Empire Equipment Hire has been hiring cranes for a number of years. Managing Director, Robert Smith explains how the business first got into crane hire and how the fleet looks today.
“Some years ago, we traded in a couple of cranes at what turned out to be very high prices. I was faced with a choice – selling them and making a loss or invest in refurbishing and putting them out for hire. I chose the latter,” said Rob.
“Those cranes went out for hire, and I basically didn’t see them again for years. Then we started getting calls from crane hire companies asking if we have a spare Franna they could hire for two months; all of a sudden, a gap appeared in the market for short-term hire.
“Our cranes do not feature overt Empire Equipment Hire signwriting because we don’t service clients of our clients, we don’t want them ringing us, we only hire to crane hire companies and we only offer our cranes for dry hire.”
Empire Equipment Hire also offers customers cranes when theirs are off the road being repaired or in workshops for major inspections.
“The concept is, you can hire a crane while yours is being repaired or undergoing its major inspection, for example. The idea of losing an asset while still employing your operator and not being able to service your client base while your crane is down, is a blow to any business,” said Rob. “If you speak to Empire Equipment Hire these scenarios just vanish. We probably have a crane that suits your requirements and it will be business as usual for your customer base.”
Rob and his Empire Equipment Hire team are also assisting growing crane hire companies.
“We have been working with crane hire companies that are almost nearly ready to expand with that next crane. We tell them, ‘don’t buy it, rent one until you have built sufficient income and obtained that extra operator and once those foundations are in place, order the crane and return ours’,” he said.
Empire Equipment Hire’s fleet includes a number of TIDD pick and carry cranes. For some customers, this is a new and different brand of pick and carry.
“If you’re considering hiring a pick and carry crane, the TIDD PC28 is a great alternative. And if you’re a little unsure as you only run Frannas, rent one for three months and try it for yourself,” said Rob. “The local TIDD dealer will even come out and complete the familiarisation program on the unit free of charge.”
Rob goes on to discuss the cranes in Empire Equipment Hire’s fleet.
Owned cranes range from:
- 1 x 5t mini crawler which is due first quarter 2025
- 1 x 8t mini crawler also due first quarter 2025.
- 5 x 6t R6000 mini pick and carry cranes
- 6 x 20t Frannas which are Major Inspected and repainted in Terex colours
- 5 x PC28-2s all fully upgraded.
- Scheuerle SPMT 174.8.4
Empire Equipment Hire also manages on behalf of some customers the hire function of their cranes, and these range from:
- 20t Franna
- 70t rough terrain
- 220t all terrain
- 180t crawler crane
- 2x 300t crawler cranes.
“All our cranes are fully compliant and subject to an annual CraneSafe,” said Rob. “Our PC28’s have undergone the 700 bar cylinder upgrade, upgraded software to provide OEM improved charts. All our cranes are priced to ensure that after paying a weekly rental customers can still earn a good living. They are all priced to make an accountant smile.”