The long-established roofing company Hans-Dieter Büschkes GmbH & Co. KG from Euskirchen (Germany) has been relying on Böcker crane technology for over a decade to support and relieve its employees. With the handover of the new AK 46 truck crane at the end of October in Werne, the Rhineland-based company is now expanding its fleet of machinery. Managing Director André Büschkes, who is the fifth generation to run the family business, personally took delivery of the new crane together with his entire team. In addition to a detailed introduction to crane operation, a tour of the factory provided interesting insights into the production of Böcker height access technology.
The new addition to Büschkes impresses with its combination of high performance and compact design. Built on a Mercedes Actros, it has a gross vehicle weight of only 26 t and offers excellent driving and manoeuvring characteristics. With a maximum payload of up to 3 t (optionally 6 t) and extension lengths of up to 44 m (optionally 46 m), the AK 46 is ideally equipped for demanding everyday construction site work. Reaches of up to 39 m with a load of 250 kg enable the transport of materials even to hard-to-reach rear roof and building sides.
The new mobile crane is also well equipped in terms of safety: LED ambient and loading area lighting as well as work lights on the jib joint ensure safe working in twilight and poor lighting conditions. Thanks to the EasyLockSystem, the PK 350-D basket transforms the crane into a fully-fledged work platform in just a few minutes, with space for up to three people or 350 kg. In platform mode, the AK 46 reaches working heights of up to 39 m and ranges of up to 33 m, opening up new possibilities for the company in assembly and repair work.
Another technological added value is the connection to the BöckerConnect digital customer portal. Here, Büschkes can call up the crane's location and performance data at any time and access numerous functions such as geofencing, route tracking, usage statistics and current diagnostic data.
For André Büschkes, investing in the Böcker AK 46 is an important step towards securing the future: "The mobile crane greatly reduces the physical strain on our employees, and the aerial work platform allows them to work safely and ergonomically. This enables us to create an attractive working environment, especially for young people. With the AK 46, we can now carry out projects that would not be feasible without it. It is an investment in the future of our company." The mobile crane perfectly complements the company's AHK 36 trailer crane. "Now we are even more flexible. We carry out repairs using the platform and transport materials with the crane – and we can do this simultaneously at two different construction sites," says Büschkes about the interaction between the two machines.
The first deployments of the new mobile crane have already confirmed the decision to purchase it. "The crane was on the road a lot in the first three weeks," says Büschkes happily. "Our employees always have a smile on their faces when they get to use the machine."
