R&J Lifting Solutions Invests in Terex CBR 40H Self-Erecting Tower Crane
July 29, 2019 – For the many congested construction sites in and around Austin, Texas, contractors face significant lifting challenges. Small commercial projects, condominiums, low-story hotels and utility applications are often too small to use traditional tower cranes, but there’s not enough footprint for a mobile crane.
A crane rental company based in Cedar Park, Texas named R&J Lifting Solutions saw this as an opportunity for an innovative solution. Joe Galbraith, president, and Randy Thorp, partner/chief operating officer, are, according to them, the first to rent contractors working in the Austin, San Antonio, and surrounding communities a self-erecting tower crane, the Terex CBR 40H.
“We see a significant opportunity to help framers of small hotels and multifamily buildings position materials more efficiently and cost-effectively by using the CBR 40H crane,” says Galbraith. Thorp adds, “The self-erecting crane design covers twice the area that a telehandler can in half the time and at about the same rental price-point.”
Principals Galbraith and Thorp offer lifting contractors more than a combined 50 years of crane and rigging experience. “They both are known for providing innovative lifting solutions, and this market is an ideal fit for the CBR 40H self-erecting tower crane,” says Tony Cappellaro, sales and support manager, Americas, Terex Cranes.
Galbraith and Thorp investigated potential crane designs and options to solve the lifting challenges at congested building sites. A colleague in Portland, who sold self-erecting cranes along the west coast recommended that they look at the self-erecting crane type. “Self-erecting cranes are popular in many major markets along the east and west coasts, but they are just starting to gain traction in central United States regions,” explains Cappellaro.
What drew R&J Lifting Solutions to the Terex CBR 40H self-erecting tower crane was its user-friendly design and simplicity. Galbraith liked the crane’s smooth operation, partly due to its convenient remote-control feature. “The remote control allows the operator to move with the load, making it easy to see where it’s placed,” he says. “It’s quick to move in and out of the jobsite, requires a very small footprint, and offers a great bang for the buck.”
The CBR 40H crane offers a maximum jib length of 131.2’ and a maximum 4.4 U.S. ton capacity. Its lift capacity of 1.1 U.S. tons at maximum jib length makes it ideal for lifting building materials throughout the jobsite. “The big plus for the crane is it requires only a 13.8’ footprint for its base, allowing it to be put in tight spots where a mobile crane cannot fit,” Thorp says.
With transport dimensions of 44.6’ long, 7.9’ wide, and 11.5’ high when positioned on the trailer, the CBR 40H is quickly and efficiently moved to the jobsite using a flatbed trailer. A second trailer transports the crane’s 44,092 lbs. of counterweight. Its self-erecting design quickly unfolds the vertical tower to its 84’ height. “An experienced crew can have the crane set up and ready to lift loads within four hours of arriving on site,” says Cappellaro.
Galbraith points out the Terex self-erecting tower crane will beat a mobile crane at move-in/move-out as well as on rental price. Another plus, the crane operates quietly and efficiently under 20 kVA electric power compared to diesel fuel for mobile cranes and telehandlers.
Thorp sites safety as another reason for investing in the self-erecting crane. “The stationary CBR 40H crane can replace one or multiple telehandlers at the project site, so there are fewer pieces of mobile equipment moving around a congested work area,” he says.
