Rio Tinto’s new iron ore mine at West Angelas, 1400km north of Perth, in Australia has taken delivery of a 200t Grove GMK 5200 all terrain crane. One of its first jobs was the installation of crushing and conveying equipment and a large rail head feed bowl. Installing this 45t bowl involved a delicate turn over operation in a tandem lift with a 150t crawler crane, and positioning it 18m above the ground (as seen in the picture). According to Stephen Lazenby of Perth-based Grove dealer WA Truck & Machinery Repairs, rough terrain cranes were the tool of choice in the mining industry, but the latest generation of GMK ATs, with increased lift capacities and extra long booms, has opened up new possibilities. Elsewhere in Western Australia, the Hamersley iron mine at Tom Price has bought a 220t GMK 6220 and the BHP iron ore mine at Newman has a GMK 5100.
