Lawrence Engineering recently took delivery of a Liebherr LTM 1130-5.1 130-tonne capacity all terrain from The Baden Davis Crane Connection. Managing director Nigel Lawrence discusses the reasons for the acquisition and his relationship with Anthony Davis and the Baden Davis Crane Connection.
Lawrence Engineering is predominantly an engineering company located in Broken Hill. The business services a number of industry sectors including mining, water infrastructure, wind energy, and the rural sector, with a range of services and a strong focus on quality workmanship and customer satisfaction.
“We have purchased the Liebherr LTM 1130-5.1, and its 130t capacity, with the future in mind. A large part of our business is maintenance, this includes mine shutdowns, heavy equipment, and almost anything else across the engineering sector,” said Lawrence.
“Our customers are primarily in the mining sector. However, recently we’ve been involved in some water infrastructure projects and we’re looking to ramp up in that area, with water being such a critical commodity in our region.
“There are several significant projects on the horizon which are looking promising, and we decided we needed a crane that could facilitate these projects as well as enabling us to increase our capacities for the work that is in the region right now.
“Initially we were looking at a 100t capacity all terrain, but it made sense to purchase a crane that provided the extra 30t capacity,” said Lawrence.
The Liebherr LTM 1130-5.1 delivers a combination of power and compact size. The five-axle crane is very flexible due to its compact dimensions and can be used on constricted sites without any problems. But this does not mean the crane compromises on power. It actually has a long, variable boom system with outstanding lifting capacities in all segments.
The Liebherr LTM 1130-5.1 features a maximum load capacity of 130t, a telescopic boom of 60m, maximum hoist height of 91m and maximum operating radius of 72m.
In addition, the optional height-adjustable crane cab on the Liebherr LTM 1130-5.1 provides an excellent view and therefore enhances safety on site. The Liebherr LTM 1130-5.1 has been engineered with sustainability in mind as the ECOmode and ECOdrive features achieve fuel savings of up to 10 per cent whilst significantly reducing noise.
There are a number of options when it comes to the purchase of a second-hand crane and Lawrence explained why he chose to purchase the crane through The Baden Davis Crane Connection.
“I’ve been working with Anthony Davis over a number of years now. We bought our Tidd pick and carry from him a couple of years ago and, in my experience, his service is second to none,” he said.
“He provides a fantastic service which includes terrific support, and prompt follow ups, and he kept us in the loop the whole time this crane was on order.
“We wanted a recent model, and this crane is only a couple of years old. It has low hours and low kilometers. Anthony put this specification out to his international network and found the crane through one of his contacts in Germany. The crane is exactly what we wanted.
“When the crane arrived in Sydney, he sent us photos of the progress the crane was making during the processes he and his team had to go through to get the crane ready for the CraneSafe inspection and, ultimately, for work.
“I have always found Anthony a good, genuine bloke to deal with. He has always backed and supported our business and I trust his judgement and advice,” said Lawrence.
The Baden Davis Crane Connection manage the whole process, from finding the crane through to arranging the shipping, quarantine, cleaning, servicing, the CraneSafe process, and registration.
“Everything is included in the price, and this was very attractive for us. We don’t have the time to worry about the detail of getting the crane here – Anthony and his team managed all of this. There are no hidden costs or variables, everything is laid out from day one,” said Lawrence.
“We discussed a number of options before settling on this crane but, together, we decided we should invest in the Liebherr because of the quality of the cranes Liebherr produces and the support, parts, back up, and service the local operations provide.
“Another benefit of this crane is that we can operate it as an 80t, 100t, and 130t capacity crane, which makes it a very versatile crane, and we can see it will be a well utilised asset for us,” said Lawrence.
With the addition of the Liebherr LTM 1130-5.1, Lawrence Engineering now operates four cranes with capacities starting with a Franna AT 18t capacity pick and carry.
“Our smallest capacity is an 18t Franna and this manages the smaller end of our pick and carry work,” said Lawrence.
“The second pick and carry crane we have is a Tidd PC 28 and we purchased this from The Baden Davis Crane Connection about two and a half years ago.
“The third crane we run is a 60t capacity Tadano truck mounted crane, which we’ve been operating for eight years. We purchased this crane new, and it has been a good machine for the business.
“The new Liebherr is great addition and dramatically increases our crane services capabilities. We can now provide everything in the Western Division,” said Lawrence.
The Tidd PC 28 has also been a good performer for Lawrence Engineering.
“The Tidd, with its 28t capacity, has made a big difference to our lifting capabilities in the pick and carry market. Because it was a brand new model, we had a few minor issues in the beginning but these were ironed out quickly and, recently, we had it approved for underground mining work, which is a big step up for us.
“We’ve had the Tidd fitted with a fire suppression system and we’ve been able to ramp up the hours on the crane as it is working regularly underground in the mines.
“It’s our go-to pick and carry, because of the extra capacity and also its roadability. The Tidd is very comfortable to drive. Our customers are very safety-focused, especially the mines, and we promoted the safety features of the Tidd to our customers from day one. It is a very presentable crane, and it looks terrific when it is operating on a site, which the customers like as well.
The Tidd PC 28 features improved operational features designed to help operators work more efficiently and comfortably on both construction sites and the road.
Increased lift capacity and greater maneuverability in smaller work areas are key benefits of the new crane. The Tidd PC28 is constructed using the highest quality components with safety a major focus with every element of its design.
Safety features include Dynamic LMI with a deadlock switch inside the cabin and the LMI bridging switch outside the cabin. Slew Safe is an optional safety addition for the Tidd PC28.
TRT developed Slew Safe (patented: 741038), which is designed to prevent rollovers and works with a number of features including audible alarms, ECU warnings and an engine de-rating to prevent further slewing. According to TRT, the Tidd PC28 is the only pick and carry crane with this level of safety and Slew Safe can be retrofitted to all existing Tidd PC25s.
Slew Safe is an effective system to restrict the driver from operating off the chart. With audible and visual alarms along with steering restriction Slew Safe cannot be overridden but will operate again when the load is back in the green.
“We take great pride in looking after our cranes, they are always well presented, and our customer know we are impeccable with our service records and maintenance programs,” said Lawrence.