JMG picked for Swedish Steel prize

JMG launched the MC580 in February. The battery operated crane, with forklift-style tyres, is able to pick and carry loads up to 58t. It can be fitted with 30t forks from JMG’s MC350.

“It all started by chance when we started to design the MC580,” explains Emilio Berti, chief technical officer at JMG cranes. “We realised how relevant is the weight when designing a light mini crane, especially when carrying a load. We decided to use sophisticated materials, opting for the Strenx 700 and 900 from SSAB. Compared with other standard steels, Strenx has high resistance and can give a great lifting capacity machine to the machine.”

The steel JMG selected is rated at 700kNm (MPa) and 900kNm, compared to ratings of 355kNm for steels sometimes used for cranes of these types.

Specifically, JMG used Strenx 700 with a width of 12mm to implement the crane's extendible rear chassis, and to increase the overall lifting capacity.  “We also used Strenx 700 for the removable stabilisers with widths of 15, 30 and 60mm to make them much more lighter and flexible during transport. We chose two types of Strenx for the boom, the ultra-high-strength Strenx 900 with widths of 8, 10, 12mm; and the Strenx 700 with widths of 12 and 30mm.” The boom is fabricated by 2 Erre in Bergamo.

Berti adds: “We saved at least 1.3t of weight by using Strenx 900 and Strenx 700 for the boom, which can still lift heavy loads.

“We dramatically reduced the overall weight of the MC580 from 42.5t in configuration of maximum performance to 27.9t without ballasts, stabilisers and hoist and a further reduction is possible up to 23.6t by removing the battery.”

The other finalists for the prize are Fermel for multi-purpose vehicles in South Africa; Kiruna Wagon for a dumper wagon system in Sweden; and Wabash National for trucks and semi-trailers in North America.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Stockholm on May 11.