Verticon managing director and CEO Andrew Torrington said that the deal was the start of a process to replace older tower cranes.
“The new generation of tower cranes and hoists are safer, smarter and more efficient and will benefit both our customer base and indeed the overall hire market going forward,” he said.
The first shipment arrives in May 2008.
Both cranes and hoists were bought from dealer Lewis Equipment in the USA. Lewis distributes Zoomlion truck cranes, all terrains and crawler cranes, Fushun Yongmao tower cranes, and GJJ construction hoists that it brands Hercules Elevators.
In February Verticon signed a strategic alliance and exclusive agency agreement with Lewis, which according to Verticon operates more than 200 tower cranes in the USA. Lewis bought sister company Verticon New Zealand in December 2007.
“This alliance will enable Verticon to substantially reinvest in new plant and equipment in Australia and begins a clear process of retiring older Verticon fleet, particularly our Queensland-based tower cranes, and introducing brand new cranes and hoists into the Australian market over the next 24 months,” Torrington said in a statement in February.
“The agreement also provides access to Lewis’s USA-based personnel, expertise, systemes and procedures and gives Verticon accesss to better delivery times, support and spare parts. Combined with the new Queensland workshop, yard and office facility due for completion in April 2008, I feel that this alliance now clearly sets the way forward for Verticon in Australia.”
Verticon claims to be Australia’s largest tower crane rental company, with 100 cranes and 60 construction hoists. The company’s fleet includes models from manufacturers Comansa, Comedil, Favelle Favco, Liebherr, Potain and Fushun Yongmao.
