The UK-based civil engineering contractor Ward and Burke, which works in the waste, sewage and water management sector, has bought six new Kobelco cranes, including two CKE1350G-2s and four CKE900G-2s. The company was due to take delivery of the new cranes in January 2017, with two CKE1350G-2s and one CKE900G-2 going to work in Blackpool on a project for United Utilities, while three CKE900G-2s will be put to work on a project for Yorkshire Water.

The CKE1350G-2 and CKE900G-2 series cranes, which have maximum lifting capacities of 150 tonne at 4.4 m and 90 tonne at 3.9 m respectively, feature Stage IV/Tier 4 Final engines. The ?new clean energy system? engines use a diesel particulate filter (DPF ) to reduce particulate matter and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx).

The new ?G Engine? system also keeps the engine running within fuel-efficient parameters by limiting maximum engine speed. While engine speed is reduced, pump capacity is controlled to maintain maximum winch speed for running or lifting. Using this function reduces fuel consumption by 10 per cent when compared to operations on a comparable crane.