Sarens

{{Short description|Belgian heavy lift, crane rental and engineering company}} {{Infobox company | name = Sarens | logo = Sarens logo blue.png | founder = Frans Sarens | founded = 1921 | location = Wolvertem, Flemish Brabant, Belgium | industry = Construction equipment | products = Crane rentals | revenue = +€800 million }}

'''Sarens''' is a Belgian multinational company headquartered in Wolvertem, Belgium. Its business includes, heavy lift, engineered transport, and crane rental services. It produces a variety of equipment including cranes, transportation, gantries, jacking products, and other heavy lifting products.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=23271199|title=SARENS NV: Private Company Information - Bloomberg|website=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref>

==History== Sarens was founded by Frans Sarens in 1921 for forestry works and the transportation of trees using horses and carts. Soon, the company entered the mechanical transportation and lifting industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cranestodaymagazine.com/features/making-history-5660299/|title=Making history - Cranes Today|website=www.cranestodaymagazine.com|date=7 November 2016 }}</ref> It was incorporated on the 2nd of September in 1955.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kbopub.economie.fgov.be/kbopub/toonondernemingps.html?ondernemingsnummer=400747580|title=Ondernemingsgegevens - KBO Public Search|website=kbopub.economie.fgov.be}}</ref> The company’s equipment has been used for projects including cement plant repairs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cranestodaymagazine.com/news/sarens-replaces-230t-filter-at-french-cement-plant-5821723|title=Sarens replaces 230t filter at French cement plant - Cranes Today|website=www.cranestodaymagazine.com|date=23 May 2017 }}</ref> sea port operations,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.khl.com/magazines/international-cranes-and-specialized-transport/detail/item121408/Sarens-wins-biggest-contract-in-its-history|title=Sarens wins biggest contract in its history - KHL Group - International Cranes and Specialized Transport|website=www.khl.com}}</ref> bridge construction,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cranestodaymagazine.com/news/sarens-transports-1700t-pylon-from-belgium-to-the-uk-5745282|title = Sarens transports 1,700t Pylon from Belgium to the UK - Cranes Today| date=21 February 2017 }}</ref> canal expansion (including the Panama Canal),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marinelink.com/news/transports-crowley-panama379639|title=Crowley Transports Panama Canal Gate|date=26 October 2014|publisher=}}</ref> mass transit construction,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heavyliftpfi.com/news/sarens-not-so-boring-project.html|title=Sarens' not so boring project - heavyliftpfi.com|website=www.heavyliftpfi.com|access-date=2017-06-19|archive-date=2017-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117010030/http://www.heavyliftpfi.com/news/sarens-not-so-boring-project.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> sports arenas,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/news/sarens-super-crane-puts-l7id-europ7es-big7gest/|title=GCR - News - Sarens' super crane puts the lid on Europe's biggest indoor arena|website=www.globalconstructionreview.com|date=16 September 2016}}</ref> and power plant installations<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cranestodaymagazine.com/news/sarens-lifts-and-moves-2922t-wind-farm-substation-5789237|title=Sarens lifts and moves 2,922t wind farm substation - Cranes Today|website=www.cranestodaymagazine.com|date=18 April 2017 }}</ref> as well as repairs, such as the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heavyliftspecialist.com/cranes/chimney-removal-sarens-chernobyl/|title=Chimney Removal by Sarens in Chernobyl|date=11 March 2014|publisher=}}</ref> Sarens has completed lifts with cranes stationed on both land and floating on the water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cranestodaymagazine.com/features/lifting-while-floating-5742337/|title=Lifting while floating - Cranes Today|website=www.cranestodaymagazine.com|date=17 February 2017 }}</ref>

Sarens has acquired companies over the years including the UK firm G W Sparrow and Sons in 1997,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://heavyliftnews.com/cranes/sarens-uk-15-years|title=Sarens UK 15 years!|website=heavyliftnews.com}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> the crane rental business of the Dutch firm Riwal in 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rermag.com/international-news-0/sarens-netherlands-acquires-riwal-s-crane-rental-activities|title=Sarens Netherlands Acquires Riwal's Crane Rental Activities|website=rermag.com|date=June 2007 }}</ref> the American firm Rigging International in 2009,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rermag.com/headline-news/belgium-crane-rental-company-sarens-acquires-california-s-rigging-international|title=Belgium Crane Rental Company Sarens Acquires California's Rigging International|website=rermag.com|date=19 June 2009 }}</ref> the Polish firm Zuraw Grohman in 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cranestodaymagazine.com/features/polish-crane-industry-rises-from-recession/|title=Polish crane industry rises from recession - Cranes Today|website=www.cranestodaymagazine.com|date=24 May 2011 }}</ref> and Canada Crane Services in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trucknews.com/infrastructure/sarens-opens-new-canadian-head-office-leduc/1003075697/|title=Sarens opens new Canadian head office in Leduc - Truck News|date=24 November 2016|publisher=}}</ref> They also have strategic partnerships with companies including Omega Morgan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.breakbulk.com/omega-morgan-sarens-form-joint-venture/|title=Omega Morgan, Sarens Form Joint Venture - Breakbulk Events & Media|date=15 November 2016|publisher=}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

In 2011 Waterland Private Equity Investments, an Amsterdam based investment firm invest 100 million euros into Sarens and acquired 22% stake in the heavy lift company making it a minority stakeholder.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-07-22 |title=Waterland invests €100m in Sarens {{!}} Unquote |url=https://www.unquote.com/benelux/official-record/65295/waterland-invests-eur100m-in-sarens |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=www.unquote.com |language=en}}</ref> [[File:Kamag Transporttechnik Sarens Endeavour.jpg|thumb|Sarens Kamag SPMT hauling NASA Endeavour Space Shuttle in 2012]] In 2021 Luc Tack a Belgian entrepreneur quired 22% stake that was previously owned by Waterland Private Equity Investments after the investment Luc Tack and Aaron Coone of Begoos Group were appointed as director of the heavy lift group.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New shareholder for Sarens |url=https://vertikal.net/en/news/story/41535/new-shareholder-for-sarens |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=vertikal.net |language=en}}</ref>

Sarens Family regained 100% stake in Sarens in 2023 after an agreement with Luc Tack of Begoos Group. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed, but the buyback gave the founding family full control over the operations of the company, which they believe would strengthen the company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Sophie |title=Sarens family regains full ownership |url=https://www.heavyliftpfi.com/business/sarens-family-regains-full-ownership/22344.article |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International |language=en}}</ref>

Sarens signed a MOU with four crane service providers in India to tap the crane rental, Heavy lifting and oversize transport in the nation. This partnership would cover oil and gas, petrochemical, power plants, infrastructure and industrial construction. They aim to uplift safety, environmental and quality to global standards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sarens expands in India |url=https://vertikal.net/en/news/story/45357/sarens-expands-in-india |access-date=2025-08-02 |website=vertikal.net |language=en}}</ref>

== Equipment ==

=== Cranes ===

* Ring Cranes * Mobile Cranes * Crawler Cranes * Tower Cranes

'''Trailers'''

* Semi Trailer * Hydraulic Modular Trailer * Self Propelled modular Trailer

'''Lifting and Jacking'''

* Gantries * Jacking System * Standard Jacks * Skidding [[File:Sarens CS5000.jpg|thumb|Sarens S5000 Climbing system under an oil rig]] '''Maritime Equipment'''

* Barges * Twin Barge * Modular Barge

'''Material Handling'''

* Forklift * Aerial Work Platform * Reach Stacker * Telescopic Handlers * Sweepers * Heavy Equipment

== Sarens Giant Cranes == Sarens Giant Cranes (SGC) are in-house built ring cranes by Sarens itself with European standards and super heavy lifting capacity which is not available as normal cranes in market.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sarens Giant Crane |url=https://www.sarens.com/equipment/sarens-giant-crane.htm |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=www.sarens.com |language=es}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+ !Official Name !Load Moment !Capacity (t) !YOM !Counter Weight (t) !Main Boom (m) !Light-duty Jib (m) !Heavy-duty Jib (m) |- |SGC-90 |99,000 |2,325 |2020 |2,700 |100/120/130 |35.5/47.5m/59.5 | - |- |SGC-120/1 |1,40,000 |3,200 |2011 |3,600/4,200 |88.7/118/130 |89.5 |40.5/64.1/87.7/ 99.5 |- |SGC-140 |1,40,000 |3,200 |2017 |4,200 |88.7/118/130 |89.5 |40.5/64.1/87.7/ 99.5 |- |SGC-170 |1,70,000 |3,200 |2025 |3,500/4,200 |120 |89.5 |40.5/64.1/87.7/ 99.5 |- |SGC-250 |2,50,000 |5,000 |2018 |5,200 |118/160.5 | - |40.5/64.1/87.7/ 99.5 |} '''SGC-120/1 (Big Benny)'''

Originally in-house manufacture, red in 2011 in collaboration with Rigging International, a California based company. The 3,200 ton lifting capacity ring crane was developed keeping all European and American standards and transportation in mind. The crane required minimal ground surface to operate and due to the small size only requiring 135 containers to transport.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D.Ann Shiffler |title=New SGC 120 from Sarens, Rigging International |url=https://www.cranebriefing.com/news/new-sgc-120-from-sarens-rigging-international/2055968.article |website=Cranebriefing |date=3 May 2010 }}</ref> In 2025 SGC-120 was upgraded in 2025 as SGC-120.1 to strengthen its structure with reinforcement these upgrade helped the crane to lift was much as the SGC-140.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-03 |title=Sarens Introduces SGC-120/1: Boosted Lifting Power Without Added Complexity – BBN {{!}} Breakbulk.News |url=https://breakbulk.news/sarens-introduces-sgc-120-1-boosted-lifting-power-without-added-complexity/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''SGC-140 (Big Benny XL)'''

When launched back in 2017 the SGC-140 was the largest crane in the world. This was the second crane in the SGC lineup after the commissioning the crane started its first operation for Tengizchevroil a Chevron company in Kazakhstan which had operation in an oil field named Tengiz Field in the Caspian Sea'''.'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=TEAM |first=CCE NEWS |date=2017-11-10 |title=Sarens launches world's largest heavy-lift crane |url=https://cceonlinenews.com/news/sarens-launches-worlds-largest-heavy-lift-crane/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=CCE l ONLINE NEWS |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''SGC-250 (Big Carl)'''

The manufacturing of the big carl started in 2017 and took 14 months to reach the completion stage. The crane was named in honor of Carl Sarens, director of technical solutions at Sarens. After the manufacturing, the crane was sent to UK for its first contract worth 20 million euros at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. The transportation took 280 trucks and 5 cranes to move the 5,000 ton capacity ring crane from its manufacturing site in Belgium to the nuclear power station.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-24 |title=World's biggest crane 'Big Carl' is steel-built behemoth |url=https://worldsteel.org/media/steel-stories/construction-building/worlds-biggest-crane-big-carl-is-steel-built-behemoth/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=worldsteel.org |language=en-US}}</ref> It held the record for world's largest crane from 2017 to 2024 until the launch of Mammoet's SK6000, which had lifting capacity of 6,000 tons.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-22 |title=The world's new largest crane can lift 6,000 tons and will be put into service this year |url=https://indiandefencereview.com/the-worlds-new-largest-crane-can-lift-6000-tons-and-will-be-put-into-service-this-year/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |language=en-US}}</ref>

'''SGC-90 (The Little Celeste)''' [[File:Sarens twin barge karel-victorr in Stockholm 2020 - railway bridge replacement project.jpg|thumb|Sarens twin barge and crawler crane at Stockholm.]] The little Celeste is the first fully electric powered ring crane in the SGC line up. Manufactured in 2020 development of the crane and manufacturing process includes the COVID-19 pandemic period but still completed in timeline. The crane has zero fuel consumption because it's fully electric powered and can be plugged into the grid at the working site with being fully electric, the crane itself also generates electricity when it lowers heavy loads and reuse it by cutting down the cost to 40%. The crane has lower maintenance compared to a traditional crane because of zero engine use ables.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Editor |first=Mining |date=2020-11-10 |title=Sarens Launches SGC-90 Electric Ring Crane |url=https://www.amsj.com.au/sarens-launches-sgc-90-electric-ring-crane/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=Australasian Mine Safety Journal |language=en-AU}}</ref>

'''SGC-170'''

After the success of SCG-90 Sarens manufacture SGC-170 in 2025 a fully electric powered ring crane bigger than the SGC-90 matching the lifting ability of the traditional SGC-120 and SGC-140 which were fuel powered. With innovations, Sarens managed to develop the crane with fewer connection and bigger components, reducing the transport process and relocation of the giant crane within a week. The crane model also has a modular drivetrain which can suite various clients of the company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Cruze |first=Danny |date=2025-07-08 |title=Sarens unveils new giant in its super-heavy lift fleet |url=https://www.cranesandlifting.com.au/sarens-unveils-new-giant-in-its-super-heavy-lift-fleet/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=Cranes & Lifting |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Corporate governance == The CEO of the company is Wim Sarens, who represents the 4th generation of the Sarens family management. In 2024, the company had over 5500 employees.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-43249-sarens-orders-18-demag-all-terrain-cranes/|title=Sarens orders 18 Demag all-terrain cranes - ConstructionWeekOnline.com|first=John|last=Bambridge|newspaper=Construction Week Online|date=28 February 2017 }}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist|3}}

== External links == {{URL|http://www.sarens.com/en.aspx}}

Category:1921 establishments in Belgium Category:Crane manufacturers Category:Manufacturing companies of Belgium Category:Companies based in Flemish Brabant Category:Heavy haulage