Western Australia’s Humma Cranes, the birthplace of the safest and highest-capacity articulated pick and carry crane ever built, is accelerating its export program as the brand approaches its 30th anniversary.
The Road Crane (RC) project was launched in 1996. At the time, the tractor-based pick and carry (P&C) crane, established by Linmac in the 1960s, had ceased trading in 1994. Despite more than 30 years of development – expanding its capacity from three tonne to 12 tonne– the design failed to keep pace with market demands. By the 1980s, Franna had gained dominance by catering to the evolving needs of the crane hire industry, ultimately becoming the entry point for many of today’s major crane hire businesses.
Construct Engineering, a division of DRA Industries (established in 1971), had just completed a major overseas materials handling project in 1994 and was seeking to redeploy its engineering team amid an industry downturn that forced many engineering companies into closure or liquidation.
Peter Dalla Riva, Operations Director at DRA Industries, saw an opportunity in Linmac’s closure. He recruited key Linmac staff, including those involved in designing the Linmac 18T high-speed road crane – then a direct competitor to Franna’s 15T and 18T models. This move gave Construct Engineering access to decades of design knowledge and operational data on articulated P&C cranes.
The next step was to establish a new design that would address long-standing issues with existing P&C models. An Australia-wide survey identified a range of operational and structural problems. With insights from former Linmac personnel and Construct Engineering’s structural and mechanical teams, the Humma design specification was launched.
Mining, construction, and service sectors required P&C cranes capable of enduring tough site conditions. By 1996, Franna operated the 15T, 18T, and the newly released MAC25 – suitable for both light-duty construction and demanding mine environments. It was clear that P&C design needed to evolve to serve both.
To address this, Humma developed and tested two key design criteria over several years, supported by a dedicated dry hire division. This allowed for field testing, debugging, and performance optimisation before market release.
Now nearing its 30th year, Humma’s ongoing R&D program has delivered several industry-leading innovations. These include:
• Modular build with a standard footprint across models
• Nil-twist chassis with safe articulation up to 42 degrees
• Digital rope compensation
• Dynamic load chart
• Patented auto-leveller
• Safe road travel speeds up to 100 km/h
• Cabin noise below 70 decibels and low vibration
Humma is engineered for dual-purpose performance: capable of highway travel at 100 kilometre/hour with comfort levels comparable to heavy-duty trucks, while remaining structurally robust and efficient in crane mode. The engine’s type, capacity, and gearing are optimised for rapid acceleration in urban environments and low-rev operation on work sites.
The Humma platform has proven itself in performance, safety, and cost-efficiency across the mining and construction sectors. A two-year road trial of the Humma 35 Mk2 refined its performance, particularly in transit. In crane mode, Humma consistently outperformed competitors in lift capacity, cost-efficiency, and reliability – leading to the release of the Humma 35 Mk3. By 2016, the Humma 25 Mk2 (launched in 2006) and Humma 35 Mk3 (launched in 2010) had cemented the company’s reputation. Word spread within the crane hire sector of Humma’s mine-site performance. The Humma 35 quickly became the best-selling model, rated at 49 tonne-metres (TM) in the 42-degree articulation range. This was later surpassed by the Humma 55, with a record-setting 77 TM – the highest in the articulated P&C segment globally.
Having established its credentials, Humma began exporting – initially to gold mines in Papua New Guinea with the Humma 25, followed by Humma 35 units sent to Sudan, Tanzania, and Peru.
Remarkably, this global traction has occurred without a dedicated Humma sales team. All international sales have resulted from referrals – referred to internally as “the unpaid salesman.” Australian mining engineers and supervisors, familiar with Humma’s performance, have introduced the brand to overseas projects.
With a mature product and proven track record, the company is now selectively appointing international agents in key mining regions. Energotec in Peru, a plant supplier to mining sites, and MM Mobile Crane in South Africa – an established crane agent for over 30 years – are among the early partners. Additional agencies are under consideration across Africa and South America.
In a recent meeting, Peter Dalla Riva was asked about the next frontier, now that the Humma 35 Underground Series has passed testing at Olympic Dam in line with BHP underground specifications. His response: “The market is asking for a 40T model with two axles and the footprint of the Humma 55, with 56TM capacity, as well as an electric Humma variant for mine-site work based on the 55T design.”
Having redefined the modern articulated P&C crane, Humma Heavy Lift’s ready to scale its global presence.