Yilkari Cranes is a 100 per cent Indigenous owned company that operates in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia. With more than 50 years of combined crane industry experience, directors Jardine Pitt and Bill Coffin and their crews, bring a unique blend of cultural heritage and industry expertise to every project they undertake.
Having operated a Terex Franna MAC25 for some time, the business recently went a step further acquiring a next generation Franna AT40-2.
“Business partner Bill Coffin and myself have spent most of our working lives in the cranes and lifting industry across the Pilbara. Bill is from the Palyku country and I’m from the Torres Strait, and we both saw opportunities to build a business and create something a little bit different compared to other crane companies by opening up opportunities for sustainable platforms for our communities,” said Jardine.
Yilkari Cranes provides crane hire, rigging and lifting support across mining, port and infrastructure sectors through its alliance with Norwest Crane Hire.
“We can scale from 25 tonne right through to 650 tonne capacity cranes, supporting both maintenance and major project scopes, alongside our own fleet which now includes the Terex Franna AT40-2. While we’re still a growing business, our alliance with Norwest gives us access to significant fleet depth and exposure across the Pilbara. The relationship works well for both parties and allows us to deliver scalable solutions across a range of operations,” said Jardine.
Jardine and Bill are hands-on with the business.
“We prefer to stay close to the work and remain heavily involved throughout the entire process, from planning through to execution and delivery. Our focus is always on providing solutions that align with Tier 1 operational requirements across the Pilbara,” said Jardine. “Clear communication with our crews and delivering a high standard of service remains a key focus for the business.”
Jardine is impressed with the new Terex Franna AT40-2
“We have two Frannas in the business with the AT40-2 being the latest addition. Our first is a MAC25 and that’s currently on a long-term dry hire contract. It’s been a well utilised asset since we’ve had it. We took delivery of the AT40-2 at the back end of last year and it’s proving to be a versatile crane.
“At 40 tonne capacity, it fills the gap above the MAC25 while avoiding the need to mobilise a slew crane. That gives us greater flexibility and efficiency across Pilbara operations, where this class of crane sees consistent demand. It’s already well utilised across both mine and port environments, particularly within maintenance and shutdown scopes. From a business perspective, it’s been a strong investment and forms a key step in building out our owned fleet capability.”
The support from Terex Franna has been excellent said Jardine.
“The whole Franna team has been excellent to deal with. Whether it’s parts support, technical advice, or simply discussing ideas, they’ve always been available and willing to help. Robin and Paige from the sales team, along with Rodney, the parts department, and the wider service team, have all been extremely supportive whenever we’ve needed assistance. Their focus on after-sales support and service really stands out, and that level of support isn’t something you see every day,” he said.
Yilkari Crane’s operators have been impressed with the safety features of the AT40-2, particularly the 360 degree view provided by the onboard camera system.
“It eliminates blind spots and the operator can see exactly what is happening around the crane,” said Jardine.
“Our crew operate a lot of slew cranes, and you don’t see this kind of technology on them. It certainly enhances the safety of the crane, and it is great to see Terex Franna leading the way by moving into this type of technology.
“Another great feature is the Safety Radar. Again, it’s new technology and the crews are still getting used to its pre-emptive nature, but it’s another safety measure which we obviously welcome. The technology Terex Franna has introduced provides another layer of support for operators and helps remove some of the guess work.
“We’re still building our presence in the Pilbara, and it’s a competitive space. Our focus has been on working with clients who value a more hands-on, tailored approach. It’s about proving what we can do, building relationships, and delivering consistently.”
Jardine said that once that foundation is in place, the company can create real opportunities locally.
“We’re at the early stages of that journey, and the addition of the Terex Franna AT40-2 has played a key role in establishing our capability,” he said.
“It’s enabled us to support a broader range of work while progressing our long-term goal of driving local participation and sustainable growth. Longer term, we want to keep growing the business in a way that supports local communities, working alongside other contractors, and creating opportunities for our people.”
