06.10.2026

UK dealer for Zoomlion cranes

Foster Cranes has been appointed as exclusive UK dealer for Zoomlion mobile cranes.

The company has ordered its first unit - a 60 tonne ZAT600E - which is due to arrive in the next few weeks.

The three axle ZAT600E features a six section 48 metre main boom, topped by a 9.5 to 16 metre bifold swingaway extension for a maximum tip height of just under 67 metres. The crane has an overall width of 2.55 metres, an overall length of 11.72 metres and an overall height on the road of 3.83 metres. It has a maximum counterweight of 13 tonnes. Power comes from a Mercedes Euro 6 diesel, driving a six speed Allison automatic transmission with six wheel drive and steer.

Zoomlion has been working to gain a foothold in the European mobile crane market for more than 20 years, initially with truck mounted models, shipping its first batch to Dutch company van Adrighem in 2006. See: Zoomlion mobiles for Europe. The first units arrived in the UK the following year when Crowlands was appointed as the dealer.

Rough Terrains came in 2010 with the manufacturer appointing Global Crane Sales of Houston as its worldwide distributor. It had a fair bit of success over a number of years, and in Europe Sarens took 20 units in 2012.

It has taken longer to get its All Terrain cranes to the point where they are taken seriously in Europe but has showed some increasingly sophisticated models at past two Bauma exhibitions.

Foster Cranes managing director Andrew Foster said: "I was impressed with how advanced the Zoomlion manufacturing process is, using state of the art robotic technology. The cranes are as well built as anything produced in Europe and are really competitively priced.”

"With the challenges around hire rates in the UK market, many of our customers tell us that making a new mobile crane financially viable is a real challenge in the current climate. The Zoomlion range is significantly cheaper and just as capable as any European machine."

"Zoomlion Cranes UK are so confident in the quality of their machines that they are guaranteeing the resale value after five years. That takes away one of the biggest risks of trying a new brand. We are excited to introduce the range to the UK market and look forward to showing customers the first machine when it arrives."

Foster Cranes is based in Kidderminster and is the UK distributor for Jekko cranes, through Jekko UK, as well as Emovr tracked carriers. It also runs a healthy used crane sales operation and has previously represented JMG, Hoeflon and Sany telescopic crawler cranes.

Vertikal Comment

It will be interesting to see how things go over the next year or two. The ‘buy back guarantee’ which is what it amounts to, could encourage a good few companies to give them a try. Manufacturing a profitable three axle 60 tonner has been a challenge for most manufacturers in recent years. If the pricing is as keen as Foster suggest it could prove a winner.

Crane companies across Europe seem to be increasingly willing to give Chinese cranes a go. If they catch on there will be great deal of pressure for European manufacturers to fight back.

Watch this space.