JMG Australian Week

A big thank you to our official partner in Australia, MCT Equipment! Thanks to Anthony Grosser, Danny Blazeski, and their entire team for the excellent organization and warm welcome.
Thank you to Anthony Grosser, Danny Blazeski, and their entire team for the excellent organization and warm hospitality.

#About#the#week#in#Australia

Monadelphous has added its first battery-powered electric crane to its fleet, set to be used in a Fortescue operation in the Pilbara region. Maurizio Manzini with Monadelphous' first electric crane.

Monadelphous recently unveiled the JMG MC250 crane at its Bibra Lake facility, with a lifting capacity of up to 25 tonnes.

The crane will make its debut at a Fortescue mining site in the Pilbara and is scheduled to be deployed to other customers in the coming months.

Sourced from JMG Cranes, the machine was imported by MCT Equipment, which holds the national distribution rights for the Italian company's electric cranes.

Anthony Grosser, managing director of MCT, said this type of machinery is already widely used throughout Europe.

“Bringing this crane to Australia is a great opportunity to test its capabilities in the Pilbara environment, to learn and collaborate on possible improvements,” he said.

“This crane is not a direct replacement for our traditional pick-and-carry models, but as we move toward electric solutions, we need to think differently about how to apply effective alternatives.”

“With the people we have here today, we have the resources and the vision to take this first step toward a more efficient machine, with better outcomes for safety and the environment.”

Maurizio Manzini, managing director of JMG and resident in Italy, travelled to Bibra Lake for the launch of the electric crane.

"It is an interesting opportunity for me to present my brand and my crane concept here in Australia," he said.

“This is a fully electric 25-tonne crane with at least eight hours of autonomy on a full charge. This is very important to ensure it can operate for at least a full working day.”

Lorna Rechichi, general manager for heavy lifting operations at Monadelphous, explained that the company chose this crane model as an alternative to conventional pick-and-carry powered by fossil fuels.

“The resources sector is undergoing a major transformation, and electrification is emerging as a powerful driver of change,” she said.

"Electric alternatives like this crane not only reduce emissions, but also offer operational and safety advantages."

The JMG - MC 250 is also equipped with a telescopic boom, a complete Load Moment Indicator system, radio remote control and air conditioning.

"It is great to see Monadelphous taking concrete action to support the decarbonisation of the mining industry," said Steve Cole, director of mining operations at Fortescue.

"We are excited to welcome the crane to the site and see it soon in action in the Pilbara."

Electrically powered transport and logistics are receiving more and more attention in the resource sector.

Last month, Fortescue became the first iron ore mining company to introduce a battery-electric train in the Pilbara.

The train was built in-house by Fortescue Zero and transported to Thomas Yard in Port Hedland.