05.08.2026

Crane overturn in UK

Just over a week ago, we received photographs and basic information on a crane overturn on the site of a new data centre in Farnborough, southern England. In spite of our best efforts we have been unable to unearth more solid and reliable details of what might have been the cause.

The crane, a three axle Grove GMK 3055 is owned, we are told, by Ridge Lifting Solutions, sister company to Ridgewell Structures, which designed and manufactured all of the steelwork.
The crane was rigged with its full counterweight and outriggers properly set with mats of a decent size, while the five section boom was fully extended and fully elevated and the superstructure slewed over the front as if preparing to close up for road travel.

What caused the crane to overturn is not at all clear, it would certainly have been back-heavy in this configuration, but not as significantly as if the boom had been fully retracted. But it is possible that strong winds were a factor, in which case the fully extended boom would have acted like a sail.

When the crane went over the structure took most of the impact, although a Genie boom from the Summit fleet, which was left with its boom extended, also struck. We understand no one was hurt in the incident.

We have contacted Ellis Ridgewell, who owns both companies, for a comment, offering to publish a statement, but while he has acknowledged our messages, he has chosen not to respond. Ridgewell has been working with Datum data centres on at least two new data centres in the Farnborough area and appears to be a professional and well-organised business.

Vertikal Comment

The main point of this item is to try and state the facts as best we can, if for no other reason to help curb some of the wilder theories that are typically generated on social media channels.

But more importantly, to restress the dangers of rearward stability on certain types of cranes, telehandlers and boom lifts. Everyone typically thinks about forward stability, when rearward stability typically carries higher risks.