  Manufacturer Gives Old Excavators New Life As Hydraulic CranesMarch 10, 2003 Issue of Engineering News RecordBy William J. Angelo Attention: Equipment Managers and Site Superintendents A Canadian equipment manufacturer has converted six Caterpillar excavators into rough terrain, hydraulic telescoping boom cranes. The conversion has helped an Ontario company recycle its equipment and lay water and sewer pipe at lower costs but as much as 15%. Arva Industries Inc., St Thomas, Ontario, converted two CAT 235 and four CAT 245 excavators for Con-Drain Co. Ltd., Concord. "Con-Drain wanted to take their old excavators and turn them into cranes because they weren't worth much on trade-in but could operate in rough terrain," says Fred Smith, Arva president. "They had been using 85-ft lattice-boom cranes for 11,000-lb picks between 40 ft and 60 ft away." Con-Drain, a large sewer and water general contractor, approached several equipment makers but none would take the job. Smith's son, David, was selling load systems to the contractor and suggested that it call Arva. Arva has delivered the six machines and is readying two more. "A standard crawler crane works well off a platform but cannot go into holes. These machines can pick and operate there because of their undercarriage," says Smith. "The booms are also designed with 10% side load capacity while most other cranes normally have 2 to 3% side load. These machines don't have to be perfectly level and can pick and carry with a load." "We like the machines because they are half the cost of a new crane, can be moved easily from job to job, and handle rough terrain and sites with overhead wires well," says Antonio DeGasperis, Con-Drain corporate secretary. "There is lots of life left in these machines as cranes and we use them to lay pipe, manholes, box culverts, valve chambers and sand and stone. We can also lift more because the machines can get closer to work positions." The 235 has a 30-ton boom capacity and the 245 has a 50-ton capacity. The conversions cost for the 245 is about $180,000 US and take about eight weeks to complete. "The owner takes the arm off and ships us the machine," says Smith. "We build the boom and use the boom lift cylinders and all existing controls but we have to slow some of the hydraulics." The machines have a load-moment system and are U.S. and Canadian code compliant. ARVA can convert most brands and models of excavators into rough terrain, hydraulic cranes. |
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