When it comes to mobile cranes, The Allen Brothers are sure of one thing: “Tadano – and Demag earlier on – has always been our go-to choice for reliability, quality, and service.” This is why the Irish company, headquartered in Tinode, Blessington, has consistently bet on Tadano as it continues to upgrade its fleet. The most recent of these upgrades is an AC 4.100L-1, which was preceded by the new AC 6.300-1 and AC 5.220L-1 cranes.
It is as though the AC 6.300-1 had been made specifically for Allen Crane Hire. After all, its 80-meter-long main boom, which comes as standard, means that the crane is perfectly equipped for erecting and disassembling at least 90 percent of all tower cranes used in Ireland – the company’s core business.
“Our new AC 4.100L-1 will first and foremost be for my daughter Sophie. But to tell you the truth, when I take a look at it, I’m pretty tempted to take it out for a spin myself,” exclaimed Robbie with a chuckle as he picked up the crane. The crane was handed over by Tadano Ireland Team Anthony Mullin and Ed Taylor.
“A generational talent”
Just like in many other countries, seeing a woman at the controls of a crane is still a rare sight in Ireland. However, taking a look at Sophie Allen’s family and surroundings helps explain her extraordinary career path: Cranes have been her passion ever since she was little, and working with her father Robbie and her uncle Alan in what is normally a male-dominated industry is simply part of her DNA. In fact, she is one of the youngest female crane operators in Ireland at 22 years old, and has been CSCS-certified since 2022. Since then, Sophie has done work at countless work sites with tower cranes of all sizes, including models with a luffing jib, and crawler cranes.
Anthony Mullin is quick to confirm her extraordinary talent: “I’ve been in this profession for almost 30 years, and Sophie’s the first female crane operator I’ve briefed. And let me tell you, I was really impressed – she’s confident, incredibly skilled in operating cranes, and a true expert at load calculations and load-securing techniques – just an absolute generational talent,” he says, full of praise. He hopes that Sophie will serve as a role model for other women and inspire them to join the industry, a sentiment that she shares. Sophie Allen speaks highly of him in return: “Tony is an expert through and through and takes the time to share his vast knowledge with palpable excitement,” she says, thanking him, Graham Lawlor, Colin Fitzsimons, and the Allen Cranes team for the crane training she has received – an experience that she has enjoyed every single day.
The secret to success: the best cranes and operators
Robbie Allen believes that providing his employees with the best possible training is crucial: “In the past few years, we’ve invested massively in tower cranes with top-of-the-line quality and reliability so that we can provide our customers with the results they deserve. Combining that with the best crane operators out there, has been the key to our success and what has enabled us to be in the incredibly strong position in which we find ourselves today,” he says while succinctly explaining his company’s philosophy before adding that Tadano cranes are an indispensable part of his strategy.
