In April 2021 Cranecorp and Tutt Bryant formed the Cranecorp Tutt Bryant JV. With a view to providing large projects the combined resource, experience and assets of both organisations, the industry’s response to the development has been quick and positive.
David Power, Business Development Manager at Cranecorp and David Taylor, Business Development Manager at Tutt Bryant Heavy Lift and Shift (TBHLS) provide interesting insights into the JV.
“From Cranecorp’s point of view, we are a reasonably sized company with our fleet of hydraulic all terrain and pick and carry cranes, but we could see that when it came to larger project work, we were left wanting. That’s because larger project work typically requires a combination of cranes with a stronger focus on heavy lift crawler cranes.
“This type of project work can also involve specialised transport and access equipment. By forming the JV, we could combine the strengths and capabilities of both organisations to form a significant provider to a market which has been crying out for an option to the two large players who until now, have been the only options on large projects,” said Power.
“It is a competitive market, and the JV provides Cranecorp with the opportunity to be involved in tendering for these larger projects. In the past our competitors have questioned our capabilities with us not having direct access to heavy lift crawler cranes, SPMTs and access equipment. Well now we do.
“The important point is TBHLS doesn’t have a significant focus on hydraulic all terrain cranes, and pick and carries particularly in Western Australia, which means we generally don’t compete with each other for work,” he said.
David Taylor confirms the advantages as he sees them from the TBHLS perspective.
“As a result of the JV, we have been able to combine our geographical locations which has meant a huge boost to our capabilities. From our perspective, we now have a presence with Cranecorp in the regions where we were not represented and it is the same for Cranecorp in reverse,” he said.
With the JV designed to cater for larger project work, Taylor and Power highlight the JV’s capabilities, the types of projects it is designed to service, and the industry sectors the Cranecorp Tutt Bryant JV is targeting.
“TBHLS is a national operation, and we have the largest fleet of crawler cranes in the country, with capacities ranging from 40t up to 1600t. In terms of fleet, we operate over 200 cranes, and we go from the smaller pick and carry crawler cranes through to the largest crawler crane in the country. In Western Australia we have the largest crawler fleet by a long stretch. Our cranes travel to wherever the work is.
“We also have a full range of access equipment and a full suite of specialised transport including SPTs, SPMTs and 100t floats etc. We also have an engineering team which features eight engineers who are completing all our engineered lift studies,” said Taylor.
“From Cranecorp’s perspective we operate hydraulic cranes ranging from 15t through to 500t capacity and within the next 12 months we will take delivery of a 650t capacity all terrain. We have 40 Frannas in the fleet ranging from 15t to 40t, we also have a fleet of rough terrains. We have over 100 cranes in our fleet,” said Power.
“The initial focus for the JV is WA however given the rapid acceptance by clients and success to date of the JV other states or territories may be considered for future growth over time. Clients have also enquired as to the availability of the JV outside WA and this may underpin the JV for future expansion,” he said.
Taylor and Power explain how the JV works from the customers perspective, the industries they are targeting and the type of project which will suit the JV.
“Dave and I head up our respective Business Development teams and we will work closely together when the right project comes across our desks. The types of projects will include a strong mix of the cranes we have spoken about. We can either bid for a project under the banner of the JV or TBHLS or Cranecorp can bid. If the latter strategy is successful, then we can introduce the JV suggesting to the client there are advantages including no margins on cross hired equipment. There’s single point of contact, there’s a single point for billing purposes and numerous other advantages,” said Taylor.
“We will be focusing on most industry sectors including Defence, Mining, the Renewable Energy sector, Infrastructure and general construction sectors. As we’ve said, the JV is better suited to the larger, long-term projects.
“We are examining the potential with infrastructure projects. With the major focus high levels of spend on this sector from the State and Federal Governments, we have the right range and mix of assets to manage these multi-billion projects.
“We have been tendering for infrastructure projects and we believe we are close to securing a significant contract. If we can get the terms and conditions right, we will manage this project with the JV,” he said.
“We are keen to be involved with major projects in sectors like oil & gas, lithium, urea, hydrogen, iron ore, nickel, gold and renewables. Projects that provide a couple of years work and require a large mix of crane requirements are a key focus for the JV. Another factor is projects located close to our major depots in the Pilbara, Perth, Goldfields, Geraldton and in the South West. These will suit us strategically as we have excellent facilities and resources close to hand.
“There is any amount of mining work and it’s not only iron ore,” said Taylor.
“There are new rare earth projects, lithium plants as well as numerous expansion projects. There are new players entering these markets alongside the large resources players who are talking about starting new mines on top of the mines they are already operating. There is plenty of potential and this doesn’t take into account any large, long terms maintenance opportunities,” he said.
The response to the JV from the market has been very positive says Power.
“Our entry into this market has certainly had a significant impact. We know the incumbent suppliers who have had this space to themselves, have significantly sharpened their pencils on a number of the projects we have been pricing. The market is happy to see another option for these large projects and the competition are certainly aware Cranecorp Tutt Bryant JV means business.
Taylor agrees, the market’s response has been quick and positive.
“The feedback from long term clients I deal with at TBHLS has been extremely positive. They have confirmed that when the next large projects come along, they will be knocking on the door of the JV as we have everything they need,” he said.
Power and Taylor highlight the resources they have at their disposal and how capable the JV will be in terms of managing these large projects.
“When we secure a large project which has a requirement for crawler cranes, transport and access equipment, David Taylor will head up the project with his team of lift engineers and lift planners etc. If the project is more focused on our type of equipment and people, myself and my team will head up the project. It really depends on which side of the JV will operating the largest asset base on the project.
“In the background we will be working on efficiencies which means the project will have access to our combined resource and capabilities, but the client will only have one point of contact with both teams working together to implement what we have said we will do.
“Our logistics teams will be involved, our engineers, the CFOs and CEOs of both organisations, but the client will have one point of contact, either David or myself. The JV is designed to ensure projects operate seamlessly for the client who will receive one invoice for the services provided,” said Power.
Senior management from both Cranecorp and TBHLS sit on the Cranecorp Tutt Bryant JV explains Taylor.
“The JV has the full backing of both organisations and the cultures of both are completely aligned. The JV’s board includes the most senior individuals from both organisations, and they are tremendously supportive which means decisions can be made quickly. From our perspective, it is all positive including the feedback from the market,” he said.