76 | Spider cranes can handle mutiple tasks The fleet comprises a mix of Maedas and UNICs. Mini Cranes NZ T T Lindy Andrews CONTRACTING Back in 2016, with wife Rosey expecting their second child, stay-at-home dad Clinton Addenbrooke – a former crane operator – imported his first spider crane from Australia. Since then, the Mini Cranes NZ fleet has grown to 12, from 2.9 tonnes to 6 tonnes. On construction sites across New Zealand the spider cranes look like delicate extraterrestrials as they work. It’s those other-worldly looks that give them the ability to work nimbly across the most constrained, sensitive of sites. “The smallest one can be walked through a conventional front door and out the back door to get to site,” says Clinton with a laugh. Commercial Bay, New Zealand’s tallest building, is a 39-floor skyscraper with a multi-level 18,000m2 retail precinct and three-level basement sitting atop Auckland’s new City Rail Link (CRL) tunnels. Combined, the two projects represent one of the most complex, site-constrained engineering projects ever undertaken in this country. That’s where Mini Cranes NZ’s spider cranes have proved their worth. “At the height of construction of the CRL tunnels, we had eight service cranes lifting materials to the basement, from blockwork, elevators and cabling to forklifts, and above that we then installed secondary steel in the Commercial Bay tower” Clinton says. The company’s Tier One projects include the city’s new Britomart Station, Auckland Airport and the Auckland Convention Centre. But Mini Cranes NZ isn’t all about the big jobs, explains Clinton. “Our cranes can do anything, from placing glazing in high-end residential developments, to structural steel for residential, industrial and commercial projects. “We also lift small trees for landscapers.” The fleet comprises a mix of Maedas and UNICs. Some are better suited to certain jobs than others. Clinton says having the flexibility and ability to satisfy a client’s needs is a must. The beauty of the spider cranes also lies in their dual power. “As an example, some of our fleet have dual fuel options - petrol/electric or diesel/electric. This enables us and other contractors to work comfortably indoors or in areas with low air volume changes without the need to deal with fume extraction.” “’We focus on one thing and do it properly,” says Clinton. “We work to support contractors and complete difficult and awkward jobs with a minimum of fuss. Ultimately, this allows them to minimise the risks that some tasks may pose to their projects.” The modern innovative fleet ensures Mini Cranes NZ is always in demand. “We are always looking for new ideas that will complement our business,” Clinton says. We invest a lot of time in training our operators to ensure they perform at the highest level and get the job done safely and on time. “New Zealand has a specific qualification for operating mini cranes,” he adds, “and all our operators have the requisite qualifications”. Mini Cranes NZ hires out its spider cranes with or without operators. However, any hire client must use an operator who holds the NZQA qualification to use a mini crawler crane to lift and place loads. 022 315 6074 admin@minicranesnz.co.nz We have the RIGHT CRANE for your job MINI & SPIDER CRANES FOR HIRE www.minicranesnz.co.nz
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