Enlarge Image ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp.added Manitowoc’s new Grove GMK5225 225-ton all-terrain model to its fleet.

“This proactive stance strengthens the ALL Family of Companies’ ability to take care of our customers by specifying the right type of crane for every job,” said Michael Liptak, All Erection & Crane Rental president. “The 5225 and 5115 fulfill our commitment to continuous upgrading of our fleet.”

The GMK5225 has a boom length of 210 feet, reaching tip heights of up to 328 feet with jib extensions, and features an Allison transmission and Cummins engine. The GMK5115 provides enough reach to erect a tower crane and the strongest load chart in its class. “These two models let us offer customers versatile options that meet a wide range of applications and a variety of road regulations,” said Liptak.

May 7, 2008 – ASME’s B30 standard has undergone an overhaul where personnel responsibilities are concerned. Section 5-3.1.3 of the recently released 2007 B30.5 volume now outlines responsibilities for all the individual members of the lifting operation, not just the operator. The operator, owner, end user, lift director, and supervisor are all integral parts of a safe lift operation, and the new volume includes qualifications for each.

Previously, there were no descriptions at all – other than the operator was responsible for operations under his direct control, according to Larry DeMark, subcommittee member and director of training for the Operating Engineers Local 825 in Brunswick, N.J. “The person in charge of lifting operations was mentioned, but there were few responsibilities mentioned,” he said. “Because operators are not doing this all by themselves, it was time everyone knew what their responsibilities were.”

The B30.5 volume, which is a part of the B30 standard, is updated on a three-year cycle, and changes in the wire rope section will be published in the 2010 standard, which will be released with an effective date of 2011. “There was a lot of discussion because of new manufacturers and new types of wire rope, which have their own new recommendations,” said DeMark. “Some areas need to be upgraded more than rewritten,” including the various wire rope inspections and differing inspection criteria.

May 7, 2008 – A coalition of contractors and crane owners last week filed a lawsuit against Miami-Dade County seeking an immediate and permanent injunction to stop the county from enforcing a crane ordinance that it said poses a danger to public safety and would bring commercial construction to a halt.

"Safety is our number one concern," said Al Soto, crane safety expert and vice-chair nominee of the Florida Crane Owners Council. "Our employees and I use these cranes every day, and we need to make sure we are protected. With this flawed ordinance, Miami-Dade is obligating me to put our employees in danger."

Members of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Associated General Contractors, the Construction Association of South Florida and the Florida Crane Owners Council, were joined by Brian Wolf, a partner with Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP, in front of the federal courthouse in Miami to file the injunction.

"The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration clearly states that the Secretary of Labor must approve any ordinance that would infringe upon existing OSHA laws," Wolf said. "Miami-Dade has not followed the proper federal procedure. We are also deeply concerned that the County's crane ordinance will have a serious negative impact on commercial construction in Miami without any improvement in safety."

Additionally, crane experts say the Miami-Dade ordinance is unsafe because it requires additional "jumping" of tower cranes. Jumping is the process of extending the height of the tower cranes and is by far the most dangerous part of a crane's operation because is requires the dismantling, moving and reassembling of parts of the crane, according to the coalition. Requiring that this process be done as many as three times more often, as Miami-Dade's ordinance does, will unnecessarily add three times the risk to safety and hazards, the group said.

Under the ordinance, cranes would be required to be tied down and treated as permanent structures. One of the coalition’s concerns is that this practice makes the crane and building more rigid than it is designed to be, increasing the risk of damage. "Just like pine trees tend to snap in high wind while palm trees survive because they move with the wind, this ill-conceived requirement will put property and people at greater risk," said Peter Dyga, vice president of Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter.

The coalition said that not only does the ordinance pose a threat to public safety, but it also would shut down the commercial construction industry in Miami-Dade County. Under the ordinance as currently written, none of the 200 tower cranes in use on ongoing construction projects would meet the standard. In fact, no cranes currently in existence would meet Miami-Dade's standard. Tower crane manufacturers would be compelled to create special versions of their products suited for Miami-Dade.

"If the commercial construction industry is not able to do its job, thousands of South Florida residents will lose their jobs," said Bruce Whitten, Chair of the Florida Crane Council. "That's bad news in an already tough economy."

Commercial construction has been a bright spot in an otherwise dark real estate and development market. The construction industry in Florida is a multi-billion dollar business. Currently, there is an estimated $6 billion under commercial construction alone in Miami.

"Florida's large-scale construction projects are impossible without cranes,” said Whitten. “We have to keep projects moving forward and keep Floridians working. But, with this ordinance, Miami-Dade has made it impossible to operate cranes in this county.”

April 29, 2008 – Crane operations at construction sites around New York City are one of three activities that will be examined in a $4-million initiative launched by the city’s new building commissioner. Robert LiMandri, who was named Acting Buildings Commissioner last week after the resignation of Patricia Lancaster, will hire 20 engineering experts for the safety campaign.

Concrete operations and excavations will also be looked during the in-depth examination which will take place over the next eight to 12 months, according to news reports. “We’re gonna look at – top to bottom – those three high-risk areas,” said LiMandri

The team of 20 will focus on materials and processes being used at construction sites, as well as worker training in relation to the three areas. Surveys will be random, and changes will be made quickly. “We’re not going to wait for a long report,” said LiMandri. “If the data supports a change – whatever that change may be – we’re going to implement it right away, because this is about safety we can’t wait."

Lancaster, credited with overhauling the city’s building code, resigned April 21 after sharp criticism from Mayor Michael Bloomberg. With several deadly construction accidents occurring on her watch, including a tower crane collapse that killed seven in March, she admitted during a recent City Council hearing that the building under construction at the Manhattan crane site was erroneously permitted. In fact, it did not conform with local zoning codes. Thirteen people have died in New York City crane accidents so far this year.

Enlarge Image SMIE's DLZ342 is designed to keep the operator informed of critical crane conditions.

April 29, 2008 – The need for greater safety in operation of tower cranes has been highlighted by major incidents over the past few months. The greater use of advanced cranes such as luffing jibs has also brought in additional safety concerns, especially on multi-crane sites. To assist the operator in safer operation, SMIE, Noisy-le-Grand, France, has introduced the advanced DLZ342 operator display unit which is designed for a single, isolated tower crane.

Designed primarily to keep the operator constantly informed of critical crane conditions, the DLZ342 also allows for setting of specific zoning and records crane operations. The cabin-mounted operator’s display unit shows the operator, at a glance, critical parameters including load weight, moment, slewing angle, trolley radius, hook height, rail traveling, wind speed, date and time, and reeving.

Where appropriate, color coding and sound alarm helps warn the operator when approaching a critical condition. The display unit is designed for easy reading regardless of lighting conditions.

Within the compact unit, a memory chip records total number of working hours; total accumulated load lifted; analysis of lifting cycles; details of the last 10 lifting cycles and the last 2,000 recorded events.

Transferring data from the display unit to computer is via a simple USB flash key. The stored data can then be analyzed on a normal computer in the form of spreadsheets and graphics, using MS-Excel® compatible file format. This information ensures that the crane operations can be monitored and, in the event of any incident, the working history can be analyses.

A critical consideration for tower crane operators has always been over-flying restrictions or awareness of potential collision risks. The DLZ342 features an integrated work zone limitation management system, enabling the operator to store working area parameters. Once stored, the operator is able to concentrate on load handling, as the DLZ342 will not allow crane maneuvers outside of the declared zones.

For over 25 years, SMIE has been committed to providing anti-collision systems and associated products for crane operations. With a global network of subsidiaries and dealers, SMIE is able to provide safe, regulatory compliant solutions for job sites regardless of the complexity or number of cranes involved.

For more information, visit www.smie.com.

Enlarge Image More models will follow the CTT 231 Comedil flat-top tower crane.

April 30, 2008 – Terex Corp., Westport, Conn., has launched a new mid-range series of Comedil flat top tower cranes. The 11- to 13-ton CTT 231 is the first in the series, with other models to follow. It features a wide range of mechanical- and configuration-jib options. The largest possible jib measures 230 feet and the minimum jib option is 98 feet. Reaching free-standing heights of 205 feet, the crane is suitable for work on both low- and high-rise construction. According to product literature, the tower crane has a competitive load diagram that decreases significantly less compared to cranes with the same features.

Key assembly features include an under carriage composed of a cross-shaped structure with pin connections. A new base ballast weighing 6 tons features lifting points placed at an angle to make handling more practical. Likewise, two M72 bolts at each corner of the tower sections speed installation. The entire upper part of the crane can be assembled with just four operations, with only one lifting operation needed for overhead assembly of jib TT15 03/11.

Other features include a slewing unit equipped with two direct current motors, which guarantee slewing speed and precision of movements. The counter jib is equipped with winches up to 60 kW. The integrated control system in the crane features a touch screen and graphic interface. Among the new aspects of the control system are diagnostic signals, wind speed indicator and warning light, and a movement load positioning function. Load positioning, controlled through a push-button joystick, cuts load lifting and lowering speeds in half when the 1° and the 2° buttons are pushed.

For more information, go to www.terex.com.

Steve Punch

April 4, 2008 – CraneWorks Inc., the Houston, Texas-based distributor for telescopic and articulating cranes has announced the appointment of Steve Punch as general sales manager. Punch most recently worked for Custom Truck & Equipment, Kansas City, Mo., as cranes sales manager. Punch said he will start in his new position in the near future and will commute to Houston for the time being, with a future move to Texas a being a “good possibility.”

Punch was employed by Custom for almost 10 years and previously worked for RO Corporation, now Terex, in the early 1980s. Punch brings to CraneWorks more than 25 years of experience in sales, distribution and manufacturing of all types of truck-mounted cranes.

Enlarge Image Linden Comansa displayed the 21 LC 550 and LC5211 cranes at ConExpo.

April 4, 2008 – ConExpo proved to be a show-and-tell experience for Linden Comansa America (LCA). The Pineville, N.C.-based North American distributor of Linden Comansa tower cranes found many people interested in the Comansa modular tower crane line. The company had two models set up at ConExpo in March.

Erected on one end of the booth was the company’s 21 LC 550. “This flat-top modular crane is part of our 2100 Series,” said Eddie Sidenstricker, sales representative. “It has a maximum capacity of 39,670 pounds with a tip capacity of 8,800 pounds at 262 feet.” This particular model could be seen at work on several jobsites adjacent to the ConExpo complex, including the Echelon and Fontainebleau projects.

At the other end of the booth was the LC 5211, “which is part of our 500 Series, now known in the industry as our ‘Baby Tower Series,’” said Sidenstricker. This particular model possesses many of the features and benefits of the company’s larger tower cranes. “The entire baby crane line can be erected quickly and is well suited for small to mid-sized projects, while still not being constrained by height or other factors,” explained Sidenstricker.

LCA also introduced Mega Cranes, their new Northwest territory dealer, to the entire LCA family.  “It was a great chance to sit down and talk with Kerry Hawley, president of Mega Cranes, who seemed to be very excited about the potential in his market,” said Sidenstricker. “This relationship will look to expand the presence of Linden Comansa America in the Northwest territory,” he added. Mega Cranes is based in Surrey, British Columbia.  

Enlarge Image Two Liebherr tower cranes work on the Trump Tower in Chicago.

April 2, 2008 – The Trump International Hotel and Tower is currently under construction on North Wabash Avenue in Chicago, Ill. Upon completion in 2009, it will be the second tallest building in Chicago behind the Sears Tower.

Trump Tower equipment subcontractor, James McHugh Construction Company, leased two Liebherr 420 EC-H 16 tower cranes from Morrow Equipment Co., Salem, Ore., for the job. Both cranes are installed in bottom climbing configurations. Crane one had an initial hook height of 219 feet and an estimated final height of 1,236 feet. It has a hook reach of 131 feet. Crane two’s initial hook height was 257 feet and will top out at 1,290 feet. The second crane also has a jib reach of 164 feet. The cranes’ primary function is to assist in concrete placement. They have been positioned to provide concrete pours wherever it needs to be placed with ease and accuracy.

The Trump International Hotel and Tower will be 1,362 feet tall and contain 96 floors for various uses. The building will contain 2.6 million gross square feet of floor space, rise to 90 stories, and house 472 super-luxury residential condominiums. The tower will also feature a five-star luxury hotel condominium with 286 guest rooms.

The building will temporarily hold the record for the world’s highest residence, which has been held since 1969 by Chicago’s John Hancock Center. The Chicago Spire, however, is set to break the record of tallest all-residential building upon completion in 2011. The Tower was design by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill in December 2001. A subsequent revision in July 2002 resulted in the current established design.

The concrete subcontractor is implementing a comprehensive formwork for the construction of the building. The building will be the tallest formwork structure in the world. Concrete moulding is being used, because using a traditional ironwork structure would require a building footprint that would be too big for the property size, proportional to the height of the designed building. A liquid concrete pump allows each additional floor to be poured by pumping concrete up several hundred feet to the elevating construction site.

March 21, 2008 – Niagara Falls, Ontario-based Palfinger North America recently announced that Michael Johnson would become the new western sales manager for Palfinger knuckleboom cranes for the western United States and Canada.

Johnson’s region of responsibility is all states west of the Mississippi River and the four western Canadian provinces. Johnson joins the company with more than 20 years experience in the area of truck-mounted equipment. Johnson will provide the western markets the support and service needed to continue to grow the company in the expanding market, a Palfinger statement said.

Enlarge Image Link-Belt's 548 crawler crane

March 19, 2008 – Link-Belt Construction Equipment Co., Lexington, Ky., introduced three new cranes at last week’s ConExpo show in Las Vegas, of which all three models top their respective product lines.

At 550 tons, Link-Belt’s 548 crawler crane is rated 150 tons above the next biggest crawler in the company’s lineup. Developed jointly with Sumitomo Heavy Industries, of which Link-Belt is a wholly owned subsidiary, the crane features a 153-foot main boom.

A heavy-duty boom configuration tops at 275 feet and a long-range boom boasts a 354-foot tip height. Target markets for the crane include heavy industry, petrochemical, and wind-energy work. Testing is scheduled to begin soon on a luffer and heavy-lift attachment with supermast.

Enlarge Image The RTC-8013 RT crane joins Link-Belt's lineup.

For efficient assembly/disassembly, the standard equipped live-mast lifting cylinder can handle its own sideframes, lower counterweights, and boom base. The main transport load weighs less than 100,000 pounds and includes the house with quick-disconnect turntable bearing, live mast, and upper jacks.

Joining its rough-terrain crane line is the RTC-80130 Series II. At 130 tons, this is the largest RT crane Link-Belt has ever produced and combines attributes of the RTC-80100 Series II with Link-Belt’s latching boom technology.

The crane features a five-section, 162-foot formed boom with one double-acting, single-stage hydraulic cylinder with integrated holding valves. This configuration telescopes the load like a conventional full-power boom. Five boom modes vary the extension in order to achieve the best capacities. Maximum tip height is 171 feet.

A key feature of the RT crane is a 10-foot fly jib that swings and pins into place. It is integral to one of the on-board fly options. With over 20 tons capacity and lift procedures for two load lines make it ideal for tilt-up work. With the optional 31- to 55-foot bi-fold lattice fly and three 18-foot lattice extensions, maximum tip height is 278 feet.

The RTC-80130 Series II transports in two loads with the main load under 94,000 pounds with boom, both winches, three-piece fly and tires attached. On a trailer, the load height is less than 14 feet and, without counterweights and outrigger boxes, is less than 10 feet wide.

Enlarge Image The HTC-3140LB features a 195-foot boom.

The newest addition to its hydraulic truck crane line is the 140-ton HTC-3140LB, featuring a six-section 195.3-foot Long Boom. The combination of the Long Boom with optional fly attachments provides lifting flexibility. A 10-foot fly with more than 20 tons capacity comes with lift procedures for two load lines. When integrated with optional three-piece bi-fold lattice fly and three extensions, reach extends to 311 feet. A second fly option offers hydraulic offsets from 2° to 45°.

Achieving travel speeds of up to 65 mph, the lower is powered by a 550-hp Caterpillar C15 engine with 12-speed automated manual transmission and four-speed auxiliary transmission connect to three rear axles. A Tier 3-compliant Caterpillar C6.6 203-hp engine powers the upperworks. Fine metering valve settings allow slow movements of the main and auxiliary winches as well as boom hoist and swing for precision work. Maximum available line pull is 21,022 pounds and maximum line speed is 419 feet/min.

For more information, visit www.link-belt.com.

March 19, 2008 – The Miami-Dade County Commission passed a measure calling for county oversight of cranes and their operators on Tuesday. The unanimous vote by the Florida board counters the efforts by the Florida Crane Owners Council and other groups that have been working toward creating a uniform statewide certification process. The ordinance also has many in the industry concerned about the possibility of differing county crane regulations throughout the state.

The Miami-Dade County regulation, drawn up by Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, would require crane operator certification and have the county building department set an inspection schedule. She began campaigning for the regulation after a crane worker’s April 2006 death at a downtown Miami condo construction project. A week after the accident, the commissioner organized a committee of industry experts to create an approach to regulation.

Rep. Greg Evers of Milton, Fla., was quoted by The Miami Herald as saying that because Miami “jumped the gun,” crane operators could be jeopardized if each of Florida’s 67 counties adopts its own regulations. Members of the state’s crane industry are just as concerned. “We stressed to the media afterwards that this was a safety-driven measure taken on by the local municipality,” said Bruce Whitten, who chairs the Florida Crane Owners Council. “We dread that 66 more counties will do the same unless measures are undertaken at the state level to pre-empt this language. Imagine 67 different laws across the state that everyone will have to deal with."

Evers, who has authored legislation calling for a statewide standard, told The Miami Herald he is appalled that the county commission hadn’t consulted with him so that he could have tried to fold it into what he was doing. “We could have reached a compromise,” Evers said. However, Edmondson urged the state to use her county’s ordinance as a starting point for a Florida certification program.

Whitten called Tuesday’s action by the country commission a “knee-jerk vote” prompted by last Saturday’s deadly crane accident in New York. He said the ordinance now goes to the mayor who has the option of vetoing it. “South Florida should be prepared for this ordinance to go into effect within 10 days for all new construction sites,” he said. “Existing sites will have to comply by July 1, 2009, and crane operator certification shall be enforced by Jan. 1, 2011.”

Enlarge Image Tadano's TM-35100 boom truck

March 5, 2008 – Tadano America Corp., Houston, Texas, along with parent company Tadano Ltd., will show two rough-terrain cranes, two truck cranes, four all-terrain cranes, and three boom trucks at next week’s ConExpo.

Making its debut at the show is a 35-ton boom truck, the TM-35100. The TM-35100 features a four-section, round-box boom that extends to 100 feet. It is equipped with a two-stage lattice jib measuring 28 to 50 feet and offsets at 5°, 25°, and 45°. Other features include a twin swing system for free swing or locked operation; foot controls for elevation, telescope, and engine throttle; multi-span outriggers; an internal A2B device and Tadano’s AML-LII load moment system.

The unit on display will be mounted on a KW T800 tridem, while the prototype is configured on a Sterling truck chassis.

Tadano America Corp. will also feature the GT-900XL-1, a 90-ton truck crane with a five-section, 144-foot telescopic boom, and two all-terrain cranes: the 55-ton ATF-50G-3 with a 131-foot boom and the 100-ton ATF-90G-4 four-axle crane. The company is in Booth G-328 at next week’s show in Las Vegas.

For more information, visit www.tadanoamerica.com.

Richard Barnhart, founder of Barnhart Construction Co. Photo by Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal

After finishing a project for Chicago Bridge and Iron Co. in Memphis, Barnhart, a Massachusetts native, decided to follow his passion for building by starting his own firm.

"Our operating capital to start with was about $20,000," he said. "We started off with a pickup truck and a couple of welding machines."

The young company's fortunes would change the following year when Barnhart won the steel erecting contract for the old Schlitz brewery. The steel had been hauled to Memphis on dozens of rail cars and Barnhart sensed an opportunity.

"I told them if they could pay me a unit price to unload that steel, and if I could invoice every two weeks, and if they'll pay me within a week of my invoice, then I think we can make the money flow work," Barnhart said with a laugh, recalling just how much he needed the brewer's cooperation to win the contract.

"That was asking a lot, but they were in a bind," he said. "Almost anything I wanted, they went along with. That was the miracle start right there because that built our capital where we could operate well."

While it may have seemed tenuous when the company was founded in 1969, Barnhart used hard work, planning and old-fashioned luck to turn the company into a powerhouse that now offers services through a network of more than 13 offices in the eastern United States. The company also provides heavy rigging services across the U.S. and internationally.

Barnhart tips his cap to his wife, Nancy, who served as the front office for the company when it was founded. "She was the total office for the company when I first had it," said Barnhart. "While we were doing the Schlitz brewery, we had about 80 people on payroll, and she wrote every check by hand."

Barnhart capitalized on another break when he won the contract to build the Regional Medical Center at Memphis. The Med's leadership had to bid the project out three different times and the third time was the charm for Barnhart, who quickly prepared a bid.

"I had to make (the bid) high to be sure I did all right and I bid about twice what I figured it would cost and got the job," he said.

"Those two projects, the Schlitz brewery and The Med, are the ones where I had an unusual situation and made an unusual amount of money," Barnhart said. "You have to recognize that it's an opportunity and you have to jump."

Business quickly took off after that, with Barnhart winning the contract to erect the Cook Convention Center and build the bridge carrying the monorail to Mud Island.

Barnhart's sons, Eric and Alan, studied under their father, working summers at the firm during high school and college. They grew the firm into a national heavy crane, rigging and transport company on the strong foundation their father built. Eric now serves as the chief concept engineer, and Alan is president; their sister, Donna Barnhart, serves as comptroller.

Eric Barnhart described his father, who has a civil engineering degree from the University of Massachusetts, as a visionary who changed the way Memphis was built, especially the industrial areas where his innovations in tilt-up construction are now commonplace.

"He was well ahead of his time in the way he was doing things," said Eric Barnhart. "My brother and I have taken that same spirit of innovation and taken it nationally."

And in a sign of just how successful Barnhart was, his sons have run their company, Barnhart Crane & Rigging, longer than he ran his.

"It's really remarkable when you think about it," said Barnhart. "The big thing about it is that they've multiplied it by 100-fold. I stayed pretty close to Memphis, but they're all over the country."

J.T. Hill, who began working at Barnhart Construction in 1970 and still works at Barnhart Crane & Rigging, said Richard Barnhart had a knack for making lemonade out of lemons.

"I guess you could sum that guy up in one phrase," said Hill. "There's a lot of different people similar to him, but nobody can take nothing and make it something like he can. He would take a job that nobody else wanted and that was the job he wanted. He taught us there's a lot of opportunities out there in life if you capitalize on them."

And although he’s retired, Richard Barnhart is still adding to his resume with his recent induction into the Society of Entrepreneurs. Membership is comprised of mid-South business owners, presidents and other key executives who are chosen annually by their peers. Members have been judged to have exhibited the following personal characteristics and successes: personal business achievement, self direction, leadership, personal integrity, determination, creativity and the ability to transform a vision into a dynamic business achievement. Members in the Society must reside or have lived in the Memphis area during the period of some of their major accomplishments.

Source: commercialappeal.com; Amos Maki
Additional reporting by LiftandAccess.com staff

March 5, 2008 – The Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association (SC&RA) is now accepting applications for its new Crane & Rigging Group Project Safety Award. The award salutes the mutual efforts of SC&RA company members and their clients to ensure that safety comes first, according to the SC&RA newsletter. Projects with zero recordable injuries/illnesses are eligible.

Unlike other SC&RA awards, presented at the Annual Conference, the association will issue Crane & Rigging Project Safety Awards monthly. SC&RA members may apply for multiple awards throughout the year, but only one award will be issued per project.

The association is now accepting applications for projects completed in January and February 2008. SC&RA will notify both the member and the client with a letter if the project is designated an award winner. The award itself will be presented to the client by the SC&RA member.

Application forms and the official rules and regulations are available at www.scranet.org. For further information, call Beth O'Quinn, SC&RA vice president, crane and rigging, at (703) 698-0291.

Enlarge Image Ron Cowper instructs crane training sessions.

February 20, 2008 – When a tower crane collapsed in downtown Bellevue, Wash., in November 2006 – killing one person and causing millions of dollars in damage and project delays –Washington State’s Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) lost no time in developing corrective measures. Within days of the accident, DOSH officials had conducted conference calls with crane industry leaders statewide, scheduled meetings with elected state representatives, and helped to energize the state’s crane community. 

Using federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) new Crane and Derricks Advisory Committee (C-DAC) consensus document as a guide, Washington’s crane industry came together to draft what may be the nation’s most extensive crane regulation. 

The bill reached the House Commerce Committee with unprecedented momentum, led by 62 co-sponsors, on Feb. 12, 2007. Soon after, the bill passed with 97 yeas and no negative votes. The Senate received the proposal and passed the bill with 39 yeas and only 8 nays. On April 10, not quite two months after the House first considered the bill, and not five months since the accident that prompted it, Governor Christine Gregoire officially signed Washington’s new crane legislation into law. The new requirement takes effect on Jan. 1, 2010. 

The Washington Crane Safety Association (WCSA) followed up this achievement by formulating a program of training and certification to help ready the state for its new crane safety requirements. Central to this program is a series of training and certification initiatives to be held statewide during 2008 and 2009.

Washington’s new law requires crane operators to be certified by a nationally recognized organization, a primary reason that the CCO written and practical examinations, developed and administered by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), have been scheduled after each WCSA safety and training program.

Graduates of this program will earn valuable credentials that are accepted across Washington, are portable from employer to employer, and are valid in many other states. By virtue of NCCCO’s accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to the ISO 17024 standard, CCO certification now also provides international recognition.

WCSA President, Thom Sicklesteel, Sicklesteel Cranes, Seattle, Wash., observed that the training and certification project was open to the entire crane industry. “We have already witnessed crane operators sharing classrooms with company safety personnel and supervisors,” he said. “A true cross-section of the entire industry is cooperating in this initiative.”

“What is particularly exciting is seeing so many Washington State DOSH compliance and consultation officers participating in our project,” said Gary Hite, WCSA board member and president of Hite Crane & Rigging, Spokane, Wash. “You have to be impressed not only to see so many DOSH personnel involved, but to see them writing the CCO written examinations.” 

“Washington may well be the first state to have a team of governmental safety professionals that has actually been trained in the principles of crane safety and then tested by NCCCO,” Hite added. “When our law becomes fully effective in 2010, DOSH officials will be able to hit the ground running.”

Hite also noted that DOSH will likely have the respect of the crane industry for its willingness to take part in the NCCCO examination process.

Lampson International’s Bruce Stemp was equally enthusiastic. “I hope this starts a national trend with all state DOSH and company safety personnel,” said Stemp, whose company is headquartered in Kennewick, Wash. “This is a great way to demonstrate that government personnel and company safety experts are truly knowledgeable of the crane industry they are protecting.”

“The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries is extremely excited about our new crane safety program,” said Chuck Lemon, DOSH crane specialist. The new rule is a combined effort between labor, management, and the Department, he noted. “It is truly a blessing to see all of the enthusiasm in developing a crane safety rule for the construction industry,” he said. “The WSCA and NCCCO have been exceptional in assisting our staff with training and providing the opportunity to participate in CCO examinations.” 

Lemon noted that DOSH also wanted new crane safety compliance officers to take the same examinations that crane certifiers and operators are administered before they can inspect and operate cranes in the state. “This type of training and certification will help ensure our staff will have the credibility and talent to perform their mission,” Lemon said.

WCSA’s series of training and certification initiatives kicked off in Seattle, Wash., in November with a two-day tower crane theory course followed by a four-day mobile crane theory course.  Class candidates completed CCO written examinations following each training session.

Training components for the courses were instructed by Ron Cowper of Toronto, Canada. “Mr. Cowper is one of North America’s most respected crane theory experts,” said Sicklesteel. “It was important for us to select an instructor who could professionally relate to a broad mix of all those involved in the crane industry, and to be able to provide in-depth and dynamic instruction critical for our candidates to be ready for CCO written examinations.”

The project is scheduled to continue with CCO practical examinations scheduled throughout the state beginning in February. Mobile and tower crane theory courses are already scheduled to continue during March and April in both Spokane and Kennewick. Overhead crane theory courses and a mobile crane inspection course are slated to join the series of training initiatives and CCO certification components later in the year. 

“We’re not about to forget about crane safety below the hook either,” said Gary Hite. “We are watching and waiting for the new NCCCO Rigging and Signal Person Certification Program, and hope to be the first in the nation to provide that important credential for our project participants as well.”

“Cooperation throughout the industry is the key to crane safety,” added Hite. “And that is why our state will be ready for our new law before it becomes a requirement.”

Enlarge Image All Crane Rental provided the equipment for this lift at a power plant.

February 20, 2008 – The right cranes can do the heavy lifting, even in difficult spots. But it takes seasoned crane experts to figure out exactly how to will get the job done. The general contractor for a power plant in Masontown, Pa., recently called on ALL Crane Rental of Pennsylvania to help it with a heavy lifting application. The power plant had an outage and needed ALL to help it re-tube a major boiler to restore power at the plant.

The job required lifting the old boiler parts out of the plant and lowering the new ones. But the complication was that the only location to place the 500-ton Liebherr model LTM1400-7.1 hydraulic truck crane for access to the boiler was in a tight space: a deep hole immediately adjacent to the building. It took nine months of planning and more than a week to assemble the crane, which had a 186-foot boom and 151-foot luffing jib. A 130-ton RT crane was brought in to assist with the crane’s assembly, and the jib had to be landed onto a fifth-floor level of the building and assembled there. A Y-guy boom suspension superlift attachment provided extra capacity.

The difficult lift finally took place in October 2007.

ALL Crane Rental of Pennsylvania is a member of the ALL Family of Companies. Since 1964, the ALL family of companies has grown to become one of the largest crane and equipment rental companies in North America. The company offers its fleet of cranes, aerial work platforms, boom trucks, material handlers, and other lift equipment from strategic locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, providing rental, sales, service, and jobsite analysis.

February 19, 2008 – With several estimated release dates already passed, OSHA’s new safety standard for cranes and derricks in construction has been delayed again. OSHA had said to look for the standard in October 2007; now it appears the rule will not be finalized by the end of this year.

On Jan. 24, Noah Connell, director of OSHA's Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, defended the agency's slow pace proposing a rule on a worker safety standard for cranes before a federal advisory, according to an article in the Feb. 6 issue of Construction Labor Report.

"This is quite simply an enormous undertaking that takes an unbelievable amount of effort and time," he told the advisory committee on Construction Safety and Health during its three-day meeting in Washington, D.C.

The proposed standard resulted from the efforts of the Crane and Derrick Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee (C-DAC), which achieved consensus in July 2004.

Despite the delay, Connell said the standard is his office's biggest priority, according to the CLR. "My office has never for a day slowed down on the rule," he said.

Enlarge Image QT Equipment will now provide nationwide rental availability for certain IMT equipment.

“Rentals are very popular with so many other types of equipment, but no rental company has tackled the service equipment business yet,” said Doug Root, owner of QT Equipment. “The rental option is great for our customers who want the benefits of field service but aren’t quite ready to purchase their own equipment or who need a temporary fill-in unit.

Customers will have immediate access to service equipment while replacing a wrecked truck or waiting for a new service truck to be built. Other customer benefits include avoiding capital expenditures and project-by-project flexibility. Customer can also predict the total cost of ownership with the QT Equipment maintenance program.

In addition to SiteStar lube trucks, IMT articulating cranes and QT Equipment-manufactured lube trailers, QT also has the following IMT Dominator mechanics trucks available for rent anywhere in the United States: 2008 Ford F550 outfitted with an 11-foot IMT Dominator I service body, IMT 3820 telescopic crane, and a 35-cfm hydraulic compressor; 2006 Ford F550s outfitted with 11-foot IMT Dominator I service bodies, IMT 3820 telescopic cranes, and 35-cfm hydraulic compressors; and other mechanics truck packages on Ford F750s, International 4400s, Peterbilt 335s or Kenworth T300s, all outfitted with IMT equipment.

“Customers have been asking about rental options for years, so we’re very pleased to bring them this program as an alternative to purchasing service equipment,” Root said. “We also have buyout options available if customers want to rent service trucks or articulating cranes on a trial basis and then decide that these units would make an excellent addition to their equipment fleet.”

QT Equipment requires a minimum rental of four weeks on its service equipment. For equipment buyouts, a percentage of the rental payment is applied to the purchase price, and this percentage is dependent on the type of equipment and length of rental. Rates are determined by type of equipment, length of rental and buyout option.

For more information, contact Doug Root at (800) 758-2410 or visit www.qtequipment.com.

Enlarge Image NCCCO subject matter experts have been meeting to craft separate certification programs for riggers and signal persons.

February 6, 2008 – The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) is planning a full slate of activities at ConExpo 2008, scheduled for March 11-15 in Las Vegas, Nev. Complete information on all CCO crane operator certification and practical examiner accreditation programs will be available at NCCCO’s booth, L-3102.

In addition, an opportunity to learn more about two new programs coming in 2008 will be provided via two focus group meetings. The focus groups, on CCO rigger certification and signal person certification, will meet in one hour back-to-back sessions on March 12 and March 14. Feedback from focus group participants will be reviewed prior to the launch of the programs later in the year.

The certification programs for riggers and signalpersons will become a reality later this year as the NCCCO makes significant progress in development of the two new programs.

Two task forces NCCCO set up in April of last year are well on their way toward completion of separate programs aimed at helping to “complete the loop” with regard to crane safety on construction sites. “The role of the crane operator, and the need to ensure he or she is qualified, is well understood,” said Kerry Hulse, NCCCO commission chairman. “What these new certifications are geared towards is ensuring that crane operators are given safely rigged loads to lift in the first place, along with accurate visible or audible directions on where to place them.”

Both programs will consist of a written and a practical examination. “Development is being ‘double-tracked’ to speed things along and provide for optimum synergy between the two task forces,” said Phillip Kinser, NCCCO manager, program development. The task forces are made up of some 60 volunteers, representing all facets of the industries that use cranes in construction, and all of them are active in their field. Identified as subject matter experts (SMEs), and trained by NCCCO in program development, they have been meeting approximately every six weeks since the task forces were established last April.

By last December, a job analysis had been conducted for both programs in accordance with the standards for educational and psychological testing. In addition, SMEs in each task force have now identified the necessary knowledge and skills for each activity, and grouped them into content areas. Don Jordan, rigging task force chairman, noted that, for riggers, these focus on the scope of the rigging activity, planning the rigging activity, selection of rigging components, inspection of rigging, and the execution of the rigging activity.

The signal person task force has decided that signal persons need to know and understand both hand signals and voice communications, have a basic knowledge of crane operations, understand specific considerations concerning the construction site, and know applicable safety standards and regulations. “All the knowledge statements the task force has selected for its five content domains have been identified as being critical to the task of signaling crane operators safely,” said Kenny Shinn, signal person task force chairman.

“Although there are currently no state or federal requirements for either riggers or signal persons to be certified, all construction personnel must be qualified, and CCO certification is a means of ensuring this is the case,” said Graham Brent, NCCCO executive director. In addition, he noted that the Federal Proposed Rule that would revise 29 CFR 1926.550 contains specific qualification requirements for both.

Signal person certification should be available by mid-year, with rigger certification following closely on behind.

Anyone interested in participating in the focus groups at ConExpo should contact NCCCO at ejones@nccco.org.

Robert Schiller

Schiller has an extensive background in construction-related organizations and leading process improvement initiatives. Previously, Schiller served as CFO at Devcon International, a security, construction and materials company. From 1999 to 2006, Schiller served as controller and previously as vice president of internal audit at NationsRent. From 1989 to 1999, Schiller served in the capacities of regional controller and director of internal audit at The IT Group, an environmental services and remediation company.

Schiller is a certified public accountant and has a MBA in accounting from Pace University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University at Albany, State University of New York.

According to Frank Bardonaro, president of AmQuip, Schiller's knowledge of multi-branch facilities and experience in evaluating potential acquisitions "will be a valuable asset to us as we continue to grow and expand our North American operations."

Monuments of the world and the K-10000-L shown together in true scale.

January 24, 2008 – A monster-sized tower crane is undergoing erection in Fort McMurray, Alberta. A Kroll K10000-L, manufactured in Denmark and owned by Syncrude Canada Ltd., is currently being erected by Syncrude to be used as the main heavy-lift crane for the construction of the Sulpher Emission Reduction Project. Working in the Athabasca Oil Sands Deposit, Syncrude is the world's largest producer of crude oil from oil sands.

The tower crane is located on a congested site, which lies above a sophisticated network of underground pipes. It is anticipated that the crane will be operational by the end of February.

According to Ernie Sheaves, a crane and rigging specialist on the Syncrude Emission Reduction Project, the tower crane is currently topped at its maximum 423 feet. “The next phase of the project is to install the jib components,” he said. “We are using a Terex-Demag CC2800 600 metric-ton crawler crane and a 300-metric-ton Liebherr LR1300 crawler crane to install the jibs. We are hoping for the weather to cooperate so we can have this work completed before the end of January.”

The Kroll tower crane has a reach of 337 feet with a lifting capacity of 100 tons at the tip. The crane’s reach extends to 7.5 acres, which is more than the area of six football fields. This particular tower crane is equipped with a four-camera system supplied by Orlaco Crane Cam Inc., which will enable the operator to view all lifts and be able to see all around the load. The camera system consists of a load view, two winch views, and a counterweight view.

According to Sheaves, there are only 14 Kroll K10000 cranes in the world. “Thirteen of them are in Asia, the Middle East, and Ukraine. This is the first time for a tower crane of this size to be in Canada and only the third time one has been used in North America.”

For more information about the Kroll K10000, visit Tower Cranes of America at http://www.towercrane.com/K-10000_tower_crane_01-00.htm.

January 24, 2008 – Southwest Industrial Rigging, Phoenix, Ariz., announces the creation of a new Safety & Training Division. The company, which provides crane rental, heavy-hauling, machinery and warehousing services, now also provides full-service training.

In addition to being a test facility for the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators, Southwest Industrial Rigging (SWIR) has expanded its training courses to include mobile and overhead crane operator orientation, mobile and overhead crane inspection, rigger training, signal person training, and forklift and aerial work platform operator orientation.

Many of these courses are scheduled to be held throughout the year in SWIR’s new 4,800-square-foot training center, which consists of a classroom and hands-on lab. However, SWIR’s new team of trainers will also perform customized training at customer facilities upon request.

The Safety & Training Division is managed by Howard Kaplan, director of safety. Joining him are four new trainers. Don Harlson joins SWIR as safety manager. He has more than 20 years experience in the crane and rigging field from construction to instruction. Mike Patten, assistant safety manager, comes from the strip mining industry where he has worked on safety committees and in training. Patten’s responsibilities include administering the continued education program for SWIR employees. Sam Perry joins SWIR as its federally accredited crane inspector, and Chris Kozlow, a rigger with SWIR since 1981, has been promoted to an instructor position.

“There are many training companies already out there,” said Kaplan, “but many of them have lost touch with the industry and are teaching the same topics in the same way as they did five years ago.” Kaplan believes hands-on instruction is essential to a student’s success.

“We set ourselves apart from the others by applying what we teach, and having the ability to apply real-world applications with hands-on training. SWIR operates cranes, forklifts, aerial lifts, and we rig every day. Who better to learn from?” said Kaplan. “We are not looking to teach everything from material handling to blood born pathogens. We are going to teach our strengths – cranes and rigging.”

Among the industries SWIR is targeting for training are general contractors, other rental companies, mining, and municipalities. For a course schedule, go to http://southwestrigging.googlepages.com/home.

Enlarge Image ALL has been named a tier-one Terex Crane dealer in five states.

According to ALL, Terex is actively consolidating their dealer network, and the company was hand-picked to join the limited distributor network because if its ability to outfit customers with the right machine and provide set-up and training to customers. Terex dealers, including ALL, must have the ability to provide after-the-sale service with responsive parts delivery and field service designed to maximize lifetime ROI.

“[Terex’s] commitment to control their distribution chain – to reduce some of the layers in getting their equipment to market – reflects the Terex commitment to its customers,” said Michael Liptak, president of ALL Erection & Crane Rental Corp. “The dealer relationship is important because Terex is protecting their customers’ ownership experience by choosing strong partners like the ALL family of companies.”

The Construction Challenge Cup, sponsored by Manitowoc, will be awarded to the organization that has the most participants for the event. For more information about this event or to register, go to www.constructchallengerun.com.

Event Sponsors include Manitowoc and Terex

Maximum Capacity Media LLC is the publisher of Crane Hot Line, Lift and Access, Industrial Lift and Hoist and Lift and Access 360.

January 9, 2008 – A new federal specification for wire rope and strand, RR-W-410F, was published in December 2007. This standard supersedes the previous federal standard, RR-W-410E, published in 2002.

The standard covers the more common types, classes, constructions, and sizes of wire rope and strand that are suitable for federal government use. This includes Type 1 general purpose ropes, Type 2 elevator ropes, Type 3 marine cables, Type 4 miscellaneous, Type 5 auxiliary wire strands, and Type 6 small cords.

An important change to the standard for crane users is that ASTM A1023/A1023M, the standard specification for stranded carbon steel wire ropes for general purposes, is now incorporated by reference into the federal specification as it relates to all general purpose ropes. The A1023 standard was published in 2002 and revised in 2007 with input from the Wire Rope Technical Board.

To download a copy of RR-W-410F, go to http://assist.daps.dla.mil/online/start/.

Enlarge Image Manitowoc's GTK1100 made its first lift in Germany.

December 19, 2007 – Manitowoc’s Grove GTK1100 crane has completed its inaugural lift series at a jobsite in Germany. The crane, with its unique design and transportation abilities, first appeared at the Bauma 2007 tradeshow in Munich, Germany. Following further tests at Manitowoc’s Wilhelmshaven factory in Germany, the first unit went to work this month for owner Wiesbauer.

Jochen Wiesbauer, managing director of Wiesbauer, said the crane had lived up to all expectations.

“The performance of the GTK1100 on this first set of lifts was simply outstanding,” he said. “Because these lifts were the first in a field setting, we took extra caution and double-checked everything. But even with this, the cost and time savings compared to other lift solutions were exceptional.”

The GTK1100’s first job was in Ilshofen, Baden Würtemberg in the southern part of Germany. Energy provider Repower Systems is installing a 2 kW wind turbine at the location and selected the GTK for an initial project.

Efficient transport is a key benefit of the GTK1100. The crane is designed to travel on only four or five trailers depending on its configuration and local road regulations. For the Baden Würtemberg job the crane required only four trailers as there was no counterweight required for the lifting configuration.

The GTK1100 completed five lifts on the jobsite. The first three were the wind turbine tower mast sections that weighed 68 tons, 58 tons and almost 50 tons. Next, was the installation of the heaviest element, the nacelle, which weighed 77 tons. Finally, the crane positioned the three rotor blades (each weighing more than 8 tons), which were assembled on the ground before being lifted as a single 46-ton load.

Enlarge Image The GTK1100 completed a total of five lifts on the wind turbine project.

Among those present at the GTK1100’s first lift was Frans Vanwinkel, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Manitowoc in the European, Middle Eastern, and African region. He said those who saw the crane perform got an understanding of its true benefits.

“The crane worked perfectly on this job and the erection and dismantling was fast and smooth,” he said. “Unlike traditional lifting solutions on projects such as these, the GTK allowed Repower Systems to save on ground preparation costs. These savings come through a combination of reduced space requirement on site and greater stability on uneven ground because of the GTK’s advanced outrigger design.”

Manitowoc welcomed several dozen potential customers to the site while the lifts were taking place. Vanwinkel said this was a perfect opportunity to highlight its capabilities.

“We invited customers and potential customers from Asia, North America, South America and Europe to this job,” he said. “Seeing the GTK in action, on site, really opened a lot of people’s eyes to its full capabilities.”

The GTK1100 has a 250-foot vertical tower which is topped with a five-section 196-foot telescopic boom. It is able to lift loads of more than 77 tons to heights of over 393 feet.

December 19, 2007 – Southern Industrial Constructors, Raleigh, N.C., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Southern Crane, recently achieved another safety milestone when its Wilmington branch office celebrated one year without any recordable injury or illness. 

The company’s 166 Wilmington-area employees worked 346,077 hours between November 2006 and November 2007 without a single recordable incident as defined by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  

“At Southern Industrial, our policy says it all: Safety is our number-one priority,” said Phil Hooper, vice president of safety and risk management.  

“That’s why we go above and beyond what is required by law to implement our own high safety standards and guidelines,” Hooper added. “We do it not just for the security of our workers, but the security of the general public, as well. This milestone is a perfect example of how our employees demonstrate their strong commitment to following our safety policy day in, day out.” 

Because of their exemplary safety records, both Southern Industrial and Southern Crane are among the few companies in the state recognized as STAR contractors by the N.C. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Division. All of Southern Crane’s operators are CCO certified.

December 18, 2007 – In an effort to continue its growth strategy in North America, Niagara Falls, Ontario-based Palfinger has reorganized its sales team to provide the required capacities to achieve strategic objectives.

The company appointed Jeff Black to the position of Eastern Canadian sales manager for all Palfinger products. Black’s new area includes Ontario, Quebec, and all of the eastern provinces. Bill Boner will continue his duties as Eastern U.S. sales manager for cranes but will expand his activity in the East. Boner’s region of responsibility includes all states east of the Mississippi River.

The restructuring of the crane sales department will provide Palfinger North America with more focus and support in both the knuckle-boom crane and service crane sales, as well as provide additional support to the company’s key crane accounts.

The company also announced that effective January 2008, within the framework of Area North America, there will now be a Region Central America that will include the countries of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Ecuador, Columbia and Venezuela.

Ruben Guida will be responsible for the management of the newly formed region. Guida will relocate to Miami, Fla., to better serve the customers in these countries.

Enlarge Image Manitowoc Crane CARE recently opened its fifth contact center.

December 13, 2007 – Manitowoc, Wis.-based Manitowoc Crane CARE has opened its fifth contact center in its global network. The new facility, located at the Manitowoc facility in Zhangjiagang, China, opened at a special ceremony held on Dec. 3, 2007. With the opening of this contact center, Manitowoc Crane CARE has accomplished its goal of having technical and parts assistance available for customers 24/7, around the globe.

Larry Bryce, executive vice president of Manitowoc Crane CARE, said this significant investment in customer care is what sets Manitowoc apart in the field. “Our customers know when they buy a crane from Manitowoc, the full strength, experience, and knowledge of the Manitowoc organization and their vast brand presence is behind them,” he said. “And with the opening of the Zhangjiagang contact center, that expertise is now accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in the world.”

The Zhangjiagang contact center offers a single point of contact for support of Potain tower cranes, Grove mobile cranes, and Manitowoc crawler cranes in the Asia/Pacific region. Rapid response team members offer assistance on parts, service, and warranty support in both English and Mandarin. After the facility is fully operational, technicians will be available to answer calls from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Currently, 34 people are employed at the new facility and that number is expected to increase to 44 by the end of 2008. 

Alex Lee, rapid response team director at the new center, says that globally Manitowoc Crane CARE can call on a highly qualified team of engineers.

“We now have a team of highly experienced network of technicians to help provide efficient technical support and problem resolution,” he said. “Hundreds of dedicated people now work in our customer service division around the world. Many of our rapid response team members have more than 20 years of experience in crane and customer support.”

The Zhangjiagang contact center is one of five such locations around the world. The other four contact centers are located in Manitowoc, Wis.; Shady Grove, Pa.; Decines, France; and Wilhelmshaven, Germany. 

Enlarge Image Lewis Equipment has signed on to distribute the Zoomlion line of cranes throughout North America and Mexico.

December 5, 2007 – Citing product availability, engineering excellence and flexibility as the biggest factors in taking on another line of mobile construction cranes, Lewis Equipment, Dallas, Texas, announced it has become the exclusive North American distributor for the Zoomlion line of mobile construction cranes manufactured in China. The other factor, according to Kevin Messenger, general manager, is the relationship the company has built with its Chinese suppliers.

“That they don’t have the backlog of orders other manufacturers do is the critical piece,” said Messenger, whose company is also a distributor of the China-made SunCrane line of tower cranes. “But it’s all about relationships at the end of the day. Nothing happens overnight, but through the relationship with Sun and in visiting manufacturers over there, it’s one of those things that evolved over time, meeting and talking about their ability to produce.” 

Company President Kyle Lewis said the relationship with Zoomlion has been under development for more than 15 months. “In fact the Chinese manufacturer sent 12 engineers to Lewis’ offices in Dallas as part of a planning strategy to ensure the equipment designed for North America is world-class,” Lewis said.

Zoomlion makes a variety of cranes. Its truck cranes range in capacity from 25 to 130 tons; ATs run from 100 to 300 tons; and crawlers range from 50- to 600-ton capacities. Lewis Equipment has purchased an undisclosed number of truck, all-terrain and crawler cranes. Messenger said the company produces “a nice-looking piece of equipment.” Production time on larger cranes is currently about six to eight months, but the factory can kick out smaller cranes in approximately 90 days, he said.      

Lewis has one Zoomlion machine in its Houston, Texas, yard, and at press time was awaiting the arrival of a couple more. Lewis will be receiving the units on a regular basis over the next year until all machines have been delivered. Some will be placed in the distributor’s rental fleet. “It’s a wonderful way to show what the product can do,” said Messenger.

“We also have some customers who are actually ordering them for sale,” Messenger added. “The buzz is just starting to hit, so we may end up having to sell some that might have gone into our rental fleet, depending on the circumstances.”

Zoomlion has a history as a Chinese supplier. The company has been manufacturing truck cranes since 1972 in China. Over the last three years, they’ve expanded distribution to cover five continents in more than 30 countries.

“They’ve made a relatively new entrance into the global marketplace,” said Messenger, adding that that’s the reason the manufacturer is able to cut its production lead time to half that of the industry’s average. “Other manufacturers have a lead time almost double,” he said.           

In 2005, Lewis introduced the modular-style SunCrane tower crane into the United States and offers six models in capacities ranging from 4 to 32 tons. They’ve been well-received in the North American market, according to Messenger, and are operating across the United States as rental machines. “On the Dallas skyline you can see a couple, as well as in Houston and Austin,” he said. “It’s been really exciting to be able to introduce them into the market.”    

Lewis also recently purchased acreage in Grand Prairie, and plans to move its offices just down the street from its current headquarters. Messenger attributes the move to growth the company has experienced over the past few years. “Unfortunately it’s a moving target, but I’d say we’ll be in new offices within six months.”

December 5, 2007 – A proposed local crane ordinance continues to move forward, on its way to becoming law in Florida’s Miami-Dade county. The proposal will require crane operators to be certified in the county, and require that crane inspections be performed by trained experts. The ordinance will also require companies to safely secure their cranes before hurricanes hit.

A public hearing will be held Dec. 11 at the Board of County Commissioners Chambers in Miami. The Florida Crane Owners Council urges crane companies