Wolffkran JV lifts at Burj Dubai

Wolffkran Arabia has four tower cranes with trolley jibs in service at the Burj Dubai construction site, where the world's tallest skyscraper is being built.

According to the company, the models are some of the highest freestanding cranes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the lowest climbing to about 120 m. The highest will reach more than 200 m.

"We will have 12 cranes on the Burj Dubai development by the end of July, eight of these cranes will be well over 100 m high," said Mark Evans, Wolffkran Arabia managing director

The company is a 15-month-old joint venture between German tower crane manufacturer Wolfkran and equipment dealer Kanoo Machinery, set up to sell and rent tower cranes in UAE.

Today, the operation has about 40 cranes in its fleet, and that number is forecast to reach 100 by the end of 2008. The joint venture has two offices, one in Abu Dhabi and the other in Dubia.

Evans took up his post as managing director at the end of June. "This is an absolute first for our clients. They receive service and support directly, not through crane dealers as is usually the case. We act as consultants and service providers implementing solutions according to the demands of the individual sites," added Evans.