Luke Davis joined Ronco, the Western Australia, South Australia and Northern Territory dealer for XCMG Cranes, in August. Mark Turner has been with the organisation for a number of years. Both provide insights into the Ronco organisation.
Luke’s perspective
Luke’s first few weeks have been an eye-opening experience. “Coming into the role, I was curious to see how the XCMG product would stack up in a competitive crane market. Now, four weeks in, I can confidently say I’ve been pleasantly surprised – especially by the build quality, technology, and thoughtful design across the crane range,” he said.
XCMG’s crane line-up is impressively broad, covering all-terrains, crawlers, tele-crawlers, rough terrains, and truck mount cranes, with lifting capacities ranging from 30 tonnes all the way up to a massive 4000 tonnes. This versatility means there’s a solution to meet almost any lifting requirement, from urban construction projects to large-scale industrial applications.
One of the standout features is the 360-degree bird’s eye camera system on the all-terrain models, complete with pedestrian identification. It works seamlessly and adds a valuable layer of safety that operators genuinely appreciate on busy worksites. The operating system itself is another highlight – intuitive and easy to navigate, with a large, crisp screen that displays all key functions clearly and efficiently.
From a mechanical standpoint, XCMG’s use of trusted European components – engines, pumps, and running gear – ensures that servicing and maintenance are straightforward and familiar for technicians. This clever integration of quality parts makes the learning curve smoother and supports long-term reliability in the field.
Another significant benefit is peace of mind – every crane in the XCMG range comes backed by a standard two-year manufacturer’s warranty. That commitment to aftersales support speaks volumes about the company’s confidence in its product and provides added assurance to owners and operators.
“Operationally, the cranes deliver on all fronts. They’re smooth, quiet, and comfortable – three things you want to hear from any operator. The all-terrain carrier cabs are well laid out, offering plenty of space and comfort. The driver’s area is bright, modern, and functional, with a digital dash and entertainment system right where you need them.
“When it comes to delivery timelines, XCMG offers excellent lead times compared to industry standards. For new crane orders under 300 tonnes, there is a standard 60-day ex-works build time, while cranes over 300 tonnes are typically completed within 90 days ex-works. At Ronco, we work closely with customers to ensure these timelines are met and that our clients are waiting as little time as possible for their new assets,” Luke said.
“In short, XCMG has built a product that punches well above its weight, combining smart engineering, user-friendly tech, and premium components. I’m genuinely excited about what lies ahead here at Ronco, and even more so about helping introduce more people to this impressive range of cranes that are priced to make your accountant smile.”
Mark’s perspective
Ronco’s 14,000 square metre facility in Maddington, Western Australia is ideal for the maintenance of all sizes of cranes.
“Currently we have three crawler cranes assembled and stood up (with a fourth on the way in) three roughies, three scrap handlers, a tele crawler, two all terrains, a spider crane, a skip bin trailer, and roughly a dozen pick and carry cranes in the yard,” said Mark.
While Ronco has been in operation for nearly 30 years, Major Inspections have only been a large part of the business for the past 15 years. Recently we carried out a review and realised that over the past 12 years more than 220 had been completed for this period. Ronco has also received five Gold data plates from the Cranes Industry Council of Australia (CICA) for major inspections.
“It has been an interesting challenge for the team with all brands and types of cranes undergoing the Major Inspection process. While the variety of cranes we work on can, in itself, be a challenge, the team is always eager to learn a new product and help support our customers by turning their equipment around as efficiently as we can.
“As an example, we have in a Tadano RT, a Yardboss carry deck, a Ronco pick and carry, and a Tadano VLC all in for major inspections, plus three lattice boom sections in for lacing replacements, as well as the usual variety of repairs, servicing and maintenance.
“As we complete almost all repairs in-house, including structural repairs to booms and most cylinder rebuilds, it has allowed our team to learn and transfer new skillsets as we carry out these critical repairs under the guidance of an engineers repair plan.
“Dent repairs to telescopic booms are always an interesting process for the uninitiated. With our supervising engineer being Perth based it is quite convenient for him to visit on a regular basis to review our teams findings and discuss repair options,” said Mark.
“We also work closely with our painter to make sure cranes are painted correctly and not sandblasted in sensitive areas, it’s always pleasing when a client has the time and budget to refinish their crane so it can return to work looking like new.”
Ronco’s field service techs enjoy getting out of the workshop and out into the north west and goldfields areas for mobile servicing and repairs.
“While we are the Western Australia dealer for XCMG and TIDD cranes, we are also the Australian dealer for Scheuerle heavy transport products and look forward to catching up with these specialised units wherever we can in the country.
“These hard-working units need regular check overs to ensure they are ready for that next big lift, no one wants a blown hose when you have a submarine as the load! Our service team travels Australia-wide with recent visits to both Brisbane and Sydney to support clients in need, as well as trips through out Western Australia.
“Through our parts department we also supply steel outrigger pads and UHMWPE planks, as well as the revolutionary GoUpSafely safety device designed to protect your team and assets from powerline strikes.”
For further information on products and services contact 1800CRANES or ronco@ronco.com.au