ArtiCon expands Faroe Islands fleet with a GMK5250L

One of the Faroe Islands’ fastest growing companies is set to bolster its growth with the addition of a new Grove GMK5250L. ArtiCon was established in 2001, and in just 16 years, has already

One of the Faroe Islands’ fastest growing companies is set to bolster its growth with the addition of a new Grove GMK5250L.

ArtiCon was established in 2001, and in just 16 years, has already grown to employ some 200 people. The contractor works on a variety of construction assignments and demands flexible equipment that is efficient in all types of applications. Jón Sigurdsson, manager and partner at the company, said ArtiCon needed a mobile crane that is easy to maneuver on the unique terrain of the Faroe Islands, which is an archipelago off of the coast of Denmark.

“We already had a 75 t rough-terrain crane, but we needed one with more lifting capacity,” he explained. “The new Grove GMK5250L has enough capacity for our applications, and it meets other demands, such as navigating the terrain here on the Faroe Islands where we have many steep hills. This new crane is extremely mobile and easy to maneuver, and the VIAB turbo retarder clutch will decrease our operating costs, thanks to its reduced fuel consumption and wear-free starting and braking.”

UN Mobilkraner delivered the crane to ArtiCon. The Manitowoc distributor has been providing crane sales and aftermarket services to the Faroe Islands for 15 years, and this recent delivery marks the first time the company has sold a crane to ArtiCon. UN Mobilkraner also helped train ArtiCon employees in how to best use the crane. The 250 t GMK5250L features a 70 m main boom and is equipped with Manitowoc’s operator-friendly Crane Control System (CCS).

“Upon delivery of the crane from the factory in Germany, I spent a week in Denmark, where the technicians at UN Mobilkraner instructed me in handling the crane and its features,” said Johnny Thomassen, an operator with ArtiCon. “This has been an amazing experience, and I really felt ‘dressed for the occasion’ when I returned to the Faroe Islands.”

UN Mobilkraner has also provided valuable service to ArtiCon, presenting the company with a maintenance and support package—crucial to efficiency for lifting companies on the remote islands. “The cooperation with UN Mobilkraner has worked really well,” Sigurdsson said. “We feel that they have made an effort to meet our requirements and needs. Amongst others, they have tailored a maintenance agreement for us, which means that in the end, the distance between Denmark and the Faroe Islands is not a barrier for a good working relationship.”

The new GMK5250L was put into service at the end of October, shortly after its delivery. Currently it’s helping to construct a new fish farm for the Faroese salmon producer Bakkafrost. When the job is complete, it will head to a few major construction projects, including the building of a new power plant for SEV, the public energy company for the Faroe Islands.