A South African crane rental company is now enjoying reduced operating costs while offering even better service after replacing its 100 t five-axle all-terrain crane with a more compact, yet longer-
boomed and equally strong four-axle Grove GMK4100L-2. The crane immediately provides its new owners with improved access to the inside of factories, where it does much of its work. The 60 m main boom has also provided Pietermaritzburg-based Schoeman Crane Hire with an additional 10 m of reach over the previous model from a competitor brand.
The GMK4100L-2’s strong load charts are simplifying other regular tasks beyond factory work, such as the lifting of ducting, milling machines, structural steel, and concrete bridge beams. Ernst Veldsman, director at Schoeman Crane Hire said.
“Bridge beam lifts are generally 8 t at 18 m radius, which the GMK4100L-2 will handle with a smile when working with 26 t of counterweight. Another common pick is the lifting of a 10 t recuperator at 12 m radius inside a factory, which we can easily manage with 5.6 t of counterweight. These also enable us to come in at just under 12 t per axle, which helps with transport permits – having one less axle than our previous crane means lower permit costs.”
The GMK4100L-2’s single-engine design provides a rapid return on investment for its new owners, effectively halving scheduled engine maintenance and enabling it to be performed more quickly. The crane is the most fuel-efficient in its class, with its 320 kW Mercedes-Benz engine also offering an ECO mode; a real benefit for companies such as Schoeman Crane Hire contending with rising diesel prices. Other highlights are the spacious cabins and the MEGATRAK® independent suspension system, which ensures each tire maintains maximum traction on the surface – an important consideration in South Africa where ground conditions can often be poor.
“Another key reason for selecting the new Grove model was our familiarity with all-terrain cranes and their Crane Control System (CCS),” said Veldsman. “We’re trying to standardize our cranes, which will help our technicians and improve our relationship with our local dealer, CLT.”
The crane already has a full schedule for 2025 lined up including work on the N3 Durban to Johannesburg highway upgrade and at the Willowton Oil and Cake Factory project. It joins an existing GMK5150L in the Schoeman Crane Hire fleet along with several Grove rough-terrain and truck-mounted cranes.
The GMK4100L-2 has already demonstrated its versatility and strength across a range of projects in South Africa’s agricultural and industrial sectors. It played a key role in building a new plant at United Co-op’s sugar mill, contributed to an upgrade at Ilovo sugar mill in Noodsberg, and assisted with a project at Storey’s Dairy. The crane has also handled tasks at sawmills and seed plants, supported annual maintenance at an aluminum plant, and was deployed to the Port of Durban to assist with the assembly of a crawler crane.
To learn more about the Grove GMK4100L-2 click here.
