Rigsafe Lifting Solutions is a leading provider of lifting and rigging solutions in Western Australia. Rigsafe recently took delivery of the largest crane in its fleet, a 130t capacity Tadano AC 5.130-1. Rigsafe Lifting Solutions Managing Director Kevin Fitzgerald provides more information about his business and the reasons for the recent purchase.
“I started Rigsafe Lifting Solutions seven and a half years ago mainly because I wanted to do things differently. Generally speaking, I felt the rigging industry employee culture was lacking,” he says. “The enjoyment of building together wasn’t there, my team at Rigsafe is a family and it shows. Our exponential growth and market share is due to our Rigsafe values which attracts and retains the best riggers in Perth. They want respect and recognition for their abilities and that is what Rigsafe gives them.”
Kevin explains how Rigsafe started and how quickly the business has grown. “Starting a rigging company from scratch is not easy, we had a vision to build a business that was focused on customer service and being responsive to their requirements.
“I love rigging and I wanted to look for the work that’s different and exciting. Today, we have over 40 motivated employees and we run 10 cranes in our fleet. Our staff and clients are right behind our brand and the Rigsafe Way of doing business. It makes me proud to see how far we have come and where we are headed,” Kevin says.
“Another big step for the Rigsafe Family is we have achieved our ISO accreditation for Quality, Environment and OH&S Management Systems. Our team’s willingness for constant improvement meant getting our ISO accreditation was a must. Every day at Rigsafe we think about how we can better ourselves for our clients, it’s an attitude that sets us apart,” he says.
“Because the requirements from our customers are quite diverse, we run different types of cranes. We operate three Tadanos in our fleet, we also have a Mac25-4 Franna, we run a range of Maeda mini crawler cranes of varying capacities and we also run a number of Magni telehandlers, including the new RTH with a 25-metre boom.
“We have an extensive mix of cranes and other mobile equipment; all are new and well-kept and that’s what sets us apart from the rest. The pride our staff have for their equipment and the care they take with it is great to see,” Kevin says.
That pride in the equipment goes a long way considering the type of work it needs to perform, as Kevin explains.
“Our main works is the installation of structural steel, facade installation and mechanical rigging,” he says.
“This type of work can include multi story façade installs, large structural steel installations, brewery installs, high bay racking installs – you name it and we are into it. There is always a range of different types of equipment that are needed to be lifted and installed and almost always, the work has extremely low tolerances in terms of space. When the project is complex, it’s always ‘Give Rigsafe a call’ – our experienced team with the most professional riggers in Perth are always there to help our clients,” he says.
That professional team is backed by high-performing professional eqiupment, Kevin adds, like the new Tadano AC 5.130-1.
“We have been operating Tadanos for the last three years and took delivery of the Tadano AC 5.130-1 at the start of the year,” he says.
“We started out with the Tadano GR-200EX City Crane and this has been a terrific piece of equipment for us.
“Our 20t has been flat out, and we don’t really see it in the yard that often, it’s always working. Considering how busy it is, we haven’t experienced any breakdowns and there really hasn’t been an issue with the crane,” Kevin says.
The Tadano 20t City Class Crane is compact with a big reach. Specifically designed for Australian conditions, this bubble crane can make light work of rough terrain and access even the most restricted setup areas with ease with its variobase. The Tadano GR-200EX can work and be mobile with a load on its rubber tyres, making it a very versatile crane. On outriggers it is ideal for unloading trucks, erecting structures and lifting air conditioning units. It is also well suited for set up in driveways of residential properties and can lift spas without a problem. With a telescopic main boom length of 28m and 5m fly extension, the GR 200EX city cranes will meet most project requirements.
“Eighteen months ago we added the 60t capacity Tadano AC60-3 to the fleet and this too has been a terrific crane for us,” Kevin says.
“Tadanos are very good to operate. Our guys have found it quite simple to set up and it helps that they feature the same computer as the AC5.130-1 which is easy to pick up.
“Our operators find the Tadanos a really nice crane to drive and get around in and their charts are excellent,” said Kevin.
The Tadano AC 3.060-1 all terrain crane features a 50m main boom and an automatic counterweight rigging system for quick, easy setup. The AC 3.060- 1 combines compact flexibility, high transportability, and ease-of-use with the world’s longest telescopic boom on a fully roadable, 3-axle all terrain crane. The single cylinder telescoping system reaches 50m with an optional extension increasing that reach to 66m – which outperforms all other cranes in its class.
The automatic counterweight rigging system enables quick and easy setup, even via remote control outside the superstructure cab. Flex Base with stepless outrigger positioning grants outstanding versatility and performance.
The AC 3.060-1 blends Tadano’s noted reliability with efficiency, as everything can be handled by just one person.
Kevin says his newest acquisition, the AC5.120-1 all terrain, has been hard at work in Western Australia.
“With its 130 tonne lifting capacity the new AC 5.130-1 all terrain is easily the largest crane in our fleet,” Kevin says.
“It is already proving to be a terrific acquisition for us and it’s been busy installing air conditioning units, chillers and excelled when installing the 42-metre-long inverted cranes for the largest high bay racking project in Australia.
“Like the other Tadanos, our operators really enjoy driving the crane and they have been really impressed with its charts.
The AC 5.130-1 all terrain is a high-capacity performance crane with five axles. At a total length of 14.45m and a carrier width of 2.75m, it is the most compact crane in its capacity class. The crane’s single engine concept, start-stop function and an intelligent motor management system keeps costs low and reduces maintenance needs. While the AC 5.130-5 starts under the 12t axle load limit, it can still carry 450kg of payload.
The Tadano team has also provided support along the way, Kevin says.
“I’ve known Darryl Reeves for a few years now and he is always spot on with the advice he provides,” he says.
“We also receive excellent product support from the service team who really know their stuff. Not that we have had any major issues, but when there has been a problem, the guys get in quickly and get it fixed.
“All round the Tadano package is impressive. The cranes are state of the art and really reliable and the support we receive from Darryl and the Tadano team is second to none,” Kevin says.