Up-time All Star

Enlarge Image Southwest Industrial Rigging received the Tadano TR800-XXL in April 2005, and it's been a workhorse ever since.

Subject: TR800-XXL rough-terrain crane, manufactured by Tadano, Houston, Texas

Serial Number: 545688

Date in Service: April 2005

Hours in Service: 2,494.5

Equipment Owner: Southwest Industrial Rigging, Phoenix, Ariz.

Service Area: Southwest

Date of Review: July 31, 2007

 

Southwest Industrial Rigging, Phoenix, Ariz., with more than two decades of experience in the industry, has seen many cranes come into its yard over the years. The company's crane division has operated and maintained cranes ranging from 8-ton industrial cranes to a GMK7550 550-ton hydraulic crane with mega lift attachments that turn it into one of Arizona's largest cranes. Southwest's rough-terrain cranes range from a 35 to 130 tons.

 

Founded in 1985, the full-service company has four divisions — machinery, crane, heavy haul and warehousing — and the diversity and expertise to handle projects from start to finish. With 24/7 on-call service, the company is able to quickly respond to customer needs and unplanned emergencies at all hours. Cranes can be bare leased or operated for projects of any duration, and all of the company's operators are CCO certified and trained in the latest safety requirements.

 

Enlarge Image The Tadano is currently at work on a mine-building application in Arizona.

Southwest Industrial Rigging has purchased cranes from four different manufacturers over the last three years. Of those four, the only crane that was always returned to the yard ready to work was the Tadano TR800-XXL rough-terrain crane. Each of the other cranes had to go into the shop for something, according to Howard Kaplan, safety manager for Southwest Industrial Rigging. Kaplan says that is the main reason behind the company's love for the Tadano machine.

 

Typical applications

The Tadano crane has been in service, on bare rent, since SWIR purchased it in April 2005. The crane has had zero down time, according to Kaplan. At the time of review, the customer was Claudio Cossio of Cementation, a Canadian mine-building company based in North Bay, Ontario, which owns Cementation USA of Superior, Ariz. Cossio has had the machine for more than six months and plans to keep it on bare rent for another year. Cossio spends about two hours a day using the crane to unload and load supplies for the development of a new mine. “Specifically, it will be used to sink a shaft 160 feet vertically and for doing steel modifications 100 feet in the air,” he says.

 

Cossio, a project engineer with three years of crane operating experience, also has another manufacturer's crane on rent, but has a clear favorite. “When asked about the two machines, he asked me to bring another Tadano in place of the [other],” says Kaplan.

 

Kaplan, with more than 15 years of crane-operating experience to draw from, also gives the TR800-XXL positive reviews. “I have never operated a crane that operates as smooth, and feels as stable as the Tadano,” he says.

 

Introduced in late 2002, the TR800-XXL is now known under the GR800-XL-1 series name. This particular machine is equipped with a five-section, 144-foot main boom, a key feature in Tadano's rough-terrain cranes, according to Ron Dogotch, vice president and general manager for Tadano America. The 80-ton capacity crane TR800-XXL was developed for medium to heavy construction, long boom light work and high elevation applications. “We've had huge success, particularly in energy-related markets and petrochemical, because of the long boom,” says Dogotch.

 

Enlarge Image While some buttons in the cab were showing some wear, the interior was reported to be in good condition.

Appearance and service issues

At the time of the review of the machine, with almost 2,500 hours of service under its belt, Kaplan reported that the TR800-XXL is still in great physical condition. From the outside, the paint and decals are still in good condition, and Kaplan reports the tires and service points to be in good condition as well. Inside the cab, the AML buttons were showing some wear. While the arm rests were also showing wear, the operator's seat was still reported as being in good condition. In reviewing the cab controls, Kaplan noticed that a small decal on top of the hoist handles had popped off.

 

A rundown of the basic service points showed no issues at all. Kaplan reported no hydraulic leaks, residual oil or evidence of leaks. No hoses appeared to be showing wear. The boom was in good condition, showing no premature wear, and slide pads were also in good shape. With no issues, large or small, the Tadano has been in service since purchased and has had no down time, according to Kaplan.

 

Operator's impressions

“The machine is very quiet; you can stand next to the crane and talk to the operator without yelling,” says Cossio. He also said the AML is very easy to read and shows all of the information operators need on one screen and it is easy to set up. The only drawback he mentioned was poor visibility when backing up.

 

Another operator, Larry Perrine, a 10-year operator, echoes Cossio's responses regarding the machines sound levels and AML being easy to set up. “The crane is very quick and easy to move around the jobsite,” he says. “The outrigger ALL button is a great operator feature.” His complaints: not enough legroom and the swing lever takes too much stroke to engage.