Baldwins Crane Hire Expands Fleet with Major Grove All-Terrain Investment

Meagan Wood
Sep 20, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Jan 19

30-Second Takeaway

Baldwins Crane Hire has strengthened its UK fleet with a major investment in Grove all-terrain cranes, taking delivery of three GMK5120L units, two GMK5150XL cranes and a GMK5250XL-1. The expansion reinforces Baldwins’ long-standing relationship with Grove and further enhances its capability to support large-scale construction, infrastructure and energy projects nationwide.

Major Fleet Expansion for UK Heavy Crane Specialist

Baldwins Crane Hire, one of the UK’s leading heavy crane rental companies, has expanded its fleet with the addition of six new Grove all-terrain cranes.

The latest investment includes:

Three Grove GMK5120L all-terrain cranes
Two Grove GMK5150XL units
One Grove GMK5250XL-1

Baldwins has been a long-standing Grove customer for decades and now operates the largest fleet of five- and six-axle Grove cranes in the UK, reinforcing its reputation for operating high-performance mobile cranes.

Supporting Growth with Proven Technology

A Trusted Partnership with Grove

The new deliveries highlight Baldwins’ continued confidence in Grove equipment as it expands its operational reach across the UK.

James Leishman, UK Sales Manager for Mobile Cranes at Manitowoc, said:

“We’re extremely proud to deliver these latest cranes to Baldwins as the company continues to expand its operations thanks to the reliable and productive support of Grove mobile cranes. Our class-leading five-axle units, the GMK5120L and GMK5150XL, give customers the longest booms around as well as great taxi counterweight options and compact footprints. Companies like Baldwins can take on bigger and better jobs with these cranes while still enjoying reliable and productive performance.”

GMK5120L: First Units of Their Kind in the UK

Long Reach with Strong Taxi Capability

The 120-tonne Grove GMK5120L is being introduced to the UK market for the first time through Baldwins’ fleet.

Key features include:

66-metre main boom, offering exceptional reach in the 120 t class
Ability to carry up to 30.7 tonnes of counterweight at 16.5 t per axle
14.6 tonnes of counterweight at 12 t per axle
3.1 tonnes of counterweight at 10 t per axle

These configurations allow operators to reduce transportation costs while maintaining flexibility across a wide range of lifting applications.

With compact dimensions of just 14.2 metres in length and 2.75 metres in width, the GMK5120L provides excellent site access and manoeuvrability, supported by Grove’s MEGATRAK® independent suspension system.

GMK5150XL: Optimised for Tower Crane Assembly

Exceptional Load Charts and Roadability

The Grove GMK5150XL features a seven-section 68.7-metre main boom, manufactured using Grove’s MEGAFORM® boom design.

The crane delivers strong lifting performance at height, including:

8.1 tonnes at 68.7 metres
9.5 tonnes at 66 metres
13 tonnes at almost 60 metres

Taxi crane configurations range from 1 tonne up to 30.9 tonnes of counterweight, all within 16.5 t axle loads, providing best-in-class roadability and reducing mobilisation costs.

These capabilities make the GMK5150XL particularly well suited to tower crane erection and urban construction projects.

GMK5250XL-1: Longest Boom in Its Class

High Capacity with Fuel-Saving Technology

The Grove GMK5250XL-1 offers a 78.5-metre main boom, the longest available in its class, combined with TWIN-LOCK™ boom pinning for enhanced rigidity and safety.

Despite its long reach and high capacity, the crane maintains a compact footprint and excellent manoeuvrability.

Power is provided by a single Mercedes-Benz EUROMOT 5 engine, driving both the carrier and superstructure. This single-engine design incorporates fuel-saver technology, reducing fuel consumption by up to 30% compared to previous five-axle Grove models.

Additional features include:

MEGATRAK® suspension with all-wheel steering
Optional MAXbase variable outrigger positioning system

Strengthening Capability Across Key Sectors

Ready for Complex UK Projects

The expanded Grove fleet enhances Baldwins’ ability to support a broad range of sectors, including:

General construction
Major infrastructure projects
Power generation and energy
Industrial and commercial developments

The combination of long reach, high capacity and efficient roadability allows Baldwins to deliver reliable lifting solutions across demanding project environments.

About Baldwins Crane Hire

Founded in 1957, Baldwins Crane Hire is a leading UK crane rental specialist, providing lifting solutions for construction, infrastructure, power and energy projects nationwide. The company operates a modern fleet of mobile cranes supported by a dedicated in-house maintenance team, ensuring high reliability and safety standards across all operations.

Website: https://www.baldwinscranehire.co.uk

About Grove / Manitowoc

Grove, a brand of The Manitowoc Company, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of mobile and all-terrain cranes, recognised for advanced boom technology, strong load charts and innovative mobility systems.

Manitowoc designs, manufactures and supports lifting solutions globally through an extensive dealer and service network.

Website: https://www.manitowoc.com