Crawler highlights

1 March 2001


What the crawler crane manufacturers are presenting

Absent from Bauma, unfortunately, is the next big beast in crawler crane development, the CC 8800 – a 1,000t capacity crawler from Demag that has been ordered by Marino Crane of the USA. This, it is claimed, is the most powerful lattice boom crawler crane in the world with a transport width of 3.5m. It has a maximum boom combination length of 216m and a maximum load moment with Superlift attachment of 20,150tm. Nonetheless, big lattice booms rising from crawler carriers will still be highly visible across the showground.

Demag

It may not have the CC 8800, but Demag will be taking the wraps of its new CC 1800-1, a 300 tonner following on from the CC 2800 and CC 2500 models.

Demag claims significant improvements in the speed and efficiency of all the working motions. The hoist unit, boom and swing gear can now operate at a 50% higher speed and the propulsive power of the crawlers has been increased by more than 15%.

A new crawler drive unit has been designed to minimise the risk of it getting clogged with earth and stones. A more spacious cabin has been added, with air conditioning and a camera system to monitor the winches, both as standard.

Liebherr

It is left to Liebherr to exhibit the biggest crawler of the fair. The new 600t-rated LR 1600/1 can be used both with a crawler-tracked chassis or on a static pedestal with swing-out supports. The static version provides up to 267% more load capacity than the mobile one, Liebherr says. It will be shown at Bauma in both versions simultaneously – crawler tracks on one side, swing-out supports on the other.

The LR 1600/1 features trailing counterweight with adjustable radii to increase the load capacity. The unit being shown (fully rigged and with trailing counterweight) was delivered to Riga Mainz in January and has already been out on site in Cologne. A further seven orders had been taken for this machine by the end of January.

Also new from Liebherr is the LR 1160, a 160t crawler with boom and jib lengths approaching 125m (55.1m + 69.8m). Liebherr says that the basic load on the hydraulics has been considerably reduced, so that engine power is put to better use and efficiency is improved. The LR 1160 is effectively an upgrade of last year’s 140t-capacity LR 1140. The LR 1160 gains its extra capacity from three additional counterweight pieces which should help it compete more effectively in the popular 180 US ton class in the USA.

Liebherr is also showing the first of a new generation of crane-based hydraulic rope excavators for foundation work.

Sennebogen

Making its debut for Sennebogen is the 5500 HD, a 150t crawler that was previously promoted as the 6150. It has been re-named as part of a new nomenclature across the product range. The 600 series designation is now for foundation and duty-cycle equipment and the 500 series is for lifting cranes, of which this model is the first.

The 5500 HD has been developed in conjunction with Mammoet Van Seumeren (in whose colours it is shown) to ensure it meets the needs of rental companies. By stowing boom elements inside one another, all parts can pack into standard 40ft containers, for example.

Sennebogen announced at Intermat in Paris last year that it had taken five orders from Van Seumeren for what was then the 6150. This has now been increased to 10 units. The very first unit to be delivered, however, is going to another Dutch company, Hans Dekker.

The 5500 HD can be fitted with a main boom of up to 80.3m, and luffing jibs up to 53m. It features two 160kN winches and is powered by a 231kW Deutz engine.

Sennebogen is also showing its 35t telescopic crawler, the 630 HD, as seen at Intermat last year. The only change is that a man basket is now available for attachment to the 30m boom.

From the 600 series of duty-cycle machines, the 680 HD will be shown. This replaces the 670 HD and boasts bigger winches, a more powerful engine (a 300kW Deutz) and a new undercarriage system for easier maintenance. (The 655 HD has been similarly succeeded by the 660 HD.)

Manitowoc

There are no new platforms from the American manufacturer for this show – that will doubtless come later in the year. But there is a new luffing attachment for a crane not yet seen in Europe.

Nearly 90 units of the 250t-capacity 999 have been sold since it was introduced in June 2000. Now Manitowoc has developed a No.149 luffing jib attachment, with a rated capacity of 74t. The luffing 999 will be shown with 55m of main boom and 49m of luffing jib. An unusual feature is an intermediate fall, enabling one hook to be suspended from the jib end and another from along the middle of the luffing jib. The idea of this is that by giving the operator a second line, he will not have to luff backwards and forwards so much when making lifts. The intermediate fall has a capacity of 27.2t. Almost inevitably, this crane is being shown in the colours of Mammoet Van Seumeren, which has bought three units.

Manitowoc will also have on its stand the crane simulator that it had at Intermat, featuring the EPIC controls of a 2250 model. Visitors are invited to test their skill.

Kobelco

Kobelco’s CK 2500 was launched last year as a modified version of the 200t-rated 7200 specifically for customers in the USA, where 15 units were delivered last year. The CK 2500, rated at 250 US ton originally, has now been harmonised for all markets outside Japan and has been given a European rating of 250t. It will be at Bauma in the colours of (yes, you’ve already guessed) Mammoet Van Seumeren, rigged with 60m boom and full luffing jib of 51.8m. In this configuration it can lift 17.2t at a radius of 19.8m.

The turbocharged Mitsubishi engine has a computer-controlled engine speed sensing (ESS) system which coordinates engine speed, hydraulic flow and pressure demand. Like all new crawlers these days, self-assembly is a feature. A comparison chart against the Liebherr LR 1250 and the Manitowoc 999 shows the CK 2500 holding its own on full main boom and outlifting in selected fixed jib and luffing tower combinations.

With space at a premium, there is no room to show another newer machine, the 90t CK 1000. Since its introduction in September 1999, 35 units have been delivered to US customers. Main advantage of this crane, Kobelco says, is that the lower boom does not have to be disassembled for transport. This machine, like the CK 2500, is now being offered to European customers as well, so it will be promoted at the show. Kobelco says it will also be announcing details of another new model at the show.

Terex Lifting

Terex is showing just the one crawler, the Bendini-built A 600 C, a telescopic boom model that featured on the front cover of the October 1998 issue of Cranes Today. It was launched that month at the SAIE 98 exhibition in Italy but has not been promoted at a major show since. It has been revamped a little since its first outing, Terex says, but it can still lift 60t or pick and carry 28t.