Tutt Bryant Cranes Reach New Zealand Shores
FEATURING HSC’s SCX1500A-3 CRAWLER CRANE
With the aim of trying to support the growing infrastructure developments in New Zealand, Tutt Bryant Heavy Lift & Shift have joined with NZ Crane Hire to mobilise a brand new 150-tonne crawler crane to Auckland.
The cranes’ first job would be a 4-month project to the carry-out installation of pre-cast panels for the construction of government housing apartments located in Onehunga, 8km south of Auckland.
The SCX1500A-3 crawler crane is HSC’s latest model from their line-up of crawler cranes developed for the international market. Tutt Bryant Equipment being HSC’s dealer & distributor in Australia, had two brand new machines in their Melbourne depot suitable for this task.
With the strict customs guidelines on import equipment to New Zealand, the new machine had to be cleaned and repackaged for shipment to Auckland in December.
TBHL&S dispatched two personnel in January to undertake the assembly of the crane, fitment of the upgrade kits, testing, commissioning of the crane and conducting training on the machine for NZ crane hire personnel. All tasks were carried out successfully without issue over a period of 12 days.
This crane contains four key features to improve operational efficiency and maintain the safe operation of the crane.
Winch Rope Lower Limit Indicator – used to ensure that a minimum of 3 wraps of hoist rope remains on the drum and avoids failure of the rope termination on the drum
Slew Restriction Unit – used to restrict the range of slew to pre-set working zones with the aim to allow for smooth operations when working in space constraint sites
Reduced Counterweight Option – allows the crane to be utilised in 5 different capacity classes by removing counterweight on the upper structure. The LMI senses counterweight and automatically selects the correct Load Capacity Chart to match the fitted counterweight. Configurations – 110t, 120t, 130t, 140t & 150t Capacity Class.
All new Load Moment Indicator with Data Logging capabilities in recording duty cycle and winch hours as well as load moment and line pull. These features will allow TBHL&S to more accurately calculate the available design life remaining on the machine many years from now. This should, in theory, increase the safe operational age of the machine from current methods employed in complying with the new legislation.
Upon completion of the commissioning and training, TBHL&S handed the crane over to NZ cranes hire to disassemble and mobilise to site. Last updates from NZ crane hire was that the crane is working smoothly without any issues.
Let’s hope this shall be the first of many more green hooks and green tips across the skyline in NZ.
