The three-axle GMK3060 crane is rated at 60 tonnes capacity and replaces the 55-tonne GMK3055 in the Manitowoc Grove line up, which Ellis also has in its fleet of nine mobile cranes.
Ellis Crane Hire has also bought a Grove GMK4080-1 as part of the two-crane deal. This is a four-axle machine rated at 80 tonnes capacity with a 51-metre boom.
Talking about the new 60-tonner, Ellis Crane Hire owner Simon Ellis said: “Demand for three-axle cranes has steadily increased over the last ten years, so capturing a greater portion of this key market was never a doubt for us in our decision to expand. We studied similar machines from other manufacturers, but concluded that the GMK3055 had proven to be such a strong and reliable crane, it was the right decision to add another three-axle all-terrain Grove crane to our growing fleet.”
First job for the new crane was lifting a 4-tonne purpose-built special needs pod into the back of a home extension in Gloucester (pictured below). The crane was required to operate in a tight, 5-metre roadway in a residential area. Ellis Crane Hire used heavy timber mats for the 6.2m-wide outrigger spread to reduce pressure on the paved area. The final part of the lift at the back of the house had to be conducted ‘blind’ via radio-communicated instructions.
“Being able to rig and operate in fairly restricted areas helps to solve many of our customers’ lifting requirements,” Simon Ellis said.
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