Manitowoc

Crawlers
Manitowoc will introduce a new range of lattice-boom crawler cranes at ConExpo 2014. Among them will be the 165t capacity Manitowoc MLC165, which makes its US debut. The crane will also be joined by two completely new crawler cranes, details of which will be revealed at the show.

The Manitowoc MLC165 has been designed for the global market and was first shown at Bauma 2013 in Germany.

The manufacturer says the Manitowoc MLC165 is easy to maneuver on a job site, or between several job sites, making it ideal for general contractors, bridge builders, steel erectors and piledriving contractors. The maximum boom length of the crane is 84m, with additional optional fixed jib and luffing jibs avaliable. Manitowoc describes the MLC165 as a more environmentally friendly machine. It features a 239kW Cummins Tier 4 Interim engine and a new open-loop hydraulic system, served by two variable displacement piston pumps, giving the 165t crawler more lifting power than other cranes of its class, Manitowoc says. Its maximum load moment is 762tm.

Rough terrains
Will have a broad selection of Grove truck cranes at the show. The 65USt RT770E rough-terrain offers a 42m boom, which the manufacturer says is specially designed to give customers all the benefits of a traditional Grove rough-terrain crane, but with extra-long reach.

The RT770E's five-section, full-power boom features single-cylinder technology, which, the company says, eliminates the need for a hydraulic hose reel, lightening the boom, and in turn, the entire crane. The design also eliminates the need to install boom inserts, which would require an assist crane. The RT770E's boom telescoping system offers "A" and "B" mode selections. Manitowoc says that these maximize load chart capacities in both the structural and stability section of the load chart, enabling the operator to easily choose the mode that best fits the lift.

The RT770E has a 26.2ft x 11ft chassis that enables it to be transported with greater ease. Manitowoc pointed out that this eliminated the need for more expensive hauling permits that larger and heavier cranes require.

All terrains
The manufacturer will feature its two six axle Grove all-terrain cranes at ConExpo 2014: the innovative 400t GMK6400 and the successful long boom GMK6300L.

The GMK6400 debuts a bew single engine drive system powering both the carrier and superstructure. Manitowoc says that this reduces the crane's overall weight and improves fuel economy. The firm said its engineers reallocated the weight savings to other parts of the crane's design, further boosting capacity.

The 300t GMK6300L has had a successful 2013, with the all-terrain crane finding customers on five continents. The crane has a long 80m boom, achieved thanks to its seven-section, 80m twin-Lock boom and the patented Megaform design for optimised rigidity and capacity. A 37m jib is also available. At a maximum system length of 117m the crane can lift 2t.

The all-wheel steered crane has steer-by-wire technology included on the first, second, fifth and sixth axles. Its cab can accommodate up to three crew members, and has ergonomic positioning of the instruments and controls.

Tower cranes
Manitowoc's Potain brand is also bringing several new models. The MR 418 is the first in an updated line of luffing jib cranes, with full frequency-controlled mechanisms for precision control and a design that optimises the available space on the job site, simplifying assembly and disassembly.

The MR 418 offers an optional 270 LVF 120 hoist and can be utilised in either one-fall or two-fall reeving. Manitowoc believes it is perfect for power plants or high rise buildings, including structures that exceed 200m in height.

The crane has an 830m rope capacity on the winch's drum, meaning that in single-fall configuration a hook path of 830m is possible, while in two-fall configuration, 415m of vertical reach is possible.

The winch can reach speeds of up to 254m/min, while the power control function means the winch can operate off varying power inputs, allowing it to cope with lower power supplies on site and move easily to different countries.

The manufacturer is also shwing its largest self-erecting crane in the Potain range, the Igo T 130. The crane features a 50m folding jib and can telescope its mast to adjust its working height.

Manitowoc first presented the Igo T 130 to customers at the end of 2012 in a special event at the company's facility in Shady Grove. Several cranes have since been delivered to companies in both the United States and Canada. Manitowoc said that the ability to vary the working height of the Igo T 130 is a feature that users prefer, allowing them to select the best height configuration to suit the project.

In its transport configuration the crane travels as a single trailer with an overall length of 17.15m. This convoy has a ground clearance of 32cm for access to working job sites.

Truck-mounted cranes
Manitowoc will show the largest National Crane ever built, the new National Crane NBT60, and the National Crane NBT15 series.

The new NBT60 is a 54.4t capacity crane that features a 39m five-section, full-power boom, the longest in its class. A 7.9m-13.7m two-section, offsettable manual extension is also available for the crane.

Despite its size, Manitowoc says that the NBT60 will be as easily roadable as other boom truck cranes, without the need for additional permits in many regions, allowing customers to perform lifts that sometimes require larger cranes, saving time and money before projects begin.

The manufacturer expects the NBT60 to be useful in the oil and gas industry, as well as for crane rentals. Manitowoc's customers working in the oil and gas field were the primary drivers of the NBT60's creation, as many companies desired a larger National Crane that would still have the flexibility of the boom truck, with the comforts and serviceability that commercially-sourced trucks provide.

Other features on the NBT60 include two-piece, hydraulically removable, counterweight slabs that can be stowed on the front outrigger box to provide different roading configurations. Ground level and in-cab CanBus outrigger controls with a new beam position sensing system help the operator to selecting the right load chart based on the crane's outrigger footprint. An X-shaped footprint eliminates the need for a single front outrigger and front bumper control of the hoists for quick road setup configuration.