Moving targets

18 March 2019


Mobile crane manufacturers are keeping plenty of surprises in store for Bauma. But, with announcements on cranes ranging from 25t city cranes, via a selection of all terrains, all the way up to a new 800t crawlers, there’s sure to be plenty to see. Will North reports.

The all terrain segment looks to be entering a new era at this year’s Bauma, with Terex’s planned sale of Demag mobile cranes to Tadano promising a changing market over the years to come. Despite this impending change, all of the major all terrain manufacturers will have new cranes at the show, and a possible new option on display.

Manitowoc will be showing four cranes in its GMK series. The company has yet to reveal all of the details of its display, but says it will include two new cranes, and two upgrades.

Of the two new models, the company has only revealed details of one so far, the GMK 3060L. This is a long boom upgrade to Manitowoc’s three-axle 60-tonner, featuring a 48m (157.5ft) boom and significantly stronger load charts: Manitowoc says it has the strongest taxi load charts of any crane in its class.

As well as an extra, ‘surprise’, new GMK, the company is showing two other models. The second long-boom crane in the group is the six axle GMK6300L-1, which upgrades the existing long boom six-axle 300-tonner. The original, launched in 2010, has so far sold 400 units: an ‘immediate worldwide hit’ Manitowoc says.

The GMK4090 is a replacement for the GMK4080-1/GMK4100B. It features a modern, compact design that puts emphasis on roadability and maneuverability.

The new crane comes in response to customer demand for lightweight, flexible taxi cranes in the 90t (100USt) capacity class. It represents a generational upgrade over the previous GMK4080-1/ GMK4100B, a popular allterrain crane in Europe due to its versatility in applications, especially with rental companies.

Liebherr will show three new all terrains. Entirely new are a five-axle and a three-axle. Liebherr has revealed few details of these newest cranes, saying only that the eight-axle is designed for maximum performance and the five-axle’s crane designers ‘gave economical and flexible crane jobs around the world the highest priority’.

More detail is available on the second five-axle on show, the LTM 1230-5.1, first shown at Liebherr’s customer days event in Ehingen.

With a 75m boom, Liebherr says this is ‘long, powerful, and versatile’. Its predecessor, the LTM 1200-5.1, also had one of the longest telescopic booms in this crane class at 72m.

The new 230t crane not only delivers an extra 3m in length but also an average of 20% greater lifting capacity. In addition to a multifunctional folding jib, a 43m fixed jib is also available.

Tadano will be showing two new all terrains, and one of its current models. The two new models are a 4-axle and a 5-axle. Both comply with the new emissions standard Euromot 5, have a practically identical modular superstructure concept, and a newly developed main boom. For both cranes, Tadano will continue with its two-engine concept, which it says provides optimum capacity utilisation of the engines at any given moment.

Tadano will also be showing one of its existing models, the ATF 60G-3. This crane has a single engine—an approach Tadano has taken with other smaller models— but uniquely places this engine on the superstructure, rather than the carrier. With the ability to telescope with high loads on the hook, Tadano says this crane offers extra versatility when working in low headroom jobs.

Terex has revealed details of two all terrains that it will be showing. At its launch, in 2017, the AC 45 City was one of the first fruits of the ‘new Demag’.

The crane builds on the success of the AC 40 City, of which Terex has sold more than a thousand units.

Terex said the new three-axle unit ‘redefines compactness’ in the 45t lifting capacity class with a total length of only 8.68m, a width of 2.55m and an overall height of just 3.16m. Its height can be reduced to less than 3m when space is at a premium, as is the case indoors.

The Demag AC 300-6 delivers class-leading reach combined with strength, including the ability to lift 15t on a full 80m boom. To allow for versatility, the AC 300-6 can be adapted to the needs of a variety of jobs and is the smallest crane in the Demag AC range with a luffing jib. The HAV swingaway jib and many components are shared with Demag five-axle cranes, increasing the value of owners’ investment and reducing the amount of spare parts they need to have on hand.

The 80m main boom can perform jobs at heights up to 78m or 74m radius without rigging a jib. It is ideal for tower crane erection, with a class leading lifting capacity of 15t on fully telescoped 80m main boom.

The show will feature two new all terrains, built outside of Germany. Link-Belt will be bringing its new AT|175, launched at its Lexington, Kentucky, CraneFest event last autumn. The five-axle, 175USt (150t) 175|AT features a 60.1m (197ft) six-section main boom.

A 16.8m (55ft) on-board fly features a choice of four manual offset positions or variable offset range from 0° to 45° with hydraulic cylinders. The fly also features Link-Belt’s innovative approach for erecting and stowing that minimizes the number of times a ladder is needed.

Kato, returning to the show after 20 years, will be showing a new 100t all terrain aimed at customers in Asia, but with a number of key European components. It is powered by a European Daimler OM470LA EU Stage IV Engine, with European components including an Allison 4000SP-R 6 speed transmission, Kessler axles, and ABS brakes.

As well as showing existing models in its city crane line, the company will show a new model in the line. The brand new 25t city crane CR-250R-V will be a direct replacement for the previous CR250 which sold in large numbers throughout the UK and Europe.

The CR-250R-V is equipped with a fully powered 29m main boom which can telescope with 100% of its load, and comes with an 8.5t searcher hook as standard. A hydraulically luffing and hydraulically telescoping fly jib can be mounted within a 5.7m area from the slew centre, and is also fully-powered. A 360° ‘birds-eye view’ camera is also offered as standard.

As well as all terrains, there will be a number of truck cranes on show. Over recent years, Locatelli has been strengthening its range with new formed booms from its owner, Plana Group. At Bauma, the company will be showing the first of a new range of truck cranes with octagonal formed booms. The TCL 40.35 lifts up to 40t, with a maximum boom length of 32.1m. Mounted on a Mercedes carrier, the crane will be shown at Bauma for the first time. A second model, with a maximum capacity of 55m and a main boom of 37.2m, can be expected in 2020.

Tadano will be showing an upgrade to its HK40 truck crane, mounted on a new MAN carrier. With axle loads below 10t, the crane can work without permits, while carrying 4.5t of counterweight. With more of a focus on emerging markets around the world, Tadano will also be showing the GT-750EL.

Böcker will be showing one of its cranes, an AK46/6000, in a new ‘emissions free’ configuration. A 32kW drive can power the crane during lifting operations, from 400V three-phase supply. This means that the crane can work without generating noise or exhaust.

Marchetti says it will show one of its truck cranes, a unit of the MTK 60-5 mounted on a five axle Volvo truck. This crane has a maximum capacity of 60t.

Spierings will be showing the SK487-AT3 City Boy, the first hybrid-powered mobile crane ever made. It is equipped with a 30m high tower and is built on a compact three-axle chassis: only 2.50m wide and 9.43m long.

The self-erecting tower boasts a 40m jib which can handle 1.7t at the tip and lift a maximum load of 7t.

Road, On Wheels

The rough terrain segment has seen good sales, and plenty of innovation, over recent years.

At Bauma 2019, Manitowoc will be showing two of its existing range of rough terrains, the GRT8100 and GRT655L. The GRT8100 lifts up to 100t, on a five-section 47m main boom, extendable to a maximum reach of 73m. The GRT655L has a maximum capacity of 51t (55USt), with a long 43m main boom, and maximum reach of 59.7m.

Tadano will show two rough terrains, designed for the specific needs of different global customers.

The GR-1200XL was developed for industrial energy projects in North America, with an easy rigging system and self-mountable counterweight. The GR-200EX was designed with customers in Oceania in mind. It is, Tadano says, the first rough terrain with a remote control, allowing the operator remotely retract and extend the outriggers, and stow the hook block.

Sany will also have a rough terrain at the show, the SRC800C, an 80t capacity machine with a 47m main boom and 17.5m extension.

Crawlers

This year’s Bauma launches will include both lattice boom and telescopic boom crawlers.

Sennebogen will have new cranes in both formats. The 6133 E is the company’s biggest telescopic boom crane yet, with a maximum capacity of 130t. This model has a six-section main boom, a departure from the design of previous Sennebogen booms. The crane can reach a maximum boom length of 52m, extendable to almost 70m with the 15m fly boom. The crane’s under carriage can be retracted to a width of less than 4m when travelling, and extended to 6.3m when working for maximum stability.

The company will also be launching a new lattice boom crawler, the 5500 G. This machine is the first in the company’s new G Series, and increases the capacity of the crane to 200t, from 180t on the earlier version of the 5500. As well as offering improved capacities, the G series marks Sennebogen’s move to new Tier 5 emissions standards, and also includes Sennebogen’s new MaxCab.

Kobelco will show two crawlers, the CKE90G and CKE300G. The latter was launched in 2018, and offers a standard capacity of 300t. In SHL super heavy lift configuration, the crane’s capacity can be increased to 350t. The crane features Kobelco’s new touchscreen control system, which, the company says, offers an ‘intuitive and easy to understand’ full display of essential data.

Tadano will be bringing one of its US-built telecrawlers, the GTC-800. This 80t machine has three outrigger positions, with the Opti-Width track monitoring system allowing it to work at a mix of symmetric and asymmetric positions. The machine, first launched in the US, is now CEmarked and available to European customers at Bauma.

Liebherr is launching two new crawlers, an 800t model and a 300t. The new LR 1800-1 has a new boom system using lattice sections with three system dimensions which can be telescoped into each other for transport.

While just 3m wide, Liebherr says the crane is ‘the most powerful crawler crane in the market’. It is particularly rigid as a result of its increased design height. A quick connection to raise the superstructure for transport is standard.

The latest version of the LR 1300 SX has been designed for operator safety and comfort. Liebherr’s new Boom Up-And- Down Aid monitors the crane’s stability during these operations.

The new Liebherr LR 1300 SX is fitted with wind sensors on the main boom and jib. Both the measured wind speed and the actual crane configuration (boom length, boom angle) are taken into consideration when calculating the current hazardous situation for the crane. The crane also includes a new system for monitoring ground pressure when working.

Manitowoc’s GMK6300L-1
Tadano’s GTC800, available to customers in Europe for the first time
Demag’s AC-300-6
Liebherr’s LTM1230-5.1, one of the two five axle all terrains from Liebherr at the show
Sennebogen’s biggest telecrawler yet, the 6133 E
Kato’s latest city crane, the CR-250R-V