Tadano all terrain crane selected for fire service duty in Essen

Tadano AC 4.080-1 in Essen Fire Department livery (Photo: Tadano)

Essen Fire Department (EFD) in Germany has taken delivery of a new Tadano AC 4.080-1 all terrain crane.

The acquisition was made following a tender process which looked at equipment which could meet the diverse operational requirements of the EFD while remaining economical to operate.

Requirements were identified as active and preventative fire protection, together with emergency medical services, environmental hazards response and technical assistance.

The Tadano AC 4.080-1 was considered the best choice to fulfil these and other criteria which would help protect a regional population of about 600,000 people.

The crane will primarily be used in rescue operations, particularly those where individuals are located across significant distances or over obstacles – a common scenario due to the rows of building found in Essen.

Lifting and rescue

In addition, the crane can fulfil heavy lifts, such as in the case of rescue baskets.

A further technical advantage is the capability of the crane to negotiate urban environments with an axle load of only 10 tonnes, where required. This allows the crane to travel on routes with related weight restrictions and avoid detours.

The crane has a 60 metre main boom, with a 16 metre luffing extension. These will help in even complex rescue situations. The asymmetrical outrigger system will support positioning even in tight spaces.

Official handover of the crane took place at the Tadano facility in Lauf, Germany.

Following the fitting of fire-service equipment and fire service livery, personnel will be given operational training. The crane will then enter service in the Ruhr region.