Anderson expands crane rental fleet with two new CKE900G-3s

Following delivery of the first 100-tonne capacity CKE900G-3 in March this year, UK firm Anderson Crawler Crane Hire has taken delivery of its second new Stage V/Tier 5 compliant CKE900G-3, taking the number of G models in its rental fleet to three.

Having bought its first Kobelco in 2014 – a used, 80 tonne capacity CKE800 ­– the company has been steadily expanding its fleet with new cranes to comply with the latest environmental regulations and the demand from contractors for the latest models.

“Our previous secondhand Kobelco’s have proven to be remarkably reliable but now the lifting industry must meet the challenge of low emission requirements for the environment and the continued focus on the operator’s health, safety and well-being,” explained Anderson Crawler Crane Hire’s managing director, Martyn Anderson. “To meet that challenge, after 36 years of purchasing older second-hand crawler cranes refurbished to Anderson’s high standards for hire to the Major Contractor’s Group, we are now investing heavily in the new, Stage V/Tier 5 compliant, 100 tonne capacity Kobelco CKE900G-3 crawlers.”

Besides a new Stage V/Tier 5 compliant engine as standard, Anderson’s new CKE900G-3 lattice boom crawler was supplied with 54.9mt main boom, rooster, 15.3mt fly, aircraft warning light and green handrails for easy identification and increased operator safety. When rigged on a 42.7 metre main boom and 15.3 m fly jib with a 30 degree off-set, it gives the CKE900G-3 the ability to lift over structures where the main boom cannot reach, with the ability to lift 2.4 tonnes at a radius of 48 m.

“The CKE900G-3 is also the largest capacity crawler crane that will fit on a low-loader without removing the tracks or ballast for most haulage routes in the UK,” Martyn Anderson added, “while two main boom inserts can also fit side by side on the jib lorry, so reducing the number of lorries needed, making transport cost effective.”

Following delivery to Anderson’s yard in Flaxton, near York, where the CKE900G-3 was assembled and tested under the supervision of Kobelco’s engineering team and then put through its paces with a series of test lifts overseen by Kobelco senior service engineer Sam Clarke, the new machine was sent to its first job.

“Our first new CKE900G-3 went straight to work in the north west as soon as the testing was complete,” said Martyn Anderson, “and following assembly and testing, the second CKE900G-3 will go straight to a new three-month contract this week where it will be working in the north east for a major civils contractor performing typical lifting duties, including lifting re-bar, shutters and concrete with a three metre skip.”

Besides the CKE900G-3’s environmental credentials and lifting abilities, Martyn Anderson said he has also been impressed with Kobelco’s engineering and aftersales service. “Combined with the highly skilled and professional technical support we’ve received from Mark Evans and the team, the Kobelco CKE900G-3 is equipped to impress the hirer and fulfil the high expectations and requirements of the civils sector. Kobelco ticks all the boxes for us and our clients!”