to none.

The Tadano Straight Boom range of vehicle loading cranes starts with the 260 series designed for small trucks. This model boasts a maximum capacity of 2,630kg at 1.6m and provides a maximum boom length of 12.8m. The largest model in the range is the 1500 series which features a capacity of 15,000kg at 2.0m and a maximum boom length of 18.5m.

ADVANTAGES OF STRAIGHT BOOM CRANES:

Tadano’s Straight Boom design provides the operator with ‘ready to go’ lifting capabilities unlike the Knuckle Boom which takes time to unfold and fold away. Given there can be multiple ‘drops’ in any given application, using a ‘Knuckle Boom’ can lead to inefficiencies and loss of productivity.

The Straight Boom is the perfect solution for operators requiring precise placement of equipment or structures below ground level, at ground level or at height.

Tadano vehicle loading cranes are ideally suited for a variety of lifting tasks including:

• General Cargo Delivery

• Lifting structural steel sections into place.

• Placing prefabricated timber roof trusses in place

The ‘Safety Eyes’ AML monitors crane work safety and comes as standard on Tadano vehicle loading cranes. The ‘Safety Eyes’ AML provides a ‘strength monitoring’ function, which prevents crane overloading and a ‘stability monitoring’ function prevents the crane from becoming unstable.

The ‘Safety Eyes’ AML monitors and controls crane working conditions including the state of a lifted load to ensure safer operations. Additional safety features include the outrigger middle extension function which is now available for all

models as well as warning features as the crane approaches rated performance. Audible and visual alarms will be triggered and as an extra level of safety, operation is automatically stopped once critical parameters are reached.

OUTRIGGERS ASYMMETRIC EXTENSION WIDTH CONTROL

Optimum lifting performance is managed automatically at any outrigger width. The system constantly monitors slewing angle and difference in outrigger extension widths and the operation Tadano loading crane the automatically slows and stops as critical parameters are approached.

LIMIT WARNING LAMP AND RADIO REMOTE CONTROL

The warning lamp on the control panel, the remote control, and the tricolor vehicle light work in tandem to make it easier to see the operation of the crane even at a distance. A radio controller for remote operation of the crane is provided, and it employs a large-screen and power-saving color LCD display. The remote control can customize speed adjustment for various operations, and has an emergency stop switch in addition to displaying the actual load, rated load, and moment load ratio.

The booms are highly capable.

December 2022 CAL / 81 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
AC1000-9 MS-WIHI-VA-SSL 46t - 123m 1300 554 458 ı lcrcranes.com.au Wacol ı Port of Brisbane ı Chinchilla ı Blackwater ı Port Moresby ı Lae Wind Energy Maintenance Specialists

Private construction company Walz Group has grown its crane fleet to an impressive number and has recently taken delivery of its second Tidd pick and carry crane to be used on a range of jobs across Queensland.

December 2022 CAL / 83 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / WALZ GROUP
ADDED SAFETY AND EXTRA CAPACITY SEES WALZ GROUP TURN TO THE TIDD PC28 TWICE
The Tidd has been put straight to work for Walz

THE WALZ GROUP HAS DEVELOPED QUICKLY from its original humble beginnings in 1976 when it was started by Colin and Desley Walz. The company remains privately owned and is now running over 30 cranes itself, serving a range of clients across Queensland.

CEO Matthew Campiutti explains the need the company had to run its own crane fleet and what the fleet is comprised of.

“I would say we have a large fleet of construction equipment including our cranes considering we are a construction contractor. We have more than 30 cranes ourselves ranging from Frannas all the way up to a 400-tonne crawler crane,” Campiutti said.

“By running and maintaining our own fleet it gives us a lot more flexibility and helps us with the tendering process as we know exactly what gear we have access to and exactly what it is capable of.

“We are running Frannas, a number of hydraulic cranes, rough terrains, crawler cranes and a couple of truck mounted cranes and obviously we have recently brought the two Tidd’s on board,” Campiutti said.

“We were originally introduced to the Tidd PC28 by TRT after we had bought a few cranes through them and we went to them enquiring about another pick and carry

option. We were drawn to the Tidd’s as they had extra capacity when compared to others on the market, which was a real plus,” Campiutti said.

Safety features include Dynamic LMI with a deadlock switch inside the cabin and the LMI bridging switch outside the cabin. Slew Safe is a key safety feature on the TIDD PC28.

The PC28 comes with Slew safe which gives the operator maximum control and security while lifting and moving. The Slew safe system reduces steering speed down to 15 per cent in the unsafe direction and 100 per cent steering speed in the safe direction with an override alarm audible in and outside the cab.

Campiutti explains what the Walz group did to maximise the safety of the machine for its specific use.

“Another safety feature we have on our PC28 is the ability to have the tire pressure closely monitored and re-inflated quickly to maximise safety. It gives us that strong stability you want when operating a pick and carry, that was an add on we thought would maximise the safety of this machine,” Campiutti said.

The PC28 comes in at only 2.5 metres wide and only 12 tonne per axle with a

turning circle of 14.9 metres making it extremely roadable and allowing it to fit well into any tight spaces.

The engine is a Mercedes Benz DM906 six-cylinder, turbo charged, intercooled engine producing 205 kilowatts. Coming with a six-speed transmission, the top speed of the Tidd is an impressive 80 km/h.

The new 18.64m high tensile full power 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.

For the team at Walz group they have been so impressed by the PC28 they recently took delivery of its second machine only five months after the first arrived as Campiutti explains.

“We knew we could trust TRT when purchasing the original Tidd but the guys using it have been so impressed and the features it comes with that we recently took delivery of our second and it has been put straight to work,” Campiutti said.

Duncan Begg is the equipment manager at Walz group, and he has seen firsthand the benefit of the PC28 on site.

84 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / WALZ GROUP
The added safety of the Tidd is what drew Walz to bring two on board.

“We have had the Tidd’s out on site working on the reject conveyor upgrade in the Bowen Basin completing general pick and carry tasks, used as a tailing crane and also on rolling structures.

“One of our operators that has been operating cranes for over 25 years has been impressed by how well the cabin is appointed, its drive and suspension, its easy-to-use controls and how tight the turning circle is.

“The crane is so simple to use and so comfortable he is finding it an absolute breeze to get around on site,” Begg said.

The operator’s cab is an ergonomic twoperson cab mounted on the right side of the chassis with a double door configuration. The cab is fitted with safety glass throughout and comes with 150-kilogram rated seats with air suspension.

“Tory Hand and everyone over TRT are excellent to deal with, they take us through the initial training and are always easy to access to troubleshoot any issues we come up

with whilst using the machine,” Campiutti said.

“This is why we went with these Tidd’s, we knew what we were going to get with TRT and the quality of service they provide, this is the benefit of going with them.

“TRT are very big on the safety of the cranes they send to market and that married up well with us and we were able to add even a few extra features we thought we be of benefit to the work we complete and even that was a simple task and they were more than happy to complete those add ons” Campiutti said.

Walz group work across Queensland for a range of clients including for BHP and Rio Tinto with much of the preparation for lifts completed in house as Duncan Begg explains.

“We do all of our own lift studies in house with our engineers and they work closely with our operations teams. The lifts are fully calculated in house utilising a variety of programs depending on what is the crane that is being used,” Begg said.

www.crewsafe.com.au CrewSafe is the standardised VOC assessment tool for the Australian crane industry. CrewSafe provides machinespecific, impartial, peer assessment with documented evidence of competency.

GROVES STAND TALL FOR FRED BLAKE CRANES

Fred Blake Cranes has been running Grove all terrains for years. To upgrade the capabilities of the fleet, owner and Director David Dickerson took delivery of a new Grove GMK 3060L-1 late last year and the business hasn’t looked back since.

FRED BLAKE CRANES WAS ESTABLISHED by Fred Blake in 1985 and David and Kelli Dickerson took over the business in 2006. At that time, the business operated one machine, a Coles 1822 truck-mounted a crane.

“The Coles truck crane was an old girl when we took over the business, but it was still a very capable crane. After a few years we could see we needed to upgrade and we purchased a Grove GMK 3055, 55t capacity all terrain crane from Elite Cranes,” said David.

“That was a good crane for us over a number of years, and as time progressed and people came and went in the business, we managed to get ourselves into a 130t capacity Grove GMK5130-2. The business has steadily and progressively grown, and just last year we purchased a brand

new Grove GMK3060L-1.

Fred Blake Cranes services customers and industry sectors within a 150km to 200km radius of its yard in Horsham, a regional city in Western Victoria.

“We are in general crane hire covering all of the requirements of our customers in the agricultural sector as well as the installation of NBN towers, concrete floors, concrete panels, and everything in between,” said David.

“We pride ourselves on providing a customer focused service and this has led to long term business relationships. We are proud that some of these relationships date back to the beginnings of the business and this is as a result of the loyalty we show our customers, and they show us in return.

“We deal with a number of customers

IN FOCUS / FRED BLAKE CRANES 86 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
The Grove is an important addition to the fleet.

on a weekly basis and have done for many years and we continue to service their needs which are increasing all the time. That’s the reason we continue to purchase new equipment to update and increase the capabilities of our fleet,” he said.

Fred Blake Cranes has always been impressed with the overall performance of Grove all terrains, explains David.

“When we bought the Grove GMK 3055 from Elite Cranes, it had 78,000 kilometres on it at the time. By the time we sold it last year, we had clocked up just over 200,000kms on the carrier and we had 17,500 hours on the whole machine. It had worked faultlessly over all those hours and kilometres apart from the clutch needing replacing due to the sheer number of kilometers we had clocked up,” he said.

“In my experience the Grove all terrain is a really solid, first-rate performer. They are good lifters and a very reliable crane. It is extremely robust, provides a great ride with excellent lifting capacities. I have no problem with the Grove and that’s why I’m happy to move forward

experience the Grove all terrain is a really solid, first-rate performer. They are good lifters and a very reliable crane. It is extremely robust, provides a great ride with excellent lifting capacities.

Grove

with the brand,” said David.

The GMK3060L-1 combines compact dimensions with strong lifting capacities and long reach, thanks to the 48m, seven-section MEGAFORM boom. With its additional 8 m long swing away jib the Grove all-terrain crane can reach over obstacles easily. In addition, the BirdView system improves the operator’s all-round visibility when driving and a boom head camera is especially helpful when lifting loads indoors and in halls.

The GMK3060L-1’s load charts are impressive and start at 0 degree boom angle are also extremely useful in applications with tight tolerances. The large storage space with three storage

The GMK 3060L-1 was put straight to work on a range of projects

boxes on the crane itself and the large storage compartment in the vehicle frame, allows all sorts of crane accessories to be brought along without issue and these have also received positive feedback.

“There are a number of reasons for choosing the Grove GMK3060L-1. The long boom impressed as did the compact nature of the crane and its ease of operation,” said David.

“All terrains can be complicated pieces of kit, but the GMK’s have proved to be extremely reliable for this business. The telematics is a great feature for the product support going forward and we’ve been impressed by how quiet the QSL-9 Cummins is when working around the crane.

“Another major feature for me, however, is the radio control feature. Particularly when we are operating the fly, the remote control allows our team to work alongside the customer, so we all have the same view of the lift. Remote control is the way forward for certain applications on smaller mobile cranes,” said David.

“The GMK 3060L-1 has been going great. It’s already clocked up 18,000kms and there have been no major issues. As with all new cranes there was a settling in period and during this time there was excellent backup and support from the team at Manitowoc and Victoria service agent JDM Services. No complaints from us, the crane has great capacity, it’s great ride, and all round it’s a good thing,” he said.

The latest generation of Grove carrier cabs was officially launched for threeaxle Grove all-terrain cranes at the end of 2021. The modern design makes the carrier cab a real eye-catcher. Inside, it provides an ergonomic, comfortable, and

December 2022 CAL / 87 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
“In my
I have no problem with the
and that’s why I’m happy to move forward with the brand.”

user-friendly work environment.

“The new carrier cab makes the 60-tonner look like a big crane and when you sit inside you get a real feeling of space. The team noticed straight away how quiet the cab of the GMK3060L-1 is compared to other cranes. Our operators will definitely arrive at the jobsite relaxed and ready for work,” said David.

The exterior is characterised by dynamic lines and its modern design makes a lasting impression. With a width of 2.55 m, the carrier cab perfectly fits the overall compact dimensions of the GMK3060L-1.

“The controls inside the new Grove carrier cab are clearly arranged and easy to reach. With our work, we spend a lot of time in the carrier cab – especially in a crane such as our new 60-tonner, which we use as a taxi crane for working on multiple jobsites a day and driving from one task to the next. With the new GMK3060L-1, we can get to the next jobsite in comfort,” said David.

Product support is critical for a business like Fred Blake Cranes. David explains more about the relationship he has with JDM Services in Victoria.

“We are heavily supported by John Mahoney and the team at JDM Services in Melbourne John is a phenomenal fella for us and his backup service and the information he provides us over the phone whenever we have little issues is second to none. He plays a critical role in our operation.

“If we have issues with error codes and things like that, he asks you to go through the software or whatever it might be to fix it. We can ring him day or night, if he does not answer straight away, he’ll always come back to you with a result. Quite often we can be 150kms away, it can be the middle of the night, we can be set up in the middle of the Western Highway and if things aren’t working you

need service support. We get this level of support from John,” said David.

Fred Blake Cranes runs the Grove GMK5130-2, the new Grove GMK3060L-1 and also a 20t capacity Humma articulated pick and carry designed and manufactured by DRA Engineering in Western Australia. David explains more about the team.

“We run a tight crew which includes

myself, and two other full-timers. We also have three casuals that work with us, it’s a great crew to work with. You don’t feel like you are at work with all the guys chipping in and helping each other.

“We have a very collaborative approach to our work, nobody holds back and everybody is focused on the tasks in front of them which is great. Lift planning is also a collaborative process with everybody involved. This ensures we know what we’re lifting, how far we’re lifting it and we have inspected the ground conditions to make sure everything is suitable for the lift to proceed,” said David.

IN FOCUS / FRED BLAKE CRANES 88 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
“The controls inside the new Grove carrier cab are clearly arranged and easy to reach.”
The long boom on the Grove has been an asset.
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CENTURY CRANES INVESTS IN LIEBHERRS

Cairns based Century Cranes continues to grow and recently added a new Liebherr LTM 1230-5.1 all terrain, a Liebherr LTM 1060-3.1 and a Liebherr LTM 1120-4.1 to the fleet. General manager Bianca Wilson explains how the new Liebherrs are key purchases in the continued upgrade of the fleet.

“WE’VE BEEN RUNNING LIEBHERRS WITH capacities ranging from 60t up to 250t and the fleet includes also a 100t capacity Liebherr hydraulic telescopic boom crawler. The new cranes fit nicely into the fleet especially the Liebherr LTM 1230-5.1. It offers great roadability as gaining permits is not as challenging as it is with the larger 250t Liebherr LTM1250-6.1, but it still offers 75m of main boom,” she said.

“We’ve been really impressed with the performance of the LTM 1230-5.1. It’s lifting capabilities are impressive and the

operators and crews have been surprised at how quickly the crane can be set. They absolutely love it,” she said.

“Long, powerful and versatile” is Liebherr’s description of the LTM 1230-5.1 all terrain. The highlights include the length and lifting capacity of the telescopic boom. Its predecessor, the LTM 1200-5.1, also had one of the longest telescopic booms in this crane class at 72 metres.

The 230t capacity crane not only delivers an extra 3 metres in length but also an average of 20 percent greater lifting capacity.

In addition to a multi-functional folding jib, a 43 m fixed jib is also available. The Liebherr innovations VarioBase®, VarioBallast, ECOmode and ECOdrive mean that crane operators can use the new LTM 1230-5.1 with even more safety and efficiency.

LONG, POWERFUL, VARIABLE BOOM SYSTEM

The LTM 1230-5.1 is the successor to the global success that was the LTM 1200-5.1. In its development work, Liebherr pursued the objective of increasing both the boom length and the lifting capacity of its predecessor. The result: the LTM 1230-5.1 delivers an extremely long telescopic boom and sets new standards in terms of lifting capacity. With lattice extensions, the maximum hook height has been increased by ten metres to 111 metres. The new Liebherr LTM 1230-5.1 is an ideal crane for working on steep gradients and large hook heights, for example for

90 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au IN FOCUS / LIEBHERR AND CENTURY CRANES
Century Cranes brought three Liebherr’s on board recently

erecting tower cranes or maintenance work for wind turbines.

Liebherr has a wide and variable range of lattice jibs for the new LTM 1230-5.1. The 11.5 to 22 m long folding jib can be mounted at an angle of 0°, 20° or 40°. The folding jib can be supplied with a hydraulic adjustment system as an option which allows it to luff with a full load between 0° and 40°. The pivot point for the folding jib can be raised using up to three straight 7 m lattice sections acting as telescopic boom extensions.

For the last three years, customers with the LTM 1250-5.1 have been able to install a long fixed jib, the first of its kind in the 5-axle class, to achieve enormous radii, for example for hoisting over buildings. This lattice jib is also available for the new LTM 1230-5.1: a fixed jib up to 43 m in length can be achieved with an additional TF adapter (connection between the telescopic boom and the fixed jib), a reducer section and a head piece. Existing lattice extensions are used for this purpose. This jib is generally hydraulically adjustable between 0° and 45° and can therefore be used like a luffing jib. The existing parts can be used to assemble a particularly powerful jib up to 39 metres in length which is ideal for steep working positions.

The maximum ballast for the LTM 12505.1 is 72 t, the same as its predecessor, but as a result of its VarioBallast®, which can be adjusted from 4.8 metres to 5.7 metres, the lifting capacity at great radii has been significantly increased compared to the LTM 1200-5.1 and also the LTM 1220-5.2.

THE FIRST MOBILE CRANE SPECIALLY DESIGNED ON VARIOBASE®

The engineers at Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH placed the multi-award-winning VarioBase® support technology at the focus of the structural steel construction when creating the concept for the new crane. This meant that the new LTM crane is the first to have an asymmetrical support base – with the width being 7.4 metres at the front and 8.1 metres at the rear. VarioBase® means that it is now possible to generate particularly high lifting capacities, particularly at the rear working area over the 8.1 metre wide supports – calculated in realtime by the LICCON controller. This new

digitalisation facility has a major influence on the structural steel technology and enhances the customer benefit in the form of lifting capacity increases.

IMPROVED DRIVE TECHNOLOGY

A six-cylinder Liebherr diesel engine in the undercarriage which develops 400 kW / 544 bhp and torque of 2,516 Nm provides the LTM 1230-5.1 with all the power it needs. The engine already complies with the

Stage V exhaust emissions standard.

The power is transferred to the crane axles via the 12-speed ZF TraXon gearbox. This innovative gearbox delivers new functionalities and benefits for the operator and driver. ECOmode makes the vehicle significantly more comfortable and quieter due to the low engine speed. Furthermore, faster gearshifts ensure greater scope for offroad use. The crane driver also has the “Hill Holder” feature to assist with hill starts.

TIME-TESTED SINGLE-ENGINE CONCEPT WITH ECOMODE

The LTM 1230-5.1 also features the Liebherr single-engine concept which involves a mechanical shaft powering the

superstructure. Gear shafts are routed from the distributor gear in the substructure via two mitre gears through the centre of the slewing ring to the pump distributor gear in the superstructure. An add-on programme in the drive concept ensures that the machine is particularly fuel-efficient. This means that the complete pump drive can be disconnected automatically when the engine is idling and then reconnected by the intelligent controller in a matter of seconds when it is required.

Liebherr has also developed a special mode for mobile cranes in the load-sensing range to reduce the cost of crane operations whilst also reducing noise emissions. ECOmode minimises both fuel consumption and noise emissions when operating the crane superstructure.

Bianca goes on to discuss why Century Cranes continues to invest in Liebherr products.

“In our opinion, Liebherr manufactures superior products, the product is readily available and the after sales service and support is second to none. We look to Bryce O’Brien, sales manager QLD, NT and PNG, from Liebherrs‘ mobile and crawler crane

December 2022 CAL / 91 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
“Liebherr has also developed a special mode for mobile cranes in the load-sensing range to reduce the cost of crane operations whilst also reducing noise emissions.”
The addition of the cranes has helped to grow the fleet for Century

division, who knows our fleet and always makes the right recommendations for us.

“Bryce also works closely with the service and spare parts departments to ensure we are utilising our crane assets as best as possible. The team at Liebherr have been fantastic from Bryce through to Adam Damon in tech support,” she said.

BIANCA DISCUSSES THE LIEBHERR

LTM 1250-5.1

“We’ve been operating the LTM 1250-5.1 for some time and it is also a very impressive machine. As I mentioned, being that bit larger and heavier, applying and receiving permits can take time but it is very roadable and an excellent performer when it gets to site,” she said.

“It’s proved to be a great lifter in many industry applications including tower crane erection and dismantle, HVAC Work (large radius work), Infrastructure works including lifting heavy bridge girders, tilt panel erection, sugar mill maintenance works and various applications in the marine industry.

The LTM 1250-5.1 features enormous

1060-3.1 60t capacity all terrain.

“We purchased the Liebherr LTM 1060-3.1 as an upgrade to a machine of similar capacity. In our opinion this is a popular size of machine for any general crane hire company. We will use it for general construction works, roofing iron, structural steel erection, AC installations and replacements, communication tower maintenance and many more applications,” she said.

With a lifting capacity of 60t and 48m of main boom the Liebherr LTM 1060-3.1 is ideally prepared for any road.

The Liebherr LTM 1120-4.1 breaks into a performance class which has previously been the sole preserve of five-axle cranes. As far as boom length is concerned, it is on a par with 200t class cranes as its 66m telescopic boom is the longest ever to be installed on a four-axle mobile crane.

MAXIMUM LIFTING CAPACITY AND BOOM LENGTH

Delivering maximum performance on a four-axle mobile crane is a concept which

load capacities. Liebherr’s designers had a clear concept to follow in the development of this crane – to get the maximum lifting capacity from the available weight of a 5-axle mobile crane.

VarioBallast® enables it to deliver maximum lifting capacities with a large ballast radius, making it perfect for use on constricted sites with a small ballast radius. And it achieves this by quickly adjusting the ballast in seconds. The crane can be fitted with a multi-functional folding jib, a long lowering fixed jib or a rigid powerful jib. Our proven VarioBase®, ECOmode and ECOdrive technologies make the LTM 12505.1 particularly safe and efficient.

Bianca discusses the new Liebherr LTM

has been traditional at Liebherr for decades. For example, when the current LTM 1100-4.2 was launched in 2009, it set new standards in the four-axle class with a lifting capacity of 10.2t on 60m telescopic boom. The new 120t crane has added 18 percent to this value at the same length. What is more, the LTM 1120-4.1 can extend its telescopic boom to up to 66 m, an additional 10 percent. This means it reaches the same level of many 200t mobile cranes on the market.

The new LTM 1120-4.1 delivers outstanding lifting capacity values, particularly with the boom fully raised. Its lifting capacity of 9t on the 66m telescopic boom makes it ideal for erecting tower cranes and radio masts. Lattice extensions

enables the new 120t crane to achieve hook heights of up to 94m and radii of up to 64 m. For this a 7m lattice boom extension is installed as well as a 35 10.8 to 19 m double folding jib, which, as an option, can also be hydraulically adjusted between 0° and 40°. A 2m erection jib and a runner, which can be swung to the side, round off the equipment list.

GREAT ECONOMY AND FLEXIBILITY

The new LTM 1120-4.1 can tackle jobs which normally would require a five-axle crane, eliminating all the logistics work needed for the larger model. Because a four-axle crane delivers benefits in terms of licensing and route permits, it can tackle

IN FOCUS / LIEBHERR AND CENTURY CRANES 92 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
jobs
“It’s proved to be a great lifter in many industry applications including tower crane erection and dismantle, HVAC Work (large radius work), Infrastructure works including lifting heavy bridge girders, tilt panel erection, sugar mill maintenance works and various applications in the marine industry.”

faster and with greater flexibility. The design of a four-axle crane also enables it to work where there is insufficient space for larger cranes. On constricted sites, in particular, Liebherr’s VarioBallast and VarioBase innovations deliver enhanced performance, flexibility and safety for this new crane model.

VarioBallast on the LTM 1120-4.1 enables the crane to operate with a ballast radius of 12.6 or 3.83 or 4.77 m. The ballast radius can be reduced by 940 mm quickly and easily using standard, mechanically adjustable ballasting cylinders when site conditions get tight. The large ballast radius delivers higher performance and often also cost benefits by reducing ballast transport as many crane

jobs can be completed using the system with fewer counterweights.

The maximum of 31t of ballast is distributed so variably that in addition to the 12t axle load version, uniform axle loads of 13.5, 14.5 and 16.5 t can also be achieved. That means benefits driving on construction site and in countries where higher axle loads are permitted.

ECOdrive and ECOmode reduce fuel consumption and noise emissions

A six-cylinder Liebherr diesel engine in the undercarriage, which develops 330 kW / 449 bhp and torque of 2,335 Nm provides the LTM 1120-4.1 with all the power it needs. The engine satisfies the new stage V emissions directive and can also be built to

comply with the regulations which apply in countries outside of Europe, for example Tier 4 for the USA or stage III for low regulated countries.

The ZF-TraXon gearbox is used to transmit the power to the crane’s axles. The ECOdrive has proven its value over several years – it delivers enhanced drive properties which both save fuel and reduce noise. Hillstart Aid makes starting on gradients easier.

ECOmode for crane the operations is now standard on Liebherr mobile cranes with a load-sensing control system – the crane controller calculates the perfect engine speed for the working speed selected using the control lever to avoid unnecessarily high engine speeds. That also saves fuel and makes the engine quieter.

The LTM 1060-3.1 is designed for driving on roads with lots of ballast. A special method of dividing the ballast slabs has been included in the design of this mobile crane. This means that a wide range of driving configurations can be achieved quickly and easily. Its compact dimensions and timetested ECOmode and ECOdrive make this mobile crane extremely economical to use. In addition to its compact size, the 3-axle crane features a long telescopic boom and impressive lifting capacities.

Bianca discusses the last 12 months from Century Cranes’ perspective.

“Over the last 12 months we have purchased from Bryce and Liebherr a brand new 60t capacity all terrain, a 120t, the new 230 and the five axle 250. The purchases are more of an upgrade designed to keep our fleet modern and contemporary, for our team to enjoy,”

“Our work is very diverse and spreads across major construction, infrastructure, and small residential builds and then all the industry sectors we mentioned earlier. Century Cranes is always looking for new members to join our team and thanks to COVID we now have a team from all over Australia.

We grow as the demand requires us to, and that includes lifting capabilities and geographical locations. Bryce and the Liebherr team understand these objectives and are always there to help us achieve these objectives,” she said.

December 2022 CAL / 93 www.cranesandlifting.com.au

LIFT OF THE MONTH

WHO: Tutt Bryant Heavy Lift & Shift.

PROJECT: Bridge demolition with lift weights of between 120t and 130t.

WHERE: Hunter Valley, New South Wales.

CRANE: 600t capacity Demag CC 2800-1.

CRANE CONFIGURATION: 66m of main boom, a SWL of 129t at the required radius which meant 98% utilization of the cranes’ charts.

94 / CAL December 2022 www.cranesandlifting.com.au
PLEASE SEND YOUR LIFT OF THE MONTH ENTRIES TO SIMON.GOULD@PRIMECREATIVE.COM.AU

REACH 75,000 INDUSTRY LEADERS

BY ENSURING YOUR BUSINESS IS LISTED IN THE CRANES AND LIFTING SHOWCASE 2023.

Cranes and Lifting magazine will once again be compiling the SHOWCASE in the January/February 2023 edition of the magazine. Following the success of previous SHOWCASEs, the 2023 version will be even more comprehensive.

OVER 180 CRANE HIRE BUSINESSES LISTED THEIR PREMIER CRANES IN THE 2023 SHOWCASE

As before, EVERY MEMBER of The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) has the opportunity to list the premier cranes in their fleet FREE OF CHARGE.

CIRCULATION AND ADDITIONAL COVERAGE

The 2023 SHOWCASE will first appear as a section in the January/February issue of Cranes and Lifting. We will then extend the reach of the SHOWCASE by utilising the readership and circulation of other platforms in the magazine’s group.

infrastructure and Plant and Equipment. Combined, these titles have a weekly reach of over 75,000, which includes the distribution of enewsletters and traffic to the various websites.

ADDITIONAL PROMOTIONAL AND ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

WITHIN THE SHOWCASE 2023

Advertising positions are available with the SHOWCASE. All advertisements include an “added value editorial feature”. This content is written by our qualified editorial team and provides the opportunity to expand on your company’s capabilities and services.

“We are pleased to see the SHOWCASE will be appearing in the January/February 2023 issue of Cranes and Lifting. The Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) views the SHOWCASE as a very strong initiative for our industry and an ideal opportunity to market our capabilities to broader industry sectors.

“180 CICA members took advantage of last years’ SHOWCASE, and we encourage you to help make the 2023 version even more comprehensive.”

Brandon Hitch, CICA Chief Executive Officer.

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