Saudi Crane Services (SCS) has completed a comprehensive refurbishment programme for its entire fleet of 28 Grove mobile cranes, giving machines that have been working for decades a new lease of life and reinforcing the company’s long-term approach to fleet management.
Using 100% genuine OEM components supplied through Manitowoc’s aftersales support team, the Jeddah-based lifting specialist has revitalised every crane in its fleet, ensuring they are ready to continue operating reliably and efficiently on demanding projects across Saudi Arabia.
The refurbishment covered SCS’s predominantly Grove rough-terrain fleet, together with its GMK4080 all-terrain crane. The fleet’s newest machines are nine RT765E-2 cranes, manufactured between 2011 and 2012, while the oldest, an RT522, has remained in service since 1990. The fleet also includes eight RT760E cranes, four RT890E cranes, four RT880E cranes, and one RT9130E crane.
Rather than replacing proven equipment, SCS chose to invest in extending the service life of its existing fleet—a strategy that reflects both sound asset management and confidence in the durability of Grove cranes.
“We typically operate our Grove cranes for around 15 to 20 years before considering resale or trade-in, depending on condition and workload,” explains Richard Gandar, General Manager of Saudi Crane Services.
“Because genuine spare parts remain readily available for all our Grove models, a full parts refresh made strong financial sense.”
The extensive refurbishment programme involved replacing or upgrading a broad range of critical components, including hydraulic systems, control systems, structural elements, booms, air-conditioning units and cab interiors. Depending on the scope of work required, each crane spent between 5-10 weeks undergoing refurbishment before returning to service.
The programme not only restores reliability but also ensures the cranes continue to meet the demanding performance expectations of customers working in construction, oil and gas, industrial maintenance and infrastructure projects throughout the Kingdom.
Extending operational lifespan
“This initiative has significantly extended our cranes’ operational lifespan while improving lifting precision, reducing downtime, and enhancing fuel efficiency,” Gandar continues.
“Our operators have always praised the comfort, control, and robust performance of the Grove cranes, and these upgrades have made them even better.”
Since its establishment in 2007, SCS has built its fleet around Grove rough-terrain cranes, which have consistently demonstrated their durability in Saudi Arabia’s harsh desert conditions. High temperatures, dust and intensive operating schedules place exceptional demands on lifting equipment, making reliability and ease of maintenance critical factors for fleet operators.
The cranes’ combination of lifting capacity, off-road mobility and dependable performance enables SCS to support a wide range of applications, from machinery installation and structural steel erection to module lifting and industrial shutdown work across the region.
A key element of the programme has been the continued availability of genuine Grove parts, backed by Manitowoc’s aftersales organisation and supported locally by Kanoo Machinery. Alongside parts supply, the long-standing partnership includes regular operator and maintenance training programmes, helping SCS maximise equipment performance and maintain high standards of safety and reliability throughout the fleet.
“This project demonstrates how proper parts support and planned maintenance can extend equipment life far beyond expectations,” Gandar concludes. “Our Grove cranes are now ready to deliver many more years of safe, efficient lifting performance.”
The successful refurbishment demonstrates that, with the right maintenance strategy and access to genuine OEM parts, even cranes that have been working for more than three decades can continue delivering reliable performance while providing operators with a cost-effective alternative to fleet replacement.
