23.10.2006

Kobelco completes Weldex order

Kobelco has completed its four 60 tonne, CKE600 crawler crane order to Weldex by recently delivering the final three units.

Please register to see all images

Weldex adds four Kobelco CKE600 crawler cranes

The first of the four units was handed over to Dougie and Iain McGilvray on the Kobelco stand at Intermat in Paris earlier this year. Since then the machine has been on long-term hire at the London Heathrow airport terminal project. The three remaining units have now been delivered and commissioned at the Weldex yard in Alfreton, Derbyshire and are scheduled for general hire and contract work throughout the UK.


The Inverness-based heavy lift specialist already has seven Kobelco cranes in its fleet.

Nominally rated at 60t capacity, the cranes have a flexible counterweight system, which enables them to be ‘dual-rated’ as either full 60t machines or, with a reduced counterweight and load-chart, to operate at 45t capacity, where a lighter-duty, shorter tail-swing machine is required.

In either configuration, they are capable of carrying a standard main boom of up to 51.8m, with fixed-jibs up to 18.3m, giving a total maximum lift height and reach capability of 55m and 40m.

Managing Director Doug McGilvray said, “These machines will be good modern replacements for our older 45t and 60t cranes. We particularly like the Kobelco modular construction and self-assembly system for easy transportation and erection. We see them being used largely for nuclear and other power plant work. They are compact with a short tail-swing, and with programmable radius and height limiters, they are ideal for working in restricted areas.”