General Crane Services WA Introduces Tadano AC 4.070HL-1 Hybrid to Western Australia
- Meagan Wood
- Nov 10, 2025
- 5 min read
30-Second Takeaway
General Crane Services WA (GCSWA) has strengthened its modern fleet with the addition of the Tadano AC 4.070HL-1 Hybrid, a 70-tonne all-terrain crane delivering low-emission, near-silent operation without compromising lifting performance. Already deployed on major resource sector projects, the hybrid crane reflects GCSWA’s commitment to safety, innovation, and sustainable lifting solutions.
Hybrid Crane Marks a Milestone for GCSWA
General Crane Services WA (GCSWA) has built a strong reputation for delivering safe, reliable, and innovative lifting solutions across Western Australia. Known for operating one of the region’s most modern and dependable fleets, the company has taken another significant step forward with the introduction of the Tadano AC 4.070HL-1 Hybrid.
The 70-tonne hybrid all-terrain crane is already demonstrating the same proven performance as its conventional diesel counterpart while delivering the additional benefits of quieter operation and reduced emissions. From early October, the crane commenced a
12-month non-process infrastructure (NPI) project at Rio Tinto’s Hope Downs 1 site.
“The introduction of the Tadano hybrid is a clear reflection of our values and commitment to our clients: providing modern, reliable, and future-focused solutions,” said Nick Bucciarelli, Managing Director, GCSWA.
A Modern Fleet Gets Greener
GCSWA is widely recognised for maintaining a fleet that blends reliability with cutting-edge technology. The integration of the AC 4.070HL-1 Hybrid expands this capability, enabling clients to access greener lifting solutions that align with sustainability priorities increasingly embedded across mining, infrastructure, and industrial sectors.
“Sustainable solutions and innovation are important to us, and partnering with Tadano was an easy choice,” Nick said. “Their 24/7 support and continued close collaboration help minimise downtime, allowing us to better meet our customers’ project expectations and timelines.”
Operator Perspective: A New Era in Lifting
For Wayne Mancini, one of GCSWA’s most experienced operators with more than 20 years in the industry and six years at GCSWA, the hybrid crane represented a new way of working.
“I’ll be honest, I was a bit sceptical at first,” Wayne admits.
“You get so used to the sound of a diesel engine; it’s part of how you understand the crane’s movements. With the hybrid, it’s so quiet it took a little time to adjust, but once you get used to it, the operation is incredibly smooth; in fact, it’s the smoothest crane I’ve ever operated.”
Wayne also highlighted the crane’s compact footprint and manoeuvrability, making it particularly effective on tight or constrained job sites.
On-Site Performance Delivers Confidence
Operational performance quickly impressed the GCSWA team.
“During one install, I ran the crane for three and a half hours straight lifting roofing sheets and still had 20 per cent charge left. Charging on site was no problem. For the type of work we do, I was impressed.”
Wayne also credited Tadano’s technical support, particularly Russell Currie from Tadano Oceania, for ensuring a smooth transition to hybrid technology.
“Russell’s on my speed dial,” Wayne laughs. “With any new technology, there’ll always be a few teething issues, but nothing we couldn’t solve together. A lot of the time it’s just like any electronic device; a quick isolation or restart gets you back up and running.”
A standout feature was remote diagnostics:
“They could see the exact error code in real time, which made troubleshooting so efficient. Instead of waiting around, we got the crane back online fast and kept the job moving.”
The Hybrid Advantage
The Tadano AC 4.070HL-1 Hybrid combines trusted lifting performance with advanced electrification. Its electrified superstructure, powered by an 800 V, 70 kWh battery, enables zero-emission and near-silent operation for extended periods.
The system can be:
Recharged via grid power
Recharged through energy regeneration from the carrier engine
This flexibility allows the crane to operate efficiently across a wide range of project environments.
Integrity and Commitment Drive Fleet Strategy
At the core of GCSWA’s success is a clearly defined set of values:
Safety first – protecting people and projects
Reliability – a modern fleet supported by meticulous maintenance
Innovation – adopting technology that delivers real client value
Integrity – building trust through transparent relationships
Sustainability – supporting future projects with lower-impact solutions
The addition of the Tadano hybrid directly reflects these commitments, demonstrating GCSWA’s proactive response to evolving expectations around emissions, noise reduction, and environmental performance.
A Partnership Built on Trust
James Greenwood, Chief Operating Officer of Tadano Oceania, said:
“GCSWA has been a trusted partner of Tadano for many years. We don’t just see ourselves as a supplier, but as a genuine partner in their ongoing success. Providing advanced lifting solutions like the AC 4.070HL-1, along with round-the-clock support, is all part of that commitment.”
On Contract for the Long Haul
Since its arrival, the hybrid crane has proven its value across multiple deployments, including several weeks supporting Fortescue’s transmission powerline projects, alongside its ongoing role at Rio Tinto’s Hope Downs 1 site.
Working alongside GCSWA’s wider crane fleet, the AC 4.070HL-1 highlights the confidence both GCSWA and its clients place in hybrid lifting technology and in the company’s ability to deliver complex projects efficiently and responsibly.
About General Crane Services WA (GCSWA)
General Crane Services WA (GCSWA) is a Western Australia–based crane hire and lifting solutions provider supporting the resources, infrastructure, construction, and industrial sectors. The company operates one of the state’s most modern fleets, ranging from compact mobile cranes to higher-capacity all-terrain units.
GCSWA is recognised for its strong safety culture, technical expertise, and long-term partnerships with tier-one clients. Continuous investment in fleet modernisation and operator training enables the company to deliver reliable, future-focused lifting solutions across some of Australia’s most demanding environments.
About Tadano
Tadano is a global manufacturer of mobile cranes, all-terrain cranes, rough-terrain cranes, crawler cranes, and lattice boom cranes, with a strong reputation for engineering excellence and innovation.
Headquartered in Japan, Tadano has been at the forefront of crane electrification and hybrid technology, developing solutions that reduce emissions, noise, and operating costs without compromising performance. Through Tadano Oceania, the company supports customers across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region with sales, service, and technical expertise.
Website: https://www.tadano.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Tadano AC 4.070HL-1 Hybrid different from a conventional crane?
It features an electrified superstructure powered by a high-voltage battery, enabling zero-emission, near-silent operation while maintaining full lifting performance.
How long can the hybrid crane operate on battery power?
Depending on duty cycle, the crane can operate for several hours, with energy regenerated by the carrier engine or replenished via grid power.
Is hybrid technology suitable for mining and infrastructure projects?
Yes. The crane’s flexibility and performance make it well suited to mining, infrastructure, and industrial environments where emissions and noise are increasingly regulated.
What role does remote diagnostics play in uptime?
Remote access allows Tadano technicians to view real-time fault data, significantly reducing troubleshooting time and minimising downtime.
Why is sustainability becoming important in crane hire?
Clients are increasingly setting emissions and noise benchmarks for projects, making low-impact lifting solutions a competitive and operational advantage.
