Tutt Bryant Heavy Lift & Shift (TBHLS) recently delivered a new 150t SCX1500A-3 crawler crane to NZ Crane Hire, Auckland’s longest standing mobile crane hire business.
The New Zealand construction sector is facing the prospect of managing a pipeline of infrastructure projects worth an estimated $129 billion over the next decade.
According to Will Dobson, Business and Commercial Manager for NZ Crane Hire, the addition of the SCX1500A-3 to the fleet will help cater to increased demands from its customers.
“We’re recognised as a mobile crane hire company and we hire mobile cranes, and up until now, we have mainly worked in the taxi crane industry so a lot of short duration work. We have 17 mobiles ranging from 13t up to 450t including Terex, Groves, Liebherr and Kato.
“But, with delivery of the SCX1500A-3 crawler crane, through our alliance with Tutt Bryant, we’re now able to service commercial construction sites, which require cranes for work over longer periods. Initially, this crane will be erecting precast panels, lifting structural steel and steel reinforcing, as well as precast flooring,” said Dobson.
“Our main focus is providing a comprehensive service to our customers so this crane is basically supplementing the mobile cranes, mobilising and demobilising them, as well as conducting the extra work on the sites.
“This is the first crawler crane in the fleet and it has been performing brilliantly. It’s a brand new crane once it was commissioned, it had no problems what so ever and it’s perfect for the job,” he said.
The SCX1500A-3 crawler crane is Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Cranes (HSC’s) latest model in the crawler crane line-up and has been developed for the international markets. Tutt Bryant Equipment is HSC’s dealer and distributor in Australia.
The new model contains numerous features designed to increase crane performance while ensuring the safety of the operator and those working in close proximity to the crane.
Both the boom foot width and boom width, as well as the bracing strength, have been increased to improve the strength of the boom itself. This helps to deliver advanced stability during work, to reduce side deflection and twisting throughout the front of the crane, and to make positioning loads quicker. A mast system has been included to improve operating response.
The power of the 12 t-rated line pull winch has been increased by eight per cent to increase scope for lifting heavy loads with line-speed 45m/min, and provide better capability for simultaneous movements. Combined with a new brake that offers better operating feel, the crane delivers outstanding workability.
The hydraulic system uses HSC’s combined hydraulic circuit. By increasing and optimising the pump pressure through the use of a mixed circuit to control the hydraulic oil from two hydraulic pumps, this enhances operability when travelling, hoisting/lowering, swing and boom hoisting. Even for complex operations, the latest hydraulic control system is able to support all tasks efficiently through priority control matching requirements.
Fine speed control dials for operations such as hoisting, lowering, swinging and boom hoisting are positioned in a central location on the left side console. Operations can be adjusted at will to suit the particular job.
Switches for swing free/swing brake when the control lever is in the neutral position have been installed. When the swing lever is in the neutral position, the operator can choose between free or brake depending on the work and personal preferences.
The new design allows for efficient transportation, assembly and disassembly, which combine to improve efficiencies on any work site.
The mast system allows the entire mast to be lowered with the upper spreader structure improving pendant joint work and the boom assembly process. Other features, such as similarly shaped counter weight, also make assembly and disassembly processes easier.
The SCX1500A-3 also features a simple and easy-to-view interface designed to ensure information is provided to the operator in the most reliable way possible. Various accident prevention measures and multiple redundant safety devices have also
been included.
A large screen provides excellent visibility and field of view of any job. A host of items can be shown, while a simple display layout ensures information is properly provided to the operator. The display has also been designed with an interactive interface to follow any movement of the crane from a safety perspective.
Other safety features include a Winch Rope Lower Limit Indicator, used to ensure that a minimum of three wraps of hoist rope remains on the drum and avoids failure of the rope termination on the drum.
A Slew Restriction Unit is used to restrict the range of slew to pre-set working zones with the aim of allowing smooth operations when working within tight site constraints sites
A Reduced Counterweight Option allows the crane to be utilised in five different capacity classes by removing counterweight on the upper structure. The LMI senses counterweight and automatically selects the correct Load Capacity Chart to match the fitted counterweight. Configurations
include 110t, 120t, 130t, 140t and 150t capacity class.
The all-new Load Moment Indicator with data logging capabilities records duty cycle and winch hours, as well as load moment and line pull. These features will allow TBHLS to more accurately calculate the available design life remaining on the machine many years from now. This should, in theory, increase the safe operational age of the machine from current methods employed in complying with new legislation.
The crawler crane is powered by an engine that is equivalent to EU stage III A and US Tier 3 emissions regulations. A major reduction in exhaust gas emissions and a reduction in fuel consumption help to decrease CO2 emissions. The new engine and power train have been engineered to be even more environmentally friendly.