27.02.2012

Terex ships the 3,500th Franna

Terex Cranes Australia had a double reason for celebration at the end of 2011, having celebrated its 25th anniversary and shipped its 3,500th Franna pick & carry crane.

The company celebrated with a customer and family open house day held at the company’s facility in Brisbane. The occasion also marked the hand over of the 3,500th crane to Queensland based Lee Crane Hire adding to its fleet of over 25 Franna cranes.
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The Terex Cranes Brisbane team with the 3,500th Franna

Danny Black, general manager, Terex Cranes Australia said: “For Terex Cranes Australia, we have a lot to celebrate, our 3,500th crane and 25th anniversary. Our success could not be possible without the close relationship with our customers. They have provided us with feedback to help us continuously improve and make the crane into a world class product. This was a proud milestone for our team and hence a great opportunity to get together our customers, partners and families to celebrate.”

The Franna crane story began in 1978 with a prototype designed by Dave Francis using truck components to build Australia’s first high speed pick & carry crane.

In 1986, the late Brian Hain and Lou Parolin formed Franna Cranes Pty. Ltd. and took on the manufacture of the innovative eight tonne crane, helping turn it into the most popular crane type in Australian history with a production of 1,100 units over the next 13 years.

In 1999, the company was acquired by Terex and in the 12 years since production has more than doubled, adding a further 2,400 units to the population.

Today the three model articulated pick & carry range is topped out by the 25-tonne model. The road speed, pick & carry duties fast set up times and absence of the need for outriggers, has made it the most successful crane ever built in Australia.
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A 25 tonne Terex Franna MAC 25 pick & carry crane

“Those early models were truly innovative, combining high speed road travel with superior pick & carry capabilities, which soon lead to the birth of the Australian taxi crane,” added Craig Hain, sales manager, Terex Cranes Brisbane.

Lee Crane Hire, was founded in 1981 and operates from three locations in Biloela, Gladstone and Moura in central Queensland. It has a total fleet is just 40 units topped out by two 130 tonne Grove GMK 5130-1s.