Tusker Construction Group has changed the way it buys cranes. The Irish contractor and rental company, which previously sourced used machines from several suppliers, has added five new Grove All Terrains through Irlequip, the Grove dealer for Ireland.
| Model | Units | Capacity | Axles | Main boom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMK6300L-1 | 1 | 300 t | 6 | 80 m |
| GMK5120L | 2 | 120 t | 5 | 66 m |
| GMK3060L-1 | 2 | 60 t | 3 | 48 m |
Why new
Management says the move to new equipment is intended to raise utilisation and cut downtime and running costs. Irlequip, which had already supplied Tusker with used Groves, is providing an extended warranty and will service the cranes.
The cranes
The GMK6300L-1 becomes the largest of the five. According to Manitowoc it can travel with up to 21 tonnes of counterweight, and its slabs are interchangeable with Grove's five-axle models in the 180 to 250 tonne classes – useful for a fleet that may grow in that direction. The GMK5120L has MAXbase variable outrigger positioning and a swingaway jib that extends from 9.4 to 16 metres, while the three-axle GMK3060L-1 uses a seven-section boom.
About Tusker
Founded in 1995 and based in Lough Egish, County Monaghan, Tusker runs its crane division from Newry with a further depot in Swords, County Dublin. The cranes work both in the rental fleet and on the group's own construction and steel erection projects in Ireland and the UK.
No contract value has been disclosed, and it is not clear which older cranes, if any, have left the fleet. Cranes Today describes the purchase as a 2025 investment, which suggests some of the units are already at work.
Source: Manitowoc