Siam Cement Group invests in Grove GMK5130-2 in Thailand

Siam Cement Group (SCG), a leading building materials supplier across Asia, has introduced a new 130 t crane to its Thai operations to help meet growing demand. After surveying several alternatives, the company opted for Grove’s GMK5130-2, judging it to be the best choice for its needs.

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SCG already has good experience with Grove cranes, as it currently owns three older models in its fleet, a Grove AT990E all-terrain crane, plus a Grove RT855B and a Grove RT530DXL – both rough-terrain cranes. The latest addition – the GMK5130-2 – was purchased to replace an older 80 t GMK4080 all-terrain crane. The higher-capacity GMK crane will be used across SCG’s three biggest manufacturing sites in Saraburi Province, just north of Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok.

“Siam Cement Group has been purchasing Grove cranes for many years because of their proven reliability and the strong service support we receive from our local dealer– Metro Cranes,” explains Praramate Pimpaboote, maintenance manager at SCG. “We recently decided to upgrade an older crane in our fleet with a larger capacity model to cope with increasing work levels, and after comparing a number of options on the market, we decided the GMK5130-2 was the best solution. We love the crane’s Megatrak suspension system and its smooth handling on the road. It’s also got great lifting capabilities and offers excellent stability.”

An evolution of the popular GMK5130-1, the second generation GMK5130-2 has an improved cab that hydraulically tilts to 20°. The aluminum cab features all-round vision and safety glass for optimal operator safety. The Twin-Lock boom extends from 12.9 m to 60 m in six sections with a maximum tip height of 63 m. At SCG’s three cement plants, it lifts loads of up to 40 t which measure up to 6 m in length.

The crane’s carrier is powered by an eight-cylinder, turbo-charged Mercedes-Benz OM502LA engine for fast, efficient travel both on and off-highway, and delivers a powerful road performance, even uphill. It features the Megatrak independent, hydro-pneumatic suspension system which is unique to Grove cranes. The system gives the crane outstanding maneuverability and speed and also offers up to 600 mm of ground clearance – significantly better than alternative cranes that have only a standard suspension system. In addition the crane has all-wheel steer and an automatic on-highway levelling system.

“The GMK5130-2 is more reliable, more stable and has a higher lifting capacity compared to other machines in its class. Coupled with its powerful uphill and downhill capabilities, I am confident that we made the right choice,” adds Pimpaboote.

SGC is one of the largest conglomerates in the ASEAN region, with operations across Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Founded over 100 years ago, the company has diversified operations that now include paper and chemicals, but cement and building materials remain at its core.