UK rental company Ainscough Group has already got rid of more than 100 of the older cranes that came with its acquisition of Initial GWS’s mobile fleet in December 2000.

At the time of the acquisition chairman Martin Ainscough said he intended to operate a combined fleet of about 500 cranes. With GWS having about 360 and Ainscough already having about 250, this meant that more than 100 had to go.

Liebherr bought the cranes as a single package, shipped them out of the UK and sold them to equipment auctioneer Ritchie Brothers in the Netherlands. They are being put up for auction in March.

In exchange Ainscough is taking 23 new Liebherr all-terrains, ranging from the 40t-rated LTM 1030/2 to the 120t LTM 1120/1. All machines are scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of the year.

The Ainscough order includes three of the new Liebherr 100 tonners, the LTM 1100/2, bringing sales of this five-axle model in the UK to 20 units.

The first LTM 1100/2 in the UK is being delivered this month to Warrington-based Comhoist. Ainscough is also scheduled to take delivery of its first LTM 1100/2 before the end of this month.

Ainscough already has a Demag AC 100, Dematic’s rival to the LTM 1100/2. This unit was exhibited at the SED show in Milton Keynes in the UK in May 2000 and delivered after the event.