February 2014 | CranesBlog

Safety alert for tower cranes

Following the recent collapse of three luffing jib tower cranes during high winds the UK’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a safety alert relating to tower cranes.

The alert is intended for tower crane operators and serves as a reminder that any luffing jib cranes left unattended in the out of service condition must be in free slew with the jib at a safe out-of-service radius.

It also states that operators must ensure they have the most accurate, up to date information from the supplier or manufacturer, as some manufacturers have recently changed their guidance.

Other actions that are also required include:

– Checking that information provided by the manufacturer/supplier includes the correct minimum out of service radius.

– Checking both after erection and periodically in service, the function of the device that releases the slew brake and places the crane in free slew.

– Checking both after erection and periodically in service, that the condition of the slew drive motors, gearboxes and slew ring bearing has not deteriorated to the extent that the crane is prevented from slewing freely.

– Checking both after erection and periodically in service, the setting and function of any devices that warn the operator that the crane jib has not been left parked at the correct out of service radius and/or the slew brake has not been released.

– Ensuring that operators have been provided with instructions on how the crane should be placed in free slew and the correct radius at which the jib should be positioned when leaving the crane unattended. This should include measures to routinely check that the operators understand and are following the instructions provided.

Iraq orders 7 Tadano truck cranes

The Republic of Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources has taken delivery of seven 55 tonne Tadano GT-550E-2 truck cranes from the company’s distributor United Iraqi Trading Equipment.

Manufactured by Tadano’s Chinese manufacturing joint venture BQ-Tadano, the four axle GT-550 features a five section 42 metre boom plus a 8.8 to 15.2 metres bi-fold swingaway that takes maximum tip height to 56 metres. Capacity on the fully extended main boom is eight tonne and it can handle 500kg at a radius of 38.1 metres.

The cranes have been purchased for various departments within Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources with three being sent to the General Commission for Operation of Irrigation & Drainage, two to the General Commission for Groundwater, one to the State Commission for Dams & Reservoirs and the final one to the Department of General Estuary.

Terex cranes publish poor results for 2013

Terex Cranes has published a poor set of results for 2013, with lower sales and profits.

Total revenue for the year was $1.93 billion over three percent lower than in 2012, while operating income slipped over 35 percent to $110.5 million.

The fourth quarter was even worse, with revenues sliding six percent to $480.4 million and operating income plummeting by more than 52 percent to $25.7 million. The order book at year end did improve a little over the quarter, but ended the year down 22 percent at $501.2 million.

The Material Handling and Port Services division had a poor year, but posted a very strong fourth quarter and ended the year with a strong order book, up almost 40 percent compared to the end of 2012.

The Terex group as a whole saw revenues remain flat, up just over a percent to $7.08 billion, although the fourth quarter saw growth of 12 percent, and pre-tax profits for the 12 months more than doubled to $291.3 million. Net debt at the end of the period was down marginally at $1.95 billion.

Chief executive Ron DeFeo said: “Overall, 2013 was a good year and I am pleased with the improvements and progress underway at Terex. This past year was a tale of two halves, with the second half of the year significantly stronger than the first half. Our performance in the second half was fueled by the continued strength of our Aerial Work Platforms segment and a turnaround in Materials Handling & Port Solutions. Our focus throughout the year on strengthening margins and driving financial efficiency helped deliver a strong close to the year.”

“Operationally, aerial work platforms is continuing to benefit from strong North American rental demand plus a noticeable pickup in Latin America and European performance. Additionally, the Materials Processing segment performance remains solid, delivering double digit operating margin in 2013 despite a relatively soft demand environment. Our Cranes segment failed to realise the growth that we had anticipated entering 2013. While new product launches did provide some growth, markets such as Australia, Europe and Latin America were more challenging than anticipated.”

“During 2013, we made investments and implemented actions to set us on a course toward increased profitability in 2014 and beyond. We enter 2014 with optimism around our businesses and expectations to deliver improved financial results. Much of this optimism stems from our continued focus on internal areas of improvement, such as our capital structure initiatives and business simplification, as well as the year over year benefits anticipated from the restructuring efforts undertaken in 2013.”

“Our 2014 guidance reflects the benefits of internal cost initiatives, capital structure improvements and some anticipated net sales growth. We see some signs of improvement in many parts of the world, although this is tempered with some continued market uncertainty, particularly in developing markets. Overall, we believe that the global economy will be stronger in 2014, but still modest when viewed against historic demand levels.”

The Terex crane business continues to struggle, in spite of the overall market being reasonably good in 2013. It has though made numerous changes over the past 18 months or so, some of which should kick-in during 2014.

Its radical approach to new All Terrain product development is likely to gather more followers as the new models become more familiar and legal road configurations become a more critical issue. It will also see some substantial improvements once demand for big crawler cranes picks up, as it surely will.

Liebherr ships 22 cranes to Africa

South African port terminal operator Transnet Port Terminals has taken delivery of four Liebherr ship to shore cranes and 18 rubber tyred gantry cranes.

The 65 tonne ship to shore cranes offer an outreach of 65 metres, a span of 30.4 metres and a back reach of 19 metres. Designed to handle container vessels of up to 24 rows across, the cranes have a lift height of 41 metres.

The rubber tyred gantry cranes, destined for Tansnet’s terminal in Ngqura, have a one over five configuration and can stack up to seven containers wide. Features include Liebherr’s DGPS auto steering and container location recognition systems, ultrasonic anti-collision systems and an eight-rope reeving anti-sway system. Cameras will also be fitted to monitor the long travel in both directions.

In the last two years Liebherr has delivered nine mobile harbour cranes to Transnet Port Terminals. The ship to shore cranes in this order will bring the total number of Liebherr ship to shore cranes it operates to 31. Liebherr Africa will conclude the order with the assistance of Liebherr Container Cranes in Ireland.

German Klema acquires 5 grove all terrain cranes

German heavy lifting and haulage company Klema has added five Grove All Terrain cranes to its fleet.

The orders, placed last year, consists of an 80 tonne GMK4080-1, two 100 tonne GMK4100Ls, a 100 tonne GMK5095 and one of the company’s latest 400 tonne GMK6400. Grove said the order for the GMK4080-1 was its most memorable purchase to date due to the fact it was agreed and signed for at a dinner meeting using a beer mat.

Klema chief executive Wolfgang Klenner said: “During a recent dinner meeting it became clear that the GMK4080-1 would be ideal for our expanding fleet – so we decided on it right there and then. We have found the perfect partner in Manitowoc that allows us to be flexible and do real business with friends. The company reacts to our suggestions and consistently meets our requirements, giving our business the flexibility to grow.”

Klaus Kroeppel, Manitowoc vice president sales central and eastern Europe, added:

“This transaction may have taken place on a beer mat, but it symbolises the mutual trust we share with our customers.”

Established in 1965, Klema started its business with a six tonne truck crane. It has gradually expanded its offering and currently has a fleet of cranes ranging from 30 to 500 tonnes. The company also provides its services in access rental, heavy transportation, industrial assembly and planning services.

Sao Paulo stadium collapse statement manufacturer Liebherr

Liebherr has this morning issued a statement on the incident at the end of November at the Itaquerao Stadium in São Paulo, in which a 1,350 tonne capacity LR 11350 crawler crane collapsed killing two site workers.

The statement says that all investigations conducted to date by Liebherr – including those at the accident site – have shown that the LR 11350 crane had no technical defects. It concludes that the ground was unsuitable and unable to carry the weight of the crane and the suspended load.

Because of this the crane sank and the excessive inclined angle caused a massive overloading of the crane and the complete collapse. Liebherr says that an independent, internationally acknowledged crane expert has also come to the same conclusions.

The company says the cause of the accident can be confirmed by subsequent static-load calculations and it assumes that all the reports currently being prepared about the accident will reach a similar conclusion. Analysis of the data logger by Liebherr has shown that it had not been recording data since November 2012 although it points out that the data logger cannot influence the crane functions.

In conclusion it says: “Liebherr is extremely saddened by this tragic accident and the two fatalities, and expresses its deep sympathy to their families. As the crane manufacturer Liebherr continues to do everything in its power to help bring the accident investigation to a speedy and logical conclusion and expects the parties directly involved in the accident to do the same. Liebherr will also continue to cooperate closely with the Brazilian authorities.”