John Sutch Cranes now runs the UK's biggest fleet of SANY mobile cranes, with two 60-tonne SAC600E machines and a 70-tonne SAC700E working from its depots in Liverpool and Manchester, and now it’s encouraging the market to look more closely at the Chinese manufacturer.
The family firm, who has been in the crane industry for nearly 40 years, chose SANY on price, then backed it because the cranes proved reliable on live sites, replacement parts came quickly and cheaply, and its operators have fallen for them.
Paul Parry, sales director at John Sutch Cranes, said: "We needed to increase the fleet. Time and time again, we've looked at new products on the market and we thought, 'We'll lead the way with it. We'll champion it.' So, SANY was the logical choice. The price was very competitive.
"So, we felt we had to look into them more, at what was inside them, and then we realised they had Kessler axles and Mercedes engines. These are all proven parts that are already in the industry and in other manufacturers' cranes."
The first crane then had to prove itself on live jobs across the country and it impressed. Paul said the SAC600E passed John Sutch’s internal tests and audits with flying colours, with feedback, crucially from its staff and clients, proving the telling points to more investment.
That came with another SAC600E before adding its sister, the SAC700E.
Gareth Leonard, who drives and operates one of the SAC600E cranes, admits he knew nothing about SANY before he took it on. Now he rates the comfort, the cab and the steering higher than other machines he’s operated. The crab steering was a particular favourite, with the vehicle turning every wheel the same way, so the crane can move sideways into tight spots.
Gareth Leonard, SANY SAC600E operator at John Sutch Cranes, said: "It is so comfy to drive. It makes a massive difference when you're getting to a site and you still feel fresh.
"The crab as well, absolute godsend. A lot of the guys are like, 'Are you going to get it in there?' 'Yeah, no problem.' And they're quite amazed where we can fit it. It just turns you on a sixpence."
Earlier this year a large section of one of the cranes was damaged out on site. The replacement arrived within three weeks, was painted and bolted back on, for about a quarter of what the company would normally pay.
Paul added: "Normally parts for some of the other manufacturers are astronomical. For us, it's price of ownership. It then has to have the reliability, and at the moment, we're getting both."
Paul said customers are now asking for the SANY cranes. Even operators who were ‘die-hard Liebherr fans and Grove fans’ are enjoying them once they have been behind the levers.
“The numbers are right for SANY,” he said. “We’ve got real confidence in the machines now, and they’ve made a big, positive difference to our fleet. Our owner and founder, John Sutch, has built a brilliant relationship with Ocean Yang and his team, so much so that he’s flying out to China this month to visit SANY’s Crane Factories in Huzhou and Changsha to see more of the range first-hand.”
