Standing with your feet on firm ground
9 December 2013The importance of setting up a crane correctly is vital to ensure that it runs safely and effectively. Crucial to this is process is ensuring that the ground beneath the crane can take the equipment’s weight and remain stable. Mats and timber from a range of company’s can help users in this process. On this page, Zak Garner-Purkis talks to August Orde Hengel, commercial director of Ko-Mats. Overleaf, we review products from Spartan Mat and DICA.
Choosing the right type of mat can be more complicated than you might think, and a vital step in making sure a lift goes well. There are many factors to consider such as the type of crane and the ground on which they sit.
Ko-Mats of Germany specialises in supplying timber mats for crawler cranes, a less well known, but nonetheless vital part of the ground preparation sector.
"Crawler Cranes do not float" says August Oude Hengel, commercial director of Ko-Mats "Increased capacity means more weight, and makes the discussion about how and when to use mats even more important. In countries where soft ground conditions are the norm such as the Netherlands, timber mats are nearly always used under every crane."
"Price and availability are probably a factor along with load bearing capacity. That makes timber and not alloy roll-type mats or heavy duty temporary roadways the product of choice in these areas. Purpose designed heavy-duty timber mats provide an excellent surface for all types of crawler tracks and are very 'forgiving' taking the abuse from heavily laden crawler crane undercarriages."
"The Dutch Oil & Gas industry and chemical and petrochemical sites set strict requirements to crane rental companies: maximum allowable ground bearing pressure is 10 tons/m2 because of safety. The leading crane companies in Belgium and the Netherlands have adopted this as their standard. They know that safety on the job will save lives and money in the end. Main suppliers hold huge inventories of mats and individual timbers, ready for immediate supply with many offering a rental and buy back options."
"We are proud that Ko-Mats is one of the leading suppliers worldwide for hardwood crane mats for every purposes one can think of. To meet the demands from local government we can fumigate and treat the timber as required. The timbers we have selected for the mats are the strongest in Guyana and have good wear and tear reputation. Part of our mats are being produced in Guyana so export direct to projects abroad for our clients.
Spartan Mats
Spartan Mat provides construction mats to locations and job sites.
Welex
Welex specialise in the production, rental and selling of crane mats.
DICA
US manufacturer DICA provides Safety Tech outrigger pads.
