Street Crane has been a major supplier of industrial cranes to projects in the Gulf for many years. The company has built strong technical partnerships with local crane makers and steel fabricators, sharing design expertise and becoming a supplier of major crane sub-systems such as carriages, hoists and control equipment to accompany locally fabricated structures.
Diversification in the Gulf economy, and particularly the emergence of the region as a world centre for aluminium production, has been a major source of growth in recent years.   Both Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), companies that have seen spectacular growth in capacity, are major users of Street Crane lifting and handling equipment.
 
Dubai Aluminium
Overhead cranes from Street are often installed in challenging Gulf environments.  High ambient temperatures and dust are commonplace.  Frequently the cranes are also required for 24/7 process applications with high-intensity usage, demanding reliable, low-maintenance and easily serviced equipment. 
Dubal has used overhead cranes from Street for over 12 years.  The first two dual-hoist units were installed in 1996 in Casthouse Two.  Each had a main hoist of 15 tonnes safe working load and an auxiliary hoist of five tonnes SWL.  Two further cranes of a similar specification were installed in 1997.  Dual-hoists are common in casting where the main hoist handles the crucible and contents, while the auxiliary hoist accurately and safely controls pouring.  Finishing, turbine halls and workshops also use cranes from Street Crane.
In 2000, five new cranes were installed and in 2003 two of the older casthouse cranes were up-rated with a 17.5 tonne main hoist and five-tonne auxiliary hoist.  A further seven cranes were installed during 2004 and four more quickly followed in 2005.  In 2006, a crane from Street Crane with an 87.5-tonne main hoist and 20-tonne auxiliary hoist was supplied via Alstom for the Dubal KP22 Steam Turbine Hall.  Recently, this has been followed by a repeat order through Alstom for the new GTX Turbine Hall that was installed in 2008.  The total population of overhead cranes from Street Crane Company on the site is now over 20.

Aluminium Bahrain
At Alba, Street Crane has 12 overhead cranes installed.  During the 2003 Potline Five installation, two overhead cranes, each designed for 58 tonnes SWL, lifted and positioned 300 electrolytic cells.  Performing reliably over 18 months of continuous heavy-duty use, the equipment contributed to the smooth progress of the programme.  The cranes are now used daily within the process and for plant maintenance and upgrade.
Each crane has twin hoists, with each hoist capable of safely lifting 29 tonnes.  This gives more flexibility as the hoists can be used either separately or together depending on the shape, size or weight of the load.  When used for tandem lifts, the twin-hoists ensure complete stability.
Alba is engaged in a rolling programme to replace their older (non-Street) equipment.  The most recent order is for two unusual triple hoist cranes.  Each of these has a main hoist of 20 tonnes with one having two auxiliaries of eight tonnes and the other twin auxiliaries of 10 tonnes.  Both the cranes will use the main hoists for pot handling and the auxiliaries for controlled pouring. 
Design of the whole cranes and manufacture of hoists and carriages was undertaken by Street Crane in the UK with some major structural elements fabricated locally to the company’s specification.
 
Partnerships
Work is currently progressing on a further major aluminium smelter contract for the Gulf in which Street Crane, as supply partners to Dubai Crane, are supplying high-specification heavy duty hoists and other major sub systems with all major fabrications locally manufactured by Dubai Crane.
Throughout the Gulf, Street Crane has trading alliances.  Recognising the importance of the region, L Sam Kumar, based in Sharjah in the UAE, joined the company in 2008.  As regional sales manager he is responsible for UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Pakistan and Egypt.