The Baden Davis Crane Connection recently delivered a refurbished Liebherr LTM 1055-3.2 2013 model for Bauer Cranes. Recipient Neil Bauer discusses his newly created business, the experience within this team and what Ballina and the surrounds in northern New South Wales can expect to see from his business.
Neil Bauer has been in the crane industry for 20 years and spending the bulk of this time working in the Universal Cranes organisation.
“My mother, brother and I worked for Universal Cranes in Brisbane for a number of years and left when the opportunity arose to purchase Strong Cranes, a small crane business based here in Ballina. We took a 51 per cent stake in the business and Universal Cranes 49 per cent – together we created Universal Cranes Ballina.
“We operated that business for the best part of 19 years until a year ago when Mum decided it was a good time for her to focus on other things in life and Universal Cranes bought our stake in the business. Then just recently, Universal sold the Ballina business to Wicks and Parker Pty Ltd and I saw an opportunity to launch my own business, Bauer Cranes.”
Bauer Cranes has started off small.
“There are five of us in the team, which includes my son Jack and Jesse Hartley who has come over from Universal,” Neil said. “We’ve been running around now for a little bit with just a small capacity Franna, a Maeda 285 spider crane, and now the 55t Liebherr. Bauer Cranes is going to be a nice little family-based business looking after everyone who needs a lift. With the fleet, we’ve gone with good quality used cranes, the Maeda for example is a 2019 model and it only has 400 hours on it.
“We are actually operating from the yard that Universal Cranes first worked from. With the cranes we have, we’ll be focusing on the boating industry, lifting boats in an out of the water and lifting pontoons. In the housing sector we’ll be focusing on lifting trusses and in the commercial and industrial construction areas we will pick up the odd bit of tilt-up panel work. We are offering a flexible and personable service you would expect from a small business.”
Neil discusses his relationship with Anthony Davis and the Baden Davis Crane Connection and how the sale of the Liebherr came about.
“I didn’t know Anthony until the sales process began, and I only really got to meet him the other week in his yard; he’s just been first class to deal with. I can’t pump up his tyres enough. I have never dealt with anyone who works as effortless as he does, nothing is a drama.
“Initially, he had a different crane for sale, a 60t capacity all terrain, but I didn’t want to outlay that level of investment and he said, ‘Well leave it with me, I’ll come back to you when I’ve found you another option,’ and he did. He came back with the Liebherr LTM 1055-3.2 2013 model saying it was available if I was interested. I flew down and caught up with him. It turns out I knew the whole background to the crane too, because I know the previous owner.”
The Liebherr LTM 1055-3.2 is a compact 3-axle all-terrain featuring a lifting capacity of 55 tonne and 40 metres of main boom. Its small footprint and fast setup make it ideal for construction sites with tight tolerances.
The LTM 1055-3.2 is equipped with advanced safety systems and with a total hoist height of up to 56 metres when using extensions.
The Crane Connection has refurbished elements of the crane and also repainted it, in-house.
“They have managed a number of leaks, air leaks mainly and things like that, they’ve had the boom off and they’ve also installed a new Telescopic Ram,” said Neil.
“They’ve completely repainted the crane and, quite honestly, it looks brand new. The crane will be ideal for lifting building frames and trusses, installing air conditioning units, boats and cabins and that’s the bulk of what we’re doing around here. I know it is going to be a well-utilised asset.”