Ainscough enters heavy lift crawler crane sector

The UK's largest crane rental company, Ainscough Crane Hire Ltd, is entering the heavy lift crawler crane sector in a big way.

Bucking the trend of desperate conditions in the world economy, Ainscough has placed a large order for lattice boom crawlers.

Six heavy lift lattice boom crawler cranes between 500 and 1,250 tonnes lifting capacity will be added to the heavy lift division. They have been ordered from Terex Demag and Liebherr in Germany. The order for Terex Demag includes two 500 tonne capacity CC 2500 models, a pair of 600 tonne capacity CC 2800-1 units and a 1,250 tonne capacity CC 6800. From Liebherr will be a 600 tonne capacity LR 1600/2.

"We feel that the demand for heavy crawler cranes is really taking off, particularly in light of the demand from the energy sector - wind farms, power stations and the major related infrastructure projects. We think it is under-served at the moment and the response we have had has been very good. We are just going to fill a gap created by the extra demand for these cranes. We have got a very full order book already for these cranes," explained Neil Partridge, Ainscough chief executive.

At the time of writing in late April, the first unit, one of the two CC 2500s, was being commissioned prior to starting on its first job, for nine months, in London in the first week of May. The first of the CC 2800-1s will arrive at the end of May and the CC 6800 will be delivered in March 2010. The Liebherr will be delivered before the end of 2009.

"It is the beginning of what will be an increasing activity in heavy crawler cranes," Partridge said.

Ainscough is known for its fleet of wheeled mobile telescopic all terrain and truck cranes. Its heavy lift division has a fleet of heavy lift wheeled mobile telescopic cranes from Liebherr and Terex Demag ranging from a 300 to 1,000 tonnes capacity.