Crane rental – what you need to know

Many companies rent out cranes in Romania. Some are just starting out, others have a long track record in renting or selling cranes. For a company that wants to rent a crane, it is very important to know a few basic criteria to check before hiring such services.

It is essential to rent a working, practical machine that can handle the needs of the site. You also need to know which related services are involved, so that you do not discover at the end that you have spent more than you would have with an offer that looked expensive.

Unfortunately, many providers in this field do not send a clear offer covering every aspect, in order to look cheaper than the competition. This is, of course, to the disadvantage of whoever rents or buys the crane.

What matters when you rent or buy a crane for your site? What exactly should you pay attention to?

What the site needs

You need to know the maximum height you require and the jib length needed to move loads comfortably over the useful area. You also need to know how much weight the crane has to lift, bearing in mind that a crane’s maximum load varies: near the tower it can lift more, and towards the tip the capacity drops. Cranes can be configured in height and jib length to suit your needs.

You may only need a self-erecting crane, or a tower crane. The related costs differ depending on the choice. A self-erecting crane, for example, does not need a poured concrete foundation, whereas for a tower crane the foundation is very important and a significant cost.

Site conditions

Many things have to be considered: whether there are other cranes on site, the local site rules, whether machines may be operated outside the site boundary (over other buildings or the street, where necessary), which permits are needed for erection, the conditions for connecting to the power supply, and more.

The crane

Although prices differ, it matters a great deal which costs are included in the price and which are not. It is also important to understand the ISCIR and CNCIR requirements involved (the Romanian authorities for lifting equipment).

What to look at when examining a crane rental or sale offer:

• year of manufacture;
• height under hook;
• jib length;
• maximum load;
• type of hoist winch;
• type of trolley winch;
• radio remote control;
• operating temperatures;
• motor types;
• any limits on operating in seismic zones;
• ISCIR;
• CNCIR.

Check that the offer is complete. Here is a list of possible services and costs involved:

• the monthly crane rent;
• the cost of erection;
• the cost of dismantling;
• the cost of transport to the site;
• the cost of the return transport;
• the pre-erection documentation;
• the base element for the foundation;
• the cost of the mobile crane for erection and dismantling;
• the cost of the machines for unloading and loading;
• the cost of the power supply connection;
• the cost of the earthing connection;
• the cost of access to restricted areas (if applicable).

Crane accessories. Agree from the start which accessories you need to use the crane and what they cost. Accessories you may need:

• crane chains;
• slings;
• crane bucket;
• pallet fork.

Operating the crane

It is good to know which certificates the crane operator needs to operate that type of crane, and the site rules for operation when several cranes work on the same site.

Related services

What happens if something breaks down? Who supplies your crane spare parts? If these points are not settled from the start, the crane can be out of action for long periods. The supplier should provide service and spare parts, so that the crane is working again as quickly as possible after a breakdown.

We hope this guide helps you assess the offers you receive objectively and save money, and above all improve efficiency and productivity.

The Fortza.Ro team and its specialists are available to advise you on choosing the most suitable crane, and offer crane maintenance, crane transport, spare parts and other related services.