Delivery of crane firm’s £30m fleet improvement programme begins
Standish-based Ainscough Crane Hire is investing £30m in the first phase of a fleet improvement strategy.
A total of 37 new cranes are set to be added to its fleet by the end of the year.
Already boasting the largest crane fleet in the UK, last month the company welcomed the UK’s first 650t Liebherr LTM1650-8.1 crane, ahead of delivery of a wider range of new cranes during 2022 and beyond.
The new arrivals will enable Ainscough to further enhance the service it offers its customers while increasing productivity through new technology, innovation and safer lifting solutions.
The boosting of Ainscough’s fleet reflects the company’s commitment to supporting its customers in delivering the key construction and infrastructure projects that will drive forward the COVID-19 economic recovery, such as HS2 and other major developments, the company said.
The new fleet should deliver reductions of up to 10% in fuel consumption, as well as producing less noise and carbon emissions, resulting in quieter crane operations in the diverse local environments in which Ainscough’s project teams operate.
Ainscough Crane Hire chief executive, Peter Gibbs, said: “The arrival of the LTM1650-8.1 at the start of May was a key moment for Ainscough Crane Hire, and our investment programme demonstrates our focus on updating our fleet in order to continually improve the service we offer our customers.
“These latest additions and the models that will arrive over the coming months will provide a variety of lifting solutions.
“The new cranes also come with enhanced telematic capabilities which we are linking to a new digital platform to provide real time data for our customers.”
He added: “The diverse range of innovations and capabilities that these cranes offer all prioritise safer and more productive solutions for our customers.
“This first stage of our crane investment programme will enable us to respond to changing customer needs as we continue to deliver smarter and more efficient ways of working.”
He said the construction industry has a big part to play in helping the country bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the company’s investment programme has been guided by the needs of its customers: “We look forward to seeing our latest cranes in action on sites across the country before too long.”
Richard Everist, managing director at Liebherr Great Britain, said: “The relationship between Ainscough Crane Hire and Liebherr is founded on our common values and a commitment to continuous improvement.
“Many of our recent product innovations, particularly in relation to enhanced safety, have been developed in conjunction with Ainscough, and we are delighted that this collaboration has helped to deliver safe lifting solutions along with productivity and performance gains.”
