One of LJ Crane & Rigging's Potain MR605B Tower Cranes Erected in Providence

Business Wire, Feb 27, 2008

CRANSTON, R.I. -- The LJ Companies (LJ CRANE & RIGGING, LJ HEAVY HAULING, LJ SPECIALIZED LOGISTICS) www.ljcrane.com, headquartered in Rhode Island, began assembly and erection of one its Potain MR605B tower cranes in Downtown Providence. According to VP & COO Paul Fioravanti, "We are pleased to serve Dimeo Construction and Capco Steel with their construction of the new Blue Cross Blue Shield building in Providence. Fioravanti added that "the new structure will be located in the general area between Waterplace Park and the Rhode Island State House building, across from Providence Place Mall. This is another great local project for us, and we enjoy supporting our customers' projects with the newest tower crane fleet in the industry and with some of the most highly trained mechanics and support staff. Naturally, our greatest emphasis is always on safety." He added that the company has completed many projects in the metro Providence area, including the exterior panel work on the Hilton Hotel in Providence (formerly a Holiday Inn), the new GTECH building, and the bridge assembly and girder work for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation's "I-Way" project which rerouted the connections between I-195 and I-95. LJ provides crane service, equipment rental, and specialized transportation throughout North America.

Fioravanti says that "Potain luffers are a prudent choice in congested city areas where swinging a hammerhead, or flat top crane is out of the question, due to either obstacles or air rights issues. The Potain MR605B is a luffing tower crane with a maximum jib length of 60 meters (197') and can lift 19,841 lbs at that radius. At 50 meters (164') the Potain can lift 28,600 lbs; at 40 meters (131') it can lift 38,580 lbs. and at 30 meters, 52,469 lbs. This crane is designed to freestand at 237 feet and when collared and tied in to a structure, literally the sky is the limit. The crane can be run in either 2-part of 4-part line configuration. It's a very reliable machine that we have used successfully on several jobs throughout the United States, and in 2007, we have five in Boston alone."

LJ has taken the crane service and rental industry by storm, and at the expense of competitor market share, growing nearly 500% over the last three years, and has been listed on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies in 2006 and 2007. In addition, LJ has been recognized by Providence Business News as one of the fastest growing Rhode Island-based companies two years in a row. Also, LJ plans to expand its already large Potain tower crane fleet with the addition of more cranes purchased directly from the manufacturer including the following: Potain MD485 "hammerhead" and MR605B and MR615B "luffing" tower cranes. The addition of multiple cranes will make LJ's fleet among the youngest and most diverse in North America. Also, the additional commitment to Potain luffing tower cranes will bring LJ's Potain fleet (MR405B, MR605B and MR615B) to more than twenty tower cranes, and more than sixty cranes overall, available for bare or operated rental anywhere in North America.