Three new Tadano RTs for Iraqi oil company

Baji, Iraq-based North Refineries Company (NRC) – one of the Iraqi ministry of oil companies, reports that recent relative peace in the country over the last few years has enabled it to produce around currently 310,000 barrels of refined oil per day. To help facilitate this, the company has an equipment portfolio comprising over 100 heavy machines including trucks, heavy machinery, forklifts, and cranes.

The company has added to its crane fleet three new GR-300EX rough terrain cranes from Japanese manufacturer Tadano.

Sudad Ibrahim Majeed, senior chief engineer at North Refineries Company, credits ongoing satisfaction with Tadano’s quality, plus ongoing service, as key factors in the decision to purchase the new GR-300EX-3 models.

When deciding which new machines to include in their operations he said his priorities included "safety, options, good prices, and delivery”. Majeed also cited the crane’s “good design and new technology”, aiding its manoeuvrability inside the site, as being a factor.

The new GR-300EX models are being used for a variety of general maintenance activities involving: welding; lifting pipes; lifting damaged equipment; and handling and lifting tanks, heat exchangers, and valves.

The cranes were purchased from Tadano via agent Sardar Automobile and Machinery Trading Co. (SAM). “They arrived in the time we needed them,” Majeed said, “SAM was very helpful during all processes of delivery. The process was clearly communicated, and the advance and handover training was excellent.”

SAM offers ongoing training. Also, according to Majeed, he was impressed by the SAM team’s after-sales service once the company has received the GT-600EL models. “They passed on all the required information and quickly handled any needs for parts,” he said. “We have been very satisfied with Tadano's high quality. We have had good experiences, particularly with the manoeuvrability of the GR series."

Other Tadano cranes in NRC’s current fleet include four GT-600EL units, two GT-300EL units, and one GT-750EL unit. Despite temperatures that often exceed 40-45°C, the cranes operate in all weather conditions, except for high winds or heavy rains.

“We are using the cranes on a daily basis as we have heavy loads to lift, fix, and lower back,” Majeed said. “We are very happy to purchase Tadano. They are a very famous name in the crane business. We have been very satisfied and because of that all our rough terrain cranes are Tadano products now. We will order more Tadano cranes in future.”

NRC has indicated it will also add three new GR-130EX units to its fleet by the end of the year, said Tadano.