The Kennebunk, Kennebunkport & Wells Water District (KK&W Water District) is a quasi-municipal water utility established in 1921 by an act of the Maine State Legislature.

The service area, the second longest in Maine, extends 25 miles along the York County coastline and includes the towns of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells, Ogunquit, Arundel and portions of Biddeford and York. Within these communities, KK&W Water District provides quality water service to a population that varies seasonally from 28,000 to more than 75,000. The 40 employees are dedicated to the mission, which is to provide the highest quality of water and customer service at the most reasonable cost.

THE CHALLENGE

Employees with the KK&W Water District have used a CT- 2003FB Venturo crane for several years to load and unload 80 lb. generators and 120 lb. test pumps.

As a mechanic for KK&W, Mark Lank had used the Venturo CT2003FB crane and said it works well. It has a heavy-duty, high torque, high-speed 1.8HP winch with manual rotation, extension and a folding boom. The crane has a 2,000 lb. lifting capacity and is rated at 6,000 ft lbs.

“Although we’re not picking up anywhere near what it’s rated for, we use the Venturo CT2003FB daily to minimize the risk of back injuries,” Lank said. “It’s been great.”

As the work volume increased, a second crane was needed for similar loading and unloading uses. This was when Lank reached out to a Venturo distributor, WA Messer in Westbrook, Maine, who recommended the Venturo ET6K crane.

THE VENTURO SOLUTION

The Venturo ET6K is an electric-hydraulic service crane with features that are particularly suited for KK&W’s needs:

• Capacity overload shutoff system
• 50 feet of 3/16” aircraft-quality wire rope
• Remote pendant with 20 ft. cord
• Load block with swivel hook and safety latch
• Master disconnect switch
• 25 ft. battery cable

• 2,000 lb. lifting capacity
• 6,000 ft-lbs. rating

Despite its small footprint, the low-cost ET6K service crane is powerfully efficient and easy-to-use. In fact, this crane falls outside the OSHA regulations for certified crane operators, which means any worker can easily learn how to operate the crane and use it on the jobsite with minimal training.

CONCLUSION

The KK&W Water District uses the ET6K daily to load and unload a large compactor stored in the back of the truck, as well as other equipment and tools.

“Depending on where the truck is parked, we may need to lift the compactor off the site or out the back,” Lank said.

The Venturo ET6K is also used for a variety of other tasks, including using the extension to get out over a snowbank or over a gap to pull out a compactor part over an in-ground fire hydrant.