MEI puts first Link-Belt 300|AT to work in Virginia

MEI Industrial Solutions of Coppell, Texas, has placed the first Link-Belt 300|AT all terrain crane into field operation. The 300-ton (275-metric ton) unit was delivered earlier this summer by distributor Link-Belt Mid-Atlantic.

The first Link-Belt 300|AT all terrain crane has joined MEI’s fleet, lifting heavy equipment for the fast-growing data center market near Dulles International Airport.

Since joining MEI’s taxi crane fleet in June 2025, the 300|AT has been busy supporting the data center boom in northern Virginia. At a staging yard near Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, the crane recently unloaded 30,000-pound (13.6-tonne) chillers at a 60-foot (18-meter) radius, part of a steady flow of equipment arriving from Laredo, Texas. The region accounts for an estimated 13 percent of the world’s operational data center capacity.

MEI crane operator Joshua Luis, who has 25 years of operating experience, said the crane’s highway performance stands out. “It’s like driving a Cadillac down the road,” he said. He also pointed to the crane’s remote-controlled outriggers, ease of assembly, and Link-Belt’s Pulse 2.0 system as key advantages.

As a single-engine crane, the 300|AT is straightforward to maintain. Luis said its metering, boom speed and swing controls are particularly useful for placing equipment in compact spaces.

“With the 300|AT, I can pick generators with a six-part line that other cranes would need eight parts of line for,” he explained. “That makes work a lot smoother and a lot faster.”

Visibility and mobility are also strong points, Luis added. The cab’s windows, camera package, suspension and steering system allow the crane to handle frequent repositioning and tight job site conditions.