Arabian Crane Services (ACS), the sole distributor for Grove cranes in Oman since 1999, has recently supplied three new Grove rough terrain cranes to Consolidated Contractors Company.
The new cranes, which belong to the latest E-series RT models, are equipped with Grove Megaform boom technology, load-moment indicators and work area definition systems, making it the best in its class, says a spokesman for Manitowoc Crane Group. The cranes also come with four-mode steering for precise close-quarter positioning.
Grove RTs are ideal for use in the rigorous and demanding conditions of the oil industry, making them the preferred choice for contractors and oilfield operators throughout the Middle East, says the spokesman.
One of the strengths of ACS that augurs well for a strong partnership between the two companies is the ability of the firm to offer facilities and expertise to clients locally, allowing them to choose the model of crane that is ideally suited for a project, right from the pre-planning stage.
This extends from the building of refineries and chemical plants, to roads, and even the construction of palaces.
ACS’s 10-member staff, extensive workshop facilities and a spare parts warehouse on its 3,000 sq m site, allows it to provide both well-qualified field-service support for customers, as well as the full refurbishment of used crane, says managing director Abdel Ghani Athmani.
“This is very important to the success of our business, because the combination of sand and oil in the region, can wear the cranes very quickly. It is equally important to have knowledgeable and well-equipped crane repair experts. We can completely dismantle a crane, and restore it to brand-new condition,” says Athmani.
In the past year, ACS has supplied several new and refurbished Grove rough terrain and multi-axle all terrain cranes, right up to the biggest, an eight-axle 350-tonne machine.
New models
Grove, which was acquired by the Manitowoc Crane Group in 2002, recently launched the GMK3055 – a new 55-tonne three-axle addition to its GMK range.
The new model features an all-new compact 8.68-m-long chassis, with upgraded driveline, including a Mercedes OM501LA, 350 hp engine conforming to full Euromot standards and a ZF automatic transmission, says a spokesman for Grove.
“But most importantly, it has a new 43-m Megaforum, U-shaped boom, complete with the Grove Twinlock single-cylinder, electronically-controlled pinning and extension system. As well as providing a 55-tonne maximum lift capacity, the new six-section main boom has a 46 m maximum tip height, making it the longest boom on the shortest carrier in the 50 to 60-tonne class. There are also a range of optional manual and hydraulic-luffing swing-away jib extensions,” he says.
One of the major features of the new model is that even when equipped with the optional 15 m hydraulic swing-away jib, the 7.6-tonne counterweight, hookblock, and in 6 by 6 by 6 drive configuration with 16 tyres, it falls within the European 12-tonne-per-axle limit, he says.
The model is seen as a welcome addition to the popular GMK3050 series of which more than 800 machines have already been sold in the eight years since its launch. The new machine retains the same legendary three-axle compactness and manoeuvrability, but offers the option of an enhanced performance package for those customers requiring advanced operating features and the advantage of an additional five-metre reach, he adds.
Grove, a leading manufacturer of mobile hydraulic cranes, truck-mounted cranes and aerial work platforms for the global market, is headquartered at Pennsylvania, which is also the largest manufacturing site for the Grove Crane and Grove Manlift business units. Internationally, Grove’s major operations are located in Wilhelmshaven, Germany and Tonneins, France.
The Manitowoc Company is a leading producer of lattice-boom cranes, tower cranes, boom trucks, and related products for the construction industry.
