From Rental Cranes to High Speed Rail: A Look at Sarens in Mexico
29
December 2017

Sarens is a reference for crane rental in Mexico, and the Group is now proud to support an exciting new project: the construction of the new Interurban Train Valley of Mexico - Toluca. This high-speed rail project will connect the Toluca metro area with Mexico City, with trains that reach maximum speeds of 160 kilometres per hour. The project will involve the construction of four stations, two terminals, and a tunnel that avoids environmentally vulnerable areas. 

Sarens is providing a Demag AC1200 crane for the construction of a 36km section of the railway in the state of Zinacantepec, on behalf of client Constructora de Proyectos Viales de Mexico (better known in the industry as OHL). The crane has a 53.8m boom and 30t weight capacity at a 20m radius. It will help lift several elements, including a sliding formwork, station steps, and accessories for the train stops. 

A telescopic crane was required for this project due to the space available for operations: there is traffic throughout the day, and construction takes place right next to the highway in a limited space near high tension cables. The crane was transported to the project site overnight and set up in a few hours the next day. It will remain on the job site for approximately 16 months.  

Sarens is proud of its fleet of cranes in Mexico, which range from 70t to 350t capacity. The fleet includes: 

  • Demag AC1200 and AC80
  • Liebherr LTM 1100-4.2 and LTM 1100-2
  • Grove RT880E, RT890, and RT 875 E
  • Linkbelt HTC 8675 S-II
  • XCMG QY70K
  • Zoomlion QY70 

Sarens looks forward to providing rental cranes and expertise for future projects like the OHL high-speed rail project. One project currently in the pipeline, for example, is a duct and platform change project at a cement plant in Hidalgo. 

Here, Miriam Guevara, Sarens' Regional Sales and CRM Analyst in Latin America, describes the demand for crane rental in Mexico as well as client expectations, environmental precautions, and safety standards. 

What is the outlook for crane rentals in Mexico? 

There has been a market for cranes in Mexico for the past 50 years, as the country has been developing and industrializing. Public and private investment has made infrastructure a key sector in Mexico, and construction hasn't stopped despite the expenses. Cranes have become indispensable: the market is growing, and so is the market for cranes. The key sectors driving this growth include thermal and power plants, mining, onshore wind, civil works, petrochemical, and general industry. 

What are clients looking for when it comes to crane rental? 

Most of our clients require telescopic cranes because of the price and practicality. They're also looking for major capacity cranes that are also compact. Clients now have more specific calendars for all of their work and the time in which they'll need the crane, so they want assembly to be executed in a short period of time. They need to assemble prefabricated elements while saving money on workforce and execution time. 

Clients are also looking for companies with specialized people who can offer detailed solutions. They want to work with brands that offer high quality and safety standards. Sarens is a reference in this market thanks to our brand name, prestige, and an engineering department that always comes up with a solution. We focus on fulfilling the customer's requirements, being punctual, and keeping equipment in good working condition. We pride ourselves on safety and security, as well as friendly and cordial treatment of each client. 

How does Sarens address environmental issues and help reduce the carbon footprint?   

We are committed to health care, hygiene, and environment and this is achieved by working together with the client to put the equipment into operation at the moment when activities are being performed. We try to not contaminate the soil or water, and emit the minimum particles into the air by putting our equipment on standby while planning activities or taking breaks. The final disposal of pollutants, and use and maintenance of our equipment, is monitored and documented. 

How does Sarens ensure safety on rental projects? 

For Sarens, safety and security is an investment instead of an expense. There are security supervisors with pertinent permissions who work in coordination with operators. The supervisor oversees the jobs being performed and how operators and riggers are doing them. We meet quality and certification standards for the equipment, provide punctual and detailed training for staff, and meet the preventive and corrective periods of maintenance for all our equipment. We also buy the the highest quality lifting accessories and have annual certifications performed by an external certifying company.