UK’s first stage V Kobelco crawler

Bennetts Cranes has three storage and rental yards in Sharpness, Gloucestershire, and already uses two CKE900G-2s to move and assemble its fleet of luffing and saddle jib tower cranes.

Like its predecessors, the new CKE900G-3 will also be used to move the heavy tower crane parts – towers, booms, counterweights, and cabs - around the yard and in and out of the storage bays.

The stage V/tier 5 engine rating was a key factor in the decision to buy the new CKE900G-3 according to Edward Seager, managing director at Bennetts Cranes. “We are delighted to have taken delivery of and to be using our third Kobelco CKE900G crawler crane. This latest model is Stage V/Tier 5 emissions compliant and this is the first Kobelco in the UK to achieve this standard,” said Seager.

“As well as meeting the highest environmental standards the Kobelco’s lattice jib enables us to lift heavy weights at the full 40m radius. We configure the crane for this and, together with the speed of movement, it means we can store our tower cranes in the optimum manner and still load and unload them from transport with ease.”

The new clean energy system engines use a DPF (diesel particulate filter) to reduce particulate matter (PM) and an SCR (selective catalytic reduction) to reduce NOx (nitrogen oxides), both of which are also kept to a minimum using negative ions.

Besides the new stage V/tier 5 compliant engine, Bennett Cranes’ new CKE900G-3 lattice boom crawler boasts a maximum lifting capacity of 100t at 3.6m (90t at 3.9m) and features Kobelco’s KCross remote operation management system, which is designed to help maximise machine efficiency and uptime.

Following delivery to Bennetts Cranes, 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 Sam Clarke, one of Kobelco’s senior service engineers.

Commenting on the acquisition, Mark Evans, sales and operations manager at Kobelco Construction Machinery Europe - Crane Division, said: “Kobelco and Bennetts have developed an excellent relationship over the last few years. Bennetts’ attention to detail and compliance with the highest environmental and health and safety standards, and regulations, means even its loading cranes are ‘on point’ when it comes to maintaining excellent customer service and support of its customers. I look forward to maintaining and strengthening this relationship.”