Vanguard Invests In R70 Million Crane For SA

In a major investment to the tune of R70 million, premier heavy lift and relocation specialist Vanguard, in a joint venture with Grindrod and
private investors, procured one of the most sophisticated mobile cranes in the world. Designed and manufactured by Grove Cranes, a
subsidiary of Manitowoc from Germany, the GTK 1100 arrived in South Africa in April 2010.

“This acquisition is a massive milestone for Vanguard, who sees the potential of the crane deployed in facilities such as refineries,
windturbine farms and power stations. When I saw the GTK 1100 being operated for the first time, during the construction of the boiler
sections at a power station outside Cologne, Germany, I was convinced of its capabilities in South Africa. A definite success in the
international construction sector, the GTK 1100 brings with it a whole range of opportunities for South African engineering companies in
terms of greater flexibility and reduced project costs,” says Bryan Hodgkinson, Director, Vanguard.

The GTK 1100 was designed to lift ultra heavy loads to extreme heights. It can accommodate lifting 100t to heights of more than 100m
and has a 56m working radius, centre operated. It was designed to compete in the super lift market dominated traditionally by large,
crawler cranes with lattice booms.

Another of the unique innovations of the GTK 1100 is that compared to other large super lift cranes, which would need between 20 and
40 truckloads of parts to be mobilised in order to perform such heavy lifts, the GTK 1100 only needs four truckloads. Site establishment is
therefore expected to be only a third of the cost. A further advantage is that the GTK 1100 can operate at these heights with very heavy
loads of up to 100t without a counterweight. It is a major breakthrough in the heavy lift crane market. The economical edge and extreme
flexibility to get it to site and ready for work is a major attribute

This crane is one of only seven of its kind in the world and has a small footprint of 18x18m (including the boom set-up) for a minimised
job site area and its self-levelling function results in minimal ground preparation. The vertical rigging of the self-erecting tower contributes
to the fast set-up; one of the key benefits of the GTK 1100 is that it can be ready for operation in just four to six hours. Helping to lower
operational costs, this crane is the best choice for restricted sites as it can negotiate gaps of 3.5m wide.

With over 30 years of experience, Vanguard, in keeping with its quest to use leading edge technology and equipment to deliver innovative
solutions to satisfy client requirements, continuously strives to upgrade, develop and improve a vital service to the industry.