Port Augusta's Max Cranes eyes national expansion and creates more regional jobs

South Australia’s Max Cranes is eyeing a national expansion as its takes ownership of the Southern Hemisphere's largest telescopic crane.

The largest telescopic crane in the Southern Hemisphere is at Max Cranes, at its Port Augusta headquarters. Picture: Supplied.

SOUTH Australia’s Max Cranes is eyeing a national expansion as its takes ownership of the southern hemisphere's largest telescopic crane.

The 1200-tonne capacity crane will allow the Port Augusta company to compete for new projects from shipbuilding to civil engineering and mining. Extending to 188m, the German-designed Liebherr all-terrain crane can lift the equivalent of 240 five-tonne elephants, or four 238-tonne Apollo 11 rockets.

Max Cranes co-founder and managing director Mark Kuhn said the crane had already led to the creation of 18 new jobs, including project managers and mechanical support.

Employees at work on the new 1200t crane. Picture: Supplied

“We have hand-picked personnel who are being trained now for the very specific skills this machine demands,” Mr Kuhn said.

“They love their job – they get to work on the best crane in the world, with technology and safety features that are second to none.”

Max Cranes received $4.7 million towards the $12 million crane and associated equipment from the Federal Government’s regional jobs and investment package.

Mr Kuhn believed the equipment would further increase job opportunities in the Upper Spencer Gulf by providing new offerings to industries nationally.

“It opens up the ability to deliver on jobs we would never have been able to do before, from construction and civil engineering through to mining and oil and gas,” Mr Kuhn said.

“That in turn puts pressure on internal resources, such as transport and logistics.”

Mr Kuhn also predicts engineers, construction and project managers will look to design jobs around the new machine and how they can use the increased capacity.

The crane was initially bought, driven by the demands of the wind renewable energy sector. It can be used for maintenance of the highest wind towers, to lift off the rotor – the three blades and hub – and allow a changeover of gearboxes and other equipment on the turbine.

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The German-designed Liebherr all-terrain crane at work lifting a wind turbine rotor. Picture: Supplied.

The largest telescopic crane in the Southern Hemisphere on its way to Max Cranes Port Augusta headquarters. Picture: Supplied