Tidd PC 25 pick and carry new for Australasia

The latest pick and carry crane to make an impact on this niche market segment in Australia and New Zealand is the Tidd PC 25, writes Brent Stacey. First seen on the crane display at September’s Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) national conference in Hobart, this new product for the Australasian market will give crane operators another product choice in a market that has an estimated 4,000 units in operation.

The New Zealand-manufactured pick and carry crane has started to spread its wings across the Tasman Sea with two product demonstration days held in Melbourne and Perth, Australia. The Tidd product is being distributed and supported throughout Australia via the Manitowoc Crane Group network.

While the new pick and carry crane introduces a new name in manufacturing for many people, those with a keen sense of history will be aware of the TRT name. Tidd Ross Todd Pty Ltd was well known for manufacturing complete crane carriers in the 1970s and 1980s, which then had imported upper works from Grove and others mounted on them.

The most recent of the open days held to demonstrate the Tidd PC 25 was at WATM Bayswater, the Western Australian Manitowoc dealer’s headquarters in Perth. The feedback was very positive said Bruce Carden, TRT manufacturing director. One visitor commented, “I like the finish - it’s very well put together, it will be interesting to see what a production unit looks like rather than this show crane.” Carden replied, “This is serial no. 006 off the production line. WATM receive number 007 next week and you are welcome to come back then and Anthony Lazenby (WATM managing director) can show you it when it arrives, it will be identical.”

The day saw some big hitters arrive representing a range of mining and crane companies that included Mineral Resources, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, and The Freo Group. Those that took the Tidd for a road test commented on how well it handled. The front hydraulic suspension soaks up all the bumps and the steering is very positive, they said.

No doubt the additional safety features of a ROPS cab and ABS brakes will make the Tidd crane attractive for many users. “We have put a lot of emphasis on getting the base design right,” said Robert Carden, TRT engineering director. I think the success of TRT’s manufacturing division has been the team’s ability to listen to our customers’ suggestions. That’s how we have got to where we are with the Tidd 25. A number of experienced pick and carry operators visited the factory during the design phase and had their input. The market will tell us if we have got it right.

More information on the new Tidd PC 25 will be available from local Manitowoc dealers.