At the end of last year, Andrew Whyte joined The Baden Davis Crane Connection. Andrew’s role includes the management of the Crane Connection dry hire fleet and sales of new and used cranes.
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For the last 10 years Andrew had his own crane hire business Andrews Crane Hire, so he knows well the challenges crane hire businesses face.
“I ran my own crane hire business, Andrews Crane Hire, for a decade. We operated a few Frannas, slew cranes and Maedas and we mainly focused on petrochemical work in Sydney. Late last year we decided to close the company down. It seemed like a good time to move the machines on and try something new and I jumped at the opportunity to join Anthony and Ben at The Crane Connection,” said Andrew.
“I have a couple of roles within the business, I am managing the dry hire machines and I’m also working on new and used crane sales for the TIDD, Kobelco and Link-Belt brands. The fleet management is fairly straightforward, I’m overseeing the dry hire machines that come in and out of the yard,” he said.
Andrew goes on to discuss the hands-on experience he brings to the business and what customers can expect to see from him.
“I bring a lot of general crane hire knowledge which I think will help customers with the familiarisation of a crane. There was a bit of a gap here in terms of crane experience. Ben and his team are very mechanically focused with servicing and crane repairs and Anthony does a great job with new and used crane sales. My role and experience fills the gap between the two,” said Andrew.
“Customers will quickly understand that I have been in their shoes in terms of running a crane hire business and operating cranes on a regular basis. My approach to selling will be different, everything can sound perfect on paper, but we all know that isn’t always the reality. My conversations are around the features and benefits of the crane and how these can practically benefit the customer,” he said.
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Working with Anthony on crane sales is going to significantly benefit the customer, says Andrew.
“I’ve worked for and with a number of crane people in the past and if they were to ring and say, “What are your thoughts on this model?” My answers will probably be slightly different to Anthony’s. He will price the crane easier than I can and he’ll have his finger on approximate ETAs. My approach is more likely to cover what does and doesn’t need to be done to the crane so we’ll work together to provide the customer with the best solution we can,” he said.
Although he only been with the Crane Connection for a short time Andrew is pleased with the way things are going.
“Sales on the new machines have been good and we are sending out lots of quotes. I am also busy interacting with customers on the fleet side of the business we’ve had a lot of cranes in and out of the yard which is also been good. Most of the fleet work is with customers that have their cranes in for repairs, servicing or refurbishing and they dry hire a machine whilst that is happening.
“I pretty much work across most elements of the business. I’m a ticketed crane operator and another part of my role I really enjoy is testing the cranes. Once Ben and his team have put a crane through a ten-year inspection or major refurbishment for example, I’ll work with the third party engineer spending the day testing the crane. I also help the team put the cranes together when they arrive in the yard. We did this recently with the Kobelco crawler which went to Borger Crane Hire. It’s always good to get your hands on the tools,” he said.
Andrew is happy to be working with quality brands and quality product.
“It’s a pleasure to be working with brands like Tidd, Kobelco and Link Belt. TRT, the manufacturer of the Tidd pick and carry takes a very innovative approach to the design, engineering and manufacturing of its products and this is reflected in the launch of the new Tidd PC28-3G,” he said.
TRT has constructed the TIDD PC28-3G using the highest quality components, prioritising safety and performance throughout its design and incorporating class-leading features including the Euro 6 Cummins Engine, the highest emission control diesel engine available with significantly more horsepower.
This development has been driven by the new Australian Design Rules (ADR), which take effect on July 1, 2024. The acceptable emissions levels for mobile pick and carry cranes are going to be updated again and will need to be at least Euro 5 compliant. TRT has gone a step further by releasing the PC28-3G crane with a Cummins engine, which is Euro 6 compliant.
The PC28-3G is powered by a 6.7-litre 320 horsepower (238kw) inline six Cummins ISB6.7 engine, certified to the world’s toughest on-highway diesel emission standard, Euro 6, which achieves near-zero emissions. Cummins designs, develops, and supports every component from the air intake to the exhaust after treatment to work as an integrated system – working to optimise every function.
The Cummins ISB6.7 comes equipped with leading-edge technology to provide key operational benefits. This engine delivers exceptional performance, with the reliability and durability expected from Cummins. Whatever your application, the ISB6.7 will provide a low-cost operation and maximum uptime.
With the 18.65m full power boom, a 75 per cent stationary chart for heavy lifts and a 66 per cent pick and carry chart, the TIDD PC28-3G packs a massive punch. Made from high-tensile steel, telescope sections one and two are fully synchronised and provide hook compensation. Telescope sections three and four are independently operated with their own hydraulic cylinder.
With a 28t maximum lift on the lug and 27.6t on the hook block, the TIDD PC28-3G delivers outstanding lifting capacities for improved efficiency and greater lift options, setting a new benchmark in the industry. Moving from the stationary chart to the pick and carry chart is as simple as turning off the hold brake. Operators can now lift more and move more safely without compromise.
Andrew is also happy to be working with the Kobelco product.
“The Kobelco range of crawlers is also proving to be very popular with customers. Most of the customers are pricing a new crane for a project they are working on, and they will base the cost of the crane over the duration of that project. In many instances, customers have been surprised at just how cost effective Kobelcos can be and how quickly we can deliver them.
“When you factor in the performance of the Kobelcos, operator acceptance, transportability, and lifting charts you can see why they are so popular in the industry and why customers continue to invest in the brand,” said Andrew.