Gulf Construction Online - Wolffkran unveils new heavyweight

Cranes

The 1250B luffing crane ... one of the largest.

Wolffkran unveils new heavyweight

01 August 2009

WOLFFKRAN, a pioneer in the field of tower cranes with over a decade of presence in the Middle East, has its eyes firmly fixed on the growing regional market, having recorded a growth rate of well over a 200 per cent annually over the past couple of years.
The European crane giant has even launched a new model – the 1250B Big Wolff luffer – in June, while other launches are expected to be made later this year.
While the first Wolff cranes marked their arrival in the Gulf more than 10 years ago, Wolffran signed up key partnerships that have been instrumental in driving its sales since 2007.
Speaking exclusively to Gulf Construction, Woffkran CEO Dr Peter Schiefer says the company is intent on making its distinctive red giants a well-recognised symbol of quality of product and service in the cranes market across the entire Middle East.
“We are currently covering Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain,” says Dr Schiefer. “But the company will expand further with our partners to other markets, not just in the Gulf, but in the entire Middle East.”
“We will do this in the ‘Wolffkran way’, by ensuring full local service and support even before the first crane arrives. The region is very important for us in general and especially because of the overall buoyant construction activity,” he emphasises.
Wolffran began its alliance with the Kanoo Group in January 2007 and opened its first Wolffkran Arabia office in Abu Dhabi a few months later.
Following its launch, the first rental contracts were drawn up and the first crane erections took place in Dubai in September 2007.
Since that time, rapid progress has been made throughout the entire region, with Wolffkran Arabia winning a number of prestigious projects from major contractors, to provide cranes at some magnificent landmarks and developments.
Earlier this year, Roots Group, a leading Saudi-based trader in building materials and industrial supplies, signed up to take over sales, rental and full consultancy services for Wolff cranes for Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt.
The benefits of the alliance with these groups is evident from the many projects that Wolffkran has secured, some of which include Motor City in Dubai; Burj Residence in Dubai; Formula One racetrack with hotel on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; a musical hall development in Muscat, Oman; and Princess Noura University for Girls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Today an assortment of the Wolff brand is available on the Arabian market, including 'A' frame saddle jibs, flat top cranes and luffers.
In general, its larger cranes are the most popular ones, such as the 6031 (60 m jib with 3.1-tonne tip load); the 7532 (75 m jib with 3.2-tonne tip load); and the 224B and 355B luffers.
According to Dr Schiefer, some of the features that make these cranes attractive include their strength and reliability in the tough Gulf conditions; the fast and easy erection with the Wolffkran pin-based tower system (no special tools required); the fully inter-exchangeable tower system between all the popular models mentioned above (they can all work on the same standard 2 by 2 m tower system) – there is no need for a special tower; highest free-standing heights (important for some high-rise buildings; no obstruction by wall ties; less cost; and manufacturer service locally.
The company launched its newest entry – the 1250B Big Wolff – in the region in June.
“The 1250B is one of the largest standard production luffing cranes worldwide. It has all the features that are sought for in cranes and even at this size, the crane uses some of the same components as our smallest crane – the 4517. Thanks to this aspect, customers get a highly reliable and proven product that operates in the same way as the smallest Wolffkran crane,” says Dr Schiefer.
Wolffkran describes the 1250B as a new favourite in the heavy-weight category of the big luffing cranes in the 1.500-tonne class, with the ability to lift up to 60 tonnes and reach a jib radius of up to 80 m. With the introduction of the Big Wolff, the premium quality manufacturer of tower cranes is responded to the worldwide growing demand for XXL-luffing cranes for the erection of power stations and for structural engineering.
With a tradition lasting over 150 years, Wolffkran is one of the leading manufacturers and hire companies of top-quality tower cranes in central Europe and the emerging markets in eastern Europe, the Middle East, North America and Australia. Its production capacity has increased five-fold in the last three years.