An open list of the world's fleets

In recent years we've worked to improve the level of detail we include in Fleet File. We've added and reorganised some sections, so that they better refl ect a fl eet's capabilities.

The biggest change was made in 2016, in how we treat tower cranes. Previously, these were classifi ed by design type, so we had sections for self erectors, top slewing towers and truck mounted tower cranes. I think that was misleading in two main ways. First of all, the biggest category, top slewing towers, covers a very large range of possible applications. Secondly, the truck mounted tower crane section doesn't really fi t with tower cranes at all.

We've improved this section in two ways. We've scrapped the design type categorisation, replacing it with a classifi cation by capacity, as used in the other sections. While nominal maximum capacity on tower cranes is even less accurate a measure than it is on mobile cranes, I think this gets us a lot closer to showing if a fl eet is aimed at, for example, general housebuilding or at lifting heavy modules for pre-fab concrete construction.

We've also moved truck mounted tower cranes out of the tower crane section altogether. These cranes aren't generally sold or used in competition with tower cranes on long term projects. Instead, with their one-button erection and highly optimised carriers, they are aimed at taking on telescopic all terrains and other truck cranes.

We'd also identified problems with our crawler crane section. Here, we implicitly asked for details of every crane mounted on crawler tracks. That, again, doesn't accurately reflect how these different cranes are used. Small telecrawlers are aimed at the same jobs as wheeled rough terrain telescopic cranes. Larger telecrawlers, over 600t, on the other hand, do still compete with large lattice boom crawlers on wind farms. So, in the new form, we asked owners of smaller telecrawers to include them alongside rough terrains, and owners of larger telecrawlers to include them with crawler cranes.

Another way in which the crawler crane section has been confusing is in previously counting mini-cranes with crawlers. These really have very little at all in common with a lattice boom crawler, beyond having tracks. They're generally designed to be used indoors, often working on jobs like glazing. Some users have found ways to use them alongside tower cranes, lifting materials up to high rise buildings.

In the past, we'd included these cranes with crawlers. Now, we have a new ranking for compact cranes, categorised to make space for both these minicranes, and small pick and carry cranes.

We received a good response this year, although not as many companies as last year. Where we have repeated entries, these are marked with a star.

Welex - On firm ground
Welex, established in the 1920s, takes its name from the name of the owner at the time, Westerhout, and the place where the company is situated, Lexmond. It started selling railway sleepers and dragline mats, and now trades crane mats internationally.

Sarilar - Beyond transport
Turkish company Sarilar has its roots in transporting heavy loads but now it is a leader not only in transport, but in heavy lifting and assembling too.

NFT - Specialised in tower cranes
Award winning and resilient to economic changes, NFT has come a long way since its establishment in the 1980s. Starting out as the first supplier of tower cranes in the GCC region, it has now become Potain’s number one dealer in the world and the world’s number one tower crane supplier in terms of lifting capacity.

Mammoet - Time is money
Mammoet is a global market leader in engineered heavy lifting and transport. However, it says the biggest thing it moves is time because their services help improve efficiency of construction and maintenance projects.

Lampson - Three generations of giants
Lampson International is a third generation family owned and operated heavy lift and heavy haul construction corporation. Started in 1946 by Neil and Billie Jane Lampson, this once small crane and drayage company grew to be one of the largest and most well respected heavy lift companies in the world. Kate Lampson explains the history of the company, and its current offering.

Integrated Logistics - Leading across the Middle East
Integrated Logistics, established in Kuwait in the year 2005, offers a total logistic solution for lifting and haulage for heavy or oversized cargoes, and rental and leasing of cranes. The company summarises its offering.

Fagioli - Integrated service
Fagioli Group’s wide range of activities can be summarised by its acronym, FIS – Fagioli Integrated Service.