Lewis Equipment Says Chinese Cranes Excited ConExpo Shoppers

Enlarge Image Lewis Equipment drew interested booth visitors at ConExpo with Chinese-made cranes.

April 3, 2008 • Lewis Equipment created a stir during ConExpo in Las Vegas last month when the company introduced Chinese-made cranes to the North American construction industry. “It reiterated to us there is a demand • and we aim to fill it,” reported Jeff Pedigo, marketing director for the Dallas, Texas, company, which serves as the exclusive distributor of SunCranes by Yongmao and Zoomlion cranes in North America.

Potential customers pored over the display models of Zoomlion crawler and truck cranes, which Lewis introduced to the industry at the end of last year. “The buzz around the Zoomlion cranes was fantastic,” said Pedigo.  

 

With the cranes on display in the booth as well as on a nearby Las Vegas high-rise project, visitors were able to get a feel for the capabilities of a SunCrane by Yongmao. “That's our crane,” Pedigo said during the show, referring to the STT553-24, a 24-ton tower crane at work on the local construction site. “The 553 and 420 [STL420-24] models are in high demand now.”

 

On display were the Zoomlion QUY 260, a 287-ton crawler crane, and the QY 70 V, a 75-ton truck crane • the first time both cranes had been shown in North America. Zoomlion has been producing both models. The manufacturer has already modified them and will continue to modify them as needed for the North American market, said Pedigo. ConExpo was a chance to test the waters, he said.

 

“We needed to identify how much interest and demand was out there for the Zoomlion cranes,” Pedigo said. “We had an idea, but needed a stage like ConExpo to really test it. A lot more people know about Zoomlion and Lewis Equipment than before ConExpo, and [as a result of the show] we are building new business relationships.” 

 

The QUY 260 crawler crane is rated at 287 tons and features a lattice boom made of domestic, high-strength tubular steel. The main boom length measures 272'4” or can be equipped with a lightweight boom package measuring 311'8”. Both fixed and luffing jib booms are available. The crane is ideal for bridge construction and tilt-wall work, according to Pedigo, because of its “good reach and good capacity.”

 

Kyle Lewis, CEO, agreed. “Currently, there's $5 billion in construction going on just along the U.S. Gulf Coast, and that's the machine they're looking for,” he said of the ConExpo unveiling. “It's very popular in its market range, which is in high demand and low supply right now.”

 

At a mid-range in the series, the 75-ton QY 70 V truck crane has a maximum rated lift capacity of 154,320 pounds, with a boom length of 38' to 144'4”. Maximum under-hook height is 145 feet; the jib maxes out at a lifting height of 197'6”, and maximum radius is 105 feet. The crane travels up to 46.6 mph, and has a Cummins 300-hp engine.

 

Also in Lewis' booth was a SunCrane tower crane by Yongmao and Hercules elevators by GJJ. The SunCrane model STL420-24 luffer on display features a maximum lifting capacity of 24 tons, maximum jib length of 197 feet, maximum tip capacity of 5 tons, and freestanding height under hook of 198 feet. During the show, the company took orders for 20 each of Yongmao cranes and 20 Hercules elevators from a company in Australia.

 

Lewis has been distributing the SunCranes in North America since 2005. “We are pleased with the results of ConExpo,” Pedigo said. “Overall feedback is very positive and the future is promising for our company.”