Japanese mobile crane manufacturer Kato has finally sold its first KA-900 all terrain in the UK, four years after its launch at Bauma ’98.
It is also continuing to have success with its 25t city crane, the CR-250.
The 90t-rated KA-900 was critically well regarded when first presented but, according to Kato, proved too expensive to compete with German all terrains because of unfavourable exchange rates. A few have been sold in Scandinavia, where Kato has strong distribution. The first sale in the UK, where Kato is also strong, was just this year to James Jack Crane Hire of Invergordon in Scotland.
The KA-900 has as standard a hydraulic luffing jib that can also telescope under load. The so-called Super Luffing jib is a three-section full power extension and retraction type with a maximum load of 4.3t, variable in length between 7.7m and 19.1m and offsettable between 2° and 60°. Main boom is 45m.
The CR-250 city crane is a more familiar site in the UK and its attraction is starting to be realised by Scottish harbours. One was bought by Aberdeen harbour last year and another has been ordered by Highland Council’s Lochinver Harbour.
Last month (March) King Lifting in the west of England took delivery if its third CR-250.
