Manitowoc launches two new Potain luffing jib cranes

Manitowoc completes its latest generation of Potain luffing jib cranes with the launch of the MR 309 and MR 329. These new models follow the introduction of the MR 229 at Bauma 2022, which was the first Potain luffing jib crane to come equipped with Potain’s Crane Control System (CCS) and Connect telematics.

Manitowoc says, in response to customer demand, the new cranes facilitate quicker and simpler crane assembly.

The jib on the MR 229, MR 309, and MR 329 can be mounted horizontally, section by section, while reduced windvane spans are designed to make installation on tight jobsites easier. Accessible platforms and steps promote secure and efficient worker movement, and the counterjib ballast is installed at working height. The positioning of the ballast is made easier, says Manitowoc, due to slinging rings and a self-centering system.

A redesigned luffing mechanism aims to further streamline assembly, while an integrated jib-end basket is designed to aid more secure installation, inspection, and maintenance.

Customers also requested a greater height under pivot and more powerful load charts which, Manitowoc says, the MR 229, MR 309, and MR 329 all deliver. The MR 309 and MR 329 have been introduced with maximum capacity variants of 16 t or 25 t. Despite sharing a common 60 m jib and a 3.4 t capacity at the tip, their distinct pivot and mast configurations result in differing heights under pivot and load curves.

The MR 309, with its 2 m pivot and mast configuration, achieves a height under pivot of 49.2 m, reaching a maximum capacity of 4.3 t at 55 m. In contrast, the MR 329, featuring a 2.45 m pivot and mast configuration, attains a height under pivot of 55.2 m, with a maximum capacity of 4.7 t at 55 m.

In addition, the new cranes address the need for a strongly reduced out-of-service radius (9.5 m to 12 m) and decreased anchorage frame requirements, delivering improved efficiency and productivity on high-rise and congested construction sites where oversailing is not permitted.

"We've received excellent feedback since the debut of the MR 229, particularly for its ease of erection, minimised out-of-service radius, and the integration of CCS,” says Thibaut Le Besnerais, vice-president of marketing and development at Manitowoc. “Furthermore, customers have praised the seamless operation of the crane from the Ultraview CCS cab. With these achievements in mind, we have high expectations for the MR 309 and MR 329 as they round out this innovative new generation of Potain luffing jib cranes.”