The world’s best mobile crane operator

Game of Cranes winners on the podium at Liebherr-Werk Ehingen. Photo: Liebherr

The world’s best mobile crane operator has been crowned following a series of challenging heats in the Game of Cranes.

Scott White from the UK took the throne at the international final of the Game of Cranes. It was held at the Liebherr mobile crane factory in Ehingen, Germany at the end of November. Five top mobile crane operators from North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and the combined Africa/Middle East/Asia regions competed against each other for the top accolade.

Contestants completed a series of five practical and theoretical tests over two days at the Ehingen site. Tasks included calculating load capacities and rigging conditions, configuring cranes and transport loads.

Rigging was one of the key tasks in the Game of Cranes. Photo: Liebherr

In the training centre contestants had to correctly attach different loads, including concrete buckets and blocks to an indoor crane. Outside they had to manoeuvre a container around an obstacle.

“At the next stages, the finalists calculated the wind load on a steel plate and lifted it over an obstacle using a single hook before pouring a bottle precisely into a beer glass using two hooks,” explained Michaela Gogeißl, Liebherr customer training sales manager.

In two final stages the operators had to pick a 5 tonne load and guide it around an S-shaped course. Simultaneous movements of lifting, luffing and turning were required while avoiding contact with obstacles.

“Last but not least, the ‘hot wire’ awaited our professionals. They had to guide a slewing ring over a pipe construction using two hooks without touching it,” Gogeißl said.

The winners

Game of Cranes champion Scott White from City Lifting, left, being congratulated by Christoph Kleiner, Liebherr-Werk Ehingen managing director. Photo: Liebherr

Scott White took the World Crane Champion title with 898 points. “It was a fantastic competition and great fun – I’m over the moon that I did it! The S-course was the biggest challenge, the hot wire was the best station,” enthused White.

In second place was Joey Fisher from Johnson and Young Cranes in Australia with 861 points. “It was incredible, just amazing! I was here with my wife Nicole and, to be honest, I was pretty nervous – there were so many people watching,” Fisher commented.

Third was Kirk Smith at Titan Cranes in New Zealand with 811 points. “It was a very challenging competition – and a great experience! The sportsmanship of my fellow competitors was incredible, but I still had a few sleepless nights,” Smith said.

In 4th place was Nick Jackman from Mountain Crane Service in the USA with 756 points. “It was a great competition – very well thought out and perfectly organised. Today is not only the final of the Game of Cranes, but also Thanksgiving – and the Liebherr plant in Ehingen is the best place to celebrate,” Jackman said.

Fifth place was taken by Leonardo Navarro from WWN Guindastes in Brazil on 690 points “All stages of this competition required a lot of knowledge and skill. In addition to the professional organisation, which included a factory tour and the opportunity to operate the largest crane – the LR 13000 – at the crane acceptance, I enjoyed the exchange with the other crane operators,” Navarro said.

About 200 applications for the Game of Cranes were received from mobile crane operators around the world. “The performances we saw in the final were impressive. All participants demonstrated how demanding and professional crane operation is today,” said Christoph Behmüller, head of training and development at Liebherr in Ehingen.

Manoeuvring a load through a fixed course was one of the tasks in the Game of Cranes. Photo: Liebherr