Braymore Crane Rental: From Pianos to Rooftops—Unlocking Potential with Knuckle Boom Cranes

With the help of PALFINGER knuckle boom cranes, Braymore Crane Rental transformed their capabilities, taking on more complex lifting jobs and expanding their business. Today, Braymore is known across Ontario for their reliable specialty moving and crane rental services, proving that with the right equipment, the sky’s the limit. Together, we help them #reachanything.

Braymore Crane Rental Snapshot

Their Story

Braymore Crane Rental, originally established as Braymore Piano Movers in 1981, has grown from a specialized piano moving company to a prominent crane rental business in Ontario, Canada. Known as the “piano mover of choice” in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and southern Ontario and a reliable piano warehousing solution across North America, Braymore has built a strong reputation for handling thousands of pianos annually. Due to the number of unique jobs that Braymore was asked to perform, it was natural that it created a Specialty Moving Division; thus, the company became Braymore Crane Rental. 

Day-to-Day & Preventative Maintenance

Braymore’s daily operations involve a wide range of exciting deliveries. Beyond the careful transportation and delivery of pianos, they also cater to the pool and recreation industry, handling deliveries of pools, hot tubs, and swim spas. Additionally, Braymore often installs rooftop heating units and hoists roof trusses and building supplies for contractors. 

When it comes to preventative maintenance, Braymore conducts annual inspections and undertakes necessary repairs on their knuckle boom cranes. Maintenance is straightforward, with operators regularly greasing the machines to keep them running smoothly. This easy yet effective routine ensures the cranes are always in top shape, ready for any job that comes their way. 

Business Situation

Braymore identified a niche in the Ontario market for specialty product movers, a need realized through their challenging experiences maneuvering pianos into tight spots. Recognizing the demand for movers capable of handling difficult access situations, they initially hired crane rental companies to meet this requirement. However, they soon saw the potential benefits of owning their cranes, which led them to venture into the crane rental business. 

“When moving pianos, we found some of the challenges for getting these pianos into very tight spots and realized there was a real need here in Ontario for a specialty-products mover, a mover that moves stuff for other movers that have difficult access. So, we slowly would hire out rental companies for crane rental until we got into the business ourselves,” recalls Greg Martin, co-owner, who has more than 15 years of experience in the piano and specialty moving industry. 

One of the significant challenges Braymore faced was finding a reliable and flexible crane solution to maneuver delicate and heavy items like pianos into restricted spaces. The regular stick cranes they used lacked the precision and control needed for such intricate jobs, prompting them to seek out more suitable equipment. Braymore discovered the use of knuckle boom cranes to work in very tight spaces and get to spots that traditional stick cranes would not even consider a workable option. 

Team Solution and Growth

Braymore's journey with PALFINGER knuckle boom cranes began in 2009 with their purchase of the PK 23002 unit. It marked the start of their craning business, allowing them to handle jobs that were previously impossible with conventional cranes. As their business grew, so did their need for cranes with greater reach and capacity. Working with FRF Hydraulic, Inc., a trusted PALFINGER partner in Ontario, Braymore upgraded to the PK 65002 SH High Performance crane, which expanded their capabilities significantly. This crane allowed them to take on more complex projects, providing a new level of service to their customers. 

The next step in their progression was the PK 92002 SH knuckle boom crane, which offered even more lifting power and distance. This upgrade enabled Braymore to handle heavier and more extensive projects, further solidifying its reputation in the crane rental industry. 

The most recent additions to their fleet are the PK 135.002 TEC 7 and the PK 200002 L SH knuckle boom cranes. These state-of-the-art cranes have revolutionized Braymore's operations, offering unparalleled precision and control. They have opened up a whole new world of possibilities, allowing Braymore to take on jobs that were previously out of reach. 

Braymore has been impressed with the functionality and design of PALFINGER knuckle boom cranes. Greg emphasized several key points that highlight the benefits of these cranes. First and foremost is their reliability. PALFINGER cranes are renowned for their dependability, which is crucial in an industry where downtime can be extremely costly. Additionally, the cranes are designed with safety as a top priority. They are meticulously calibrated to ensure stability in all directions, significantly reducing the risk of accidents on busy job sites.  

Results

Braymore has experienced numerous benefits from utilizing PALFINGER knuckle boom cranes. Among the key advantages is the remarkable speed, as these cranes are designed for quick setup and operation, enabling Braymore to complete projects more efficiently. Additionally, the superior maneuverability of the knuckle boom design allows for easier positioning of loads with high accuracy, even in tight spaces. This is particularly beneficial for delicate operations, such as placing pianos or installing rooftop units on multimillion-dollar homes. These capabilities have empowered Braymore to undertake a wide variety of projects, including swimming spas, building materials, and HVAC rooftop units. The flexibility offered by PALFINGER cranes has provided Braymore with a competitive edge, allowing them to handle tasks that companies with traditional stick cranes cannot manage. 

Braymore Crane Rental's journey with PALFINGER knuckle boom cranes has significantly impacted its business. From its initial foray into the crane rental industry with the PK 23002 to its current use of the PK 200002 L SH, PALFINGER cranes have enabled Braymore to expand its capabilities and offer superior service to its customers.