Krösche-Kran Service GmbH sees itself as a full-service, hassle-free provider of cranes for the prefabricated construction industry. So when the time came for the company to purchase a new all terrain crane, it simply had to be a Tadano HK 40 – the full-service, hassle-free crane par excellence.
Krösche can look back on a history spanning over 120 years, which has already given rise to a book by company owner Dieter Krösche. Rightly so, in fact, since the company’s history has been most eventful indeed. Based in Holzminden in Lower Saxony, Krösche started life as a successful blacksmith’s shop. After the war, the company had to be rebuilt and specialised in vehicle and steel construction. It purchased its first all terrain crane in the mid-1960s and has officially operated as a crane rental company since 1974. From this point on, Krösche specialised in prefabricated construction, which is reflected in its impressive present-day figures.
According to the company, 80 to 90 per cent of all industrially prefabricated houses in Germany are erected by the company. In conjunction with additional industrial prefabricated construction projects, Krösche-Kran Service GmbH serves around 15,000 construction sites a year across its 30 locations in Germany. With this in mind, it makes sense for the company to trust in one of the most reliable and powerful cranes for prefabricated construction to handle such a large order book. When the time came to purchase a new crane, Krösche decided on a Tadano HK 40. The company’s fleet includes a total of eight HK models with a Scania chassis. CEO Joachim Ruthe explains why the prefabricated construction specialist always chooses the HK series: “This series, and the HK 40 in particular, is practically made for prefabricated construction. We serve up to 450 construction sites in Germany every week, so we need high-speed machines that are robust and economical. The HK 40 offers these characteristics in abundance – I can’t think of any other crane like it.”
Efficient in every respect
The fact that the HK 40 is particularly economical to operate is down to the clever combination of its chassis and structure. And what’s more, it also reduces consumption since the Tadano superstructure cranes operate with the dual-engine concept. As for the alternating load of the drive units, this has a positive effect on operating hours, which means engine maintenance intervals are reduced.
The advantageous energy efficiency is also noticeable in terms of CO2 emissions. A decisive factor for many customers: “Sustainability is becoming increasingly important. We really are winning people over thanks to the better eco-balance of Tadano cranes. This has become an important decision-making criterion for our customers in some respects,” explains Ruthe.
For crane companies, the comparatively low maintenance costs are another deciding factor in favour of the HK 40. In addition to the dual-engine concept, the typical truck-mounted crane concept is another contributor in this regard. If a service case concerns the carrier, this calls for a repair on a large-series truck chassis, which means the costs of the service are usually cheaper than for a special chassis on a larger all terrain crane.
Robustness has a name
But these service issues are few and far between for the HK 40. Like all Tadano machines, attention has been paid to high-quality workmanship and robust construction and materials. And if, on the off chance, maintenance work is ever required, the service provided by Tadano is second to none, as Ruthe confirms: “When it comes to service, the Tadano maintenance network is as good as it gets. Our service partner at the Holzminden headquarters, in particular – W. Schnitger from Northeim – is outstanding: they’re lightning fast and everything they do is always to our complete satisfaction. But that said, the Tadano cranes are so reliable in everyday use that we rarely need help anyway.”
Powerful under partial load
Of course, the HK 40 is also an impressive solution where it counts most with cranes – in terms of lifting capacity. Particularly with a 5.5 t partial counterweight, there’s nothing quite like the HK 40. With the boom fully extended, the Tadano lifts several hundred kilograms more than other cranes, depending on the radius. In prefabricated house construction, this can tip the scales when a typical 1.5 to 2 t component has to be lifted over a roof truss, for example. Another unique selling point of the HK 40.
The 5.5 t counterweight also plays an important role in the optimal configuration of the 4-axle crane. This is because this counterweight allows the crane to be driven within an 8 t axle load, which means the cranes can take advantage of a permanent driving permit. What’s more, this Tadano model can carry a 9 m boom extension, a 10 t hook block, and a 4 t hook tackle. For Krösche, this means the team can simply get in and drive off knowing everything they need is on board. Now that’s what you call a real full-service, hassle-free crane.
