We have delivered a second-hand Zoomlion 300-metric-tonne all-terrain crane to a landlocked country in East Africa. In recent years, infrastructure development in Africa has flourished, leading to a sustained growth in demand for large-scale lifting equipment. This client undertakes local mining development and major infrastructure projects and requires a high-capacity all-terrain crane to meet heavy-lift requirements; however, they were uncertain regarding equipment selection and configuration.
The East African region has an average altitude of 1,500 to 2,000 metres and features a tropical highland climate, with distinct dry and wet seasons throughout the year. The local construction environment is characterised by several distinct features: firstly, the thin air at high altitudes causes a natural reduction in engine power of approximately 10% to 15%; secondly, concentrated rainfall during the wet season results in muddy and slippery construction sites, placing high demands on the equipment’s ground pressure and stability; thirdly, materials in mining and infrastructure projects are highly hard, lifting conditions are complex, and work shifts are intensive; fourthly, as Rwanda is a landlocked country, spare parts logistics cycles are lengthy, resulting in significant losses due to breakdowns and downtime. The client is uncertain as to which configuration is best suited to local operating conditions and is concerned about potential inefficiencies or frequent breakdowns.

To address the client’s concerns, our company provides free, end-to-end operational consultation and technical support:
1. In-depth site survey: Our experienced technical team engages in thorough discussions with the client to gain a detailed understanding of key parameters—including project altitude, material hardness, lifting weights and reach, shift schedules, and site conditions—to establish a comprehensive site profile.
2. Optimal equipment selection: Taking into account the high-altitude mountainous conditions of East Africa, we recommend Zoomlion’s 300-metric-tonne all-terrain crane. This model features multi-axle drive and all-wheel steering, offering strong off-road capability and making it suitable for manoeuvring across complex terrain; its main boom provides extensive coverage, meeting the diverse requirements of both mining equipment hoisting and infrastructure component installation.
3. Optimised Attachment Configuration: Based on the client’s actual requirements, we recommend the optimal combination of main and auxiliary booms, counterweight configuration and specialised lifting gear to ensure maximum efficiency at commonly used lifting radii, whilst avoiding over- or under-specification.
4. High-altitude adaptation tuning: The engine ECU is calibrated with high-altitude power compensation to address the challenges of high-altitude environments, optimising fuel injection volume and turbocharger matching to restore rated power; simultaneously, the cooling fan control strategy is optimised to ensure stable coolant temperature under high-temperature operating conditions.
5. Reference verification and training: Historical operational videos from similar working conditions are provided for reference, enhancing confidence in model selection; Post-delivery, operational and maintenance training is arranged to guide local personnel in understanding the equipment’s characteristics and key maintenance points, thereby reducing the failure rate.
Following delivery, the equipment was successfully deployed in mining and infrastructure projects. The high-altitude calibration proved highly effective, with operational efficiency meeting the client’s expectations. There were no instances of low efficiency or frequent breakdowns resulting from inappropriate equipment selection, providing the client with reliable lifting support under the complex operating conditions of the East African plateau.