With construction and infrastructure activities on in full swing across the region, the demand for lifting projects and equipment, such as the all-terrain crane, to execute various lifts continues to be high throughout the Gulf area.
While property booms in places such as the UAE are leading to heavy activity in the residential and commercial real estate construction sector, the ongoing development and expansion of infrastructure projects such as railways is also a driver of demand for lifting equipment, as is the constant activity in the energy sector, which now comprises not only oil and gas but also other sources such as nuclear and renewables.
In most of these projects, the lifter of choice is the all-terrain crane (ATC), chosen for its versatility in being able to reach and manoeuvre in job-sites in various locations, and execute lifts of different heights and weight specifications, whether it is for bridges and buildings in congested urban areas, remote locations for railways and roads or greenfield sites for energy and petrochemical projects where large and heavy objects need to be lifted and placed.
Manitowoc surges ahead with Grove all-terrain cranes
Major ongoing and planned projects across the region in all of these spheres has the crane sector looking forward to continued demand for lifting equipment, especially the all-terrain cranes. At Manitowoc Crane Group, which owns the prestigious Grove brand, Andrew Youssef, General Manager, Africa, Middle East and CIS, says that Manitowoc, like other heavy machinery manufacturers, has benefitted from the market resurgence over the past 12 months in the Middle East.
Terming this resurgence as a “culmination of pent-up demand, supply chain stability and mega project announcements”, he says that Manitowoc’s Middle East office was able to capitalise on the market upswing aided by its factories controlling costs, the accuracy of its forecast, and constant communication with its customers and dealers.
“We have seen new machine sales increase across our product lines. In 2023, Grove all-terrain cranes experienced our highest unit turnover since 2015. From 2022 to 2023, the all-terrain market in Middle East grew by 120%. Because of our strong dealer network and relationships with our key accounts, we were able to maintain our strong market share notwithstanding the intense competition,” Youssef says.
Grove’s best success came in Qatar, especially in the oil & gas sector, while Kuwait was another key market where Grove secured fleet renewal orders with its key accounts. This year the brand has a strong order backlog and is looking to gain market share in Saudi Arabia and UAE on the back of their mega-projects.
Also, in 2024, Grove has re-entered the Middle East truck crane market with its new TMC range. “We will initially offer 25t, 55t and 75t models. We have a value proposition that will enable us to be competitive at all levels with any customer. We are really excited to showcase this unit and compete in this high volume segment,” Youssef adds.
Explaining why Grove remains among the top all-terrain cranes brands in the region, he explains that customers know that when they buy a Grove, it is designed and manufactured to be used in tough applications for many years. “Quality and reliability are our brand promises. We see Groves across the Middle East still working well beyond 15-20 years – this is normal.”
This brand promise has enabled Manitowoc deliver several Grove cranes in the region over the last 12-18 months to construction and rental companies. Giving details, Youssef says 30 units were delivered to Integrated Logistics and 20 each to Tamimi and CCC on the rental side. Meanwhile, 17 units also went to contracting giant ALEC.
The Grove GMK6300L-1 and GMK5150XL are among the models in highest demand, he explains, adding: “The GMK6300L-1 is the definition of a 300-tonne mobile crane. It continues the success story of our GMK6300L and offers even better lifting capacities, especially on the long boom. The driveline with the Mercedes engine and Allison fully automatic transmission is reliable and powerful. This model can be moved on the road with up to 21t counterweight.”
The five-axle Grove GMK5150XL is another crane that is “redefining the five-axle, 150t class by offering almost 69m of main boom”, Youssef adds. “The crane’s taxi charts are outstanding, ensuring easy roadability and transport savings.”
With these features, it is no wonder that Manitowoc is playing an important role in regional development, for projects associated with Saudi Vision 2030 and in other arenas.
“You will see many Grove units working across projects in Neom as well as in Riyadh, such as in King Salman Park. During the Qatar World Cup 2022, Grove was seen constructing several of the stadiums. However, the demand for our products still remains highest within the oil & gas sector, where safety and reliability are paramount.”
Youssef adds that both of these features are aided by Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS), which customers appreciate for the precise and customisable movements that it offers. “Having exact control is important when lifting complex and expensive equipment around oil rigs,” he explains.
Manitowoc has recently launched the Cranes+50 initiative which focuses on growing its non-new machine revenue by 50% over the next five years. “Our team and dealers came together in Dubai in February to discuss how to provide our customers with better service, parts availability and aftermarket solutions,” Youssef informs.
Manitowoc also has an eye on sustainability and launched the Grove GMK 4-axle hybrid prototype during Bauma 2022. “This was received very well and many customers are looking forward to serial production. The Hybrid utilises a single motor and a generator that can generate the electricity required, thus providing the possibility of operating the crane without running the diesel engine,” Youssef reveals.
Looking into the future in the Middle East, he says that customers will continue to push for finding the best profit ratio. ”We’ve seen a lot of demand for our all-terrain cranes models in the 150t and above class. Investing in Grove will lead to not only safe and reliable operations, but also high return on investment.”
Demand for Liebherr 5-axle all-terrain cranes
Meanwhile, another giant of the crane world, Liebherr, is also seeing high demand for its all-terrain cranes. Marius Kleck, Area Sales Manager – Middle East & Central Africa, says this has been led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while Kuwait and Bahrain have also been at a good level for the well-known brand.
“Liebherr is a high quality brand with a long tradition, offering unique cranes and services as well as spare parts supply and digitalisation to customers, allowing them to run their business reliably and successfully,” he says.
Liebherr is seeing the highest demand for its 5-axle all-terrain cranes range, which includes models from the LTM 1100-5.3 with a capacity of 100 tonnes up to the 250t-capacity LTM 1250-5.1, notes Kleck.
“The LTM 1160-5.2 and the LTM 1230-5.1 should also be highlighted. Both are in high demand in the region due to their versatility and high lifting capacities. In addition, larger cranes, such as the LTM 1300-6.3, which has an impressive 90-metre boom, and the 700-tonne lift capacity LTM 1650-8.1, are also very popular.”
Well-known for safety and performance, Liebherr offers several technological aids in its all-terrain cranes models to make lifting jobs easier and safer. These include the VarioBase® which increases flexibility and safety on job-sites where space is constricted and it is not possible to extend all the outriggers of the crane evenly.
Another feature, ECOmode, minimises both fuel consumption and noise emissions when operating the crane superstructure, with the crane’s control system calculating the perfect engine speed for the diesel engine once the operator sets the required working speed.
ECOdrive does the same for taxiing, making a unit more comfortable and quieter by reducing the engine speed. Faster gearshifting delivers greater dynamics and traction off-road, and when on-road, torque from the Liebherr diesel engine is used efficiently to minimise fuel consumption.
The Crane Planner 2.0 – 3D software for lift planning is another Liebherr tech tool that simplifies lifts, offering solutions in advance for safe and efficient lifts after being fed all data about a lift. With a three-dimensional user interface, it displays calculations of key figures, such as ground bearing pressures, ground force, loads and centres of gravity, for every change in the lifting configuration.
And it’s not just technology where Liebherr has made great strides; it’s also sustainability. Liebherr’s new LTC 1050-3.1 compact crane features an electric motor in addition to its conventional internal combustion engine.
“This enables crane movements to be powered electrically as an option. The internal combustion engine can be fueled with HVO, enabling it to reduce its CO2 emissions by up to 90%,” Kleck says, adding that Liebherr strives for quality in its products and seeks to make a positive difference to its customers.
Tadano all-terrain cranes on the rise
Positivity is a sentiment hat is also reflected in the performance and activities of another crane giant, Tadano.
Yasuaki Kishimoto, CEO & President, Tadano ME Lifting Equipment Trading LLC, is optimistic about the Japanese crane giant’s prospects in the Middle East market, attributing his expectations to the region’s ongoing emphasis on economic diversification and infrastructure improvements, which are projected to sustain momentum in construction activities.
This positive outlook finds support in Tadano’s remarkable sales performance in the Middle East during 2023, where they recorded net sales of 1,840 units comprising various crane types and including 460 ATCs, marking a growth of over 100% over the 910 units it sold in 2022.
“Amidst substantial national endeavours underway and planned throughout the Middle East in 2024, encompassing infrastructure advancements, urban expansions and commercial ventures, we foresee a robust demand surge for construction machinery and equipment, including cranes,” Kishimoto says.
Kishimoto attributes Tadano’s sales growth its “unwavering commitment to quality and safety, which has earned substantial trust and loyalty from customers”.
Highlighting the reliability and durability of Tadano’s cranes, he says these are vital in meeting the rigorous demands of regional construction projects. Additionally, he underscores the increasing importance of digital control systems for crane operators.
“Tadano’s strong service support and efficient parts supply system, managed by our distributors, have contributed significantly to ensuring uninterrupted operations for customers, thereby bolstering confidence in our brand,” Kishimoto says.
In the all-terrain cranes category, Tadano’s latest model, the AC 5.250-2, boasts a lifting capacity surpassing previous benchmarks by up to 30%. Kishimoto anticipates strong demand for this model in the Middle East.
“This is because of its tailored features, designed to address the region’s unique market demands, such as enhanced lifting capacity and ease of transportation, crucial for the vast and varied construction projects across the Middle East,” he explains, adding that potential applications for the model include erecting tower cranes, handling heavy machinery, and facilitating large-scale construction endeavours.
As in other global regions, the rental model dominates the crane business in the Middle East, and Johnson Arabia, one of the biggest regional crane rental companies, relies heavily on its all-terrain cranes models, of which it has 55 in its fleet.
“All-terrain cranes are critical for their versatility and adaptability within our fleet. They are commonly utilised in our daily operations, particularly within urban environments, with typical applications including replacement of chillers and erection and dismantling of tower cranes,” says Mohammad Fareed Naser – Executive Manager and Regional Head of Crane Operations at Johnson Arabia.
“Outside of construction, they are even used for loading and offloading yachts on piers, as well as heavy cargo in port areas, besides being invaluable in managing heavy-lifting logistics.”
Diversity in all-terrain cranes fleet
Johnson Arabia’s flagship ATCs include the 700-tonne Terex AC700, 500-tonne Liebherr LTM 1500 8.1, and 450-tonne Liebherr LTM 1450 8.1, Naser reveals, adding that these heavy lifters, equipped with up to a 90m luffing jibs, can reach remarkable heights of up to 146m.
“Within the last 12 months, we have also acquired some new ATCs, including Liebherr’s LTM 1450 8.1 450-tonne, the LTM 1400 7.1 400-tonne and the LTM 1500 8.1 500-tonne, on which we are awaiting delivery, as well as a Grove GMK 5250 xl-1 250-tonne.
“Our all-terrain cranes have been crucial in recent projects, such as in a transformer lift at a Dewa substation with a Terex AC700, lifting of gantry beams on the Dubai Metro Expo 2020 line with a Terex AC500-2 and a Grove GMK 7450, and a locomotive lift for Etihad Rail using a Liebherr LTM 1400 7.1,” describes Naser.
With their roadability, versatility in reaching and executing lifts in compact job-sites, and their obvious high lifting capacities and lifting heights, the all-terrain cranes are, and continue to remain, the backbone of the region’s heavy lifting sector.