New branch and Manitowoc 31000 for Crane Rental Corp.

Crane Rental Corporation is expanding its operations with a new branch in Tampa, Florida. The USA-based company has also confirmed it will soon take delivery of the first 2,500 US ton (2,260 tonne) capacity Manitowoc 31000 crawler crane.

The facility includes a 3,200 square foot (297 square metre) office building, 10,000 square feet (929 square metres) of shop and warehouse space and 7.5 acres (3 hectares) of land.

"Increased shop and warehouse space will allow us to service our fleet in a shorter amount of time and provide indoor warehousing options to our customer base," said Shannon Duvic, sales and marketing manager.

Alan Ashlock, Crane Rental Corp. president, added, "Although we have provided crawler cranes and rough terrain cranes for 30 years in the Tampa area, we will now seek to serve the taxi crane market as well. We are now able to respond timely in all facets of crane rental, heavy hauling and specialized rigging."

The company confirmed it will soon receive the Manitowoc 31000. The heavy lifter features a variable position counterweight and can travel with load. The company added that the 31000 offers some of the lowest ground bearing pressures in its class.

Using a 328 foot (100 m) main boom the crane can travel with a load of 462,000 pounds (209 tonnes) at 300 foot (91 m) radius.

"In fact, permanent foundations are usually not required to accommodate on site ground bearing capacities. This feature saves projects regarding both budget and schedule," said a company spokesman.