Tadano to launch truck crane at Conexpo

A new 80-US ton truck crane, the first it has ever produced for the North American market, will be among new product unveiled by Tadano at the Conexpo show next month.

The Japanese manufacturer will also be showing two new rough terrain models and the North American version of a Faun all-terrain.

The RTs are from the new fourth generation series of Tadano rough terrains in North America. At Conexpo will be the 45 ton TR-450 XL-4 and the 60 ton TR-600 XL-4. Early deliveries of the TR-450 were made last year to Bay Crane, Tadano's New York distributor, but Conexpo marks the model's official launch. The driving factor behind the re-design of Tadano's North American 45 ton RT was a change in regulations in New York limiting one-man operating machines to 70,000lb GVW - to meet this, the Tadano had to lose weight, which accelerated the development of the fourth generation.

The TR-600 is totally new - the unit at the show is the first one to have been produced. Also now available, but not being exhibited is an 80 ton 'dash four', the TR-800 XXL-4. The 'XXL' denotes a five section boom, while 'XL' denotes a four section boom.

Tadano has never produced a truck crane for North America before but at Conexpo it will show the 80 ton rated TT-800 XXL - the first in a new line of truck cranes being produced specifically for the North American market.

Also available is the 60 ton TT-600 XL truck crane. The TT-800 XXL has the same upper as the new 80 ton RT and the TT-600 XL has the same upper as the 60 ton RT.

Common to both the new truck crane models is a four-axle carrier built by Tadano Faun in Germany. The front two axles steer, the rear two are driven. The six cylinder Cummins QSM11 engine produces 385hp at 1800 min-1. The transmission is a ZF 12 Astronic 2301 automatic drive with 12 forward and two reverse speeds.

The boom of the new 45 ton RT extends to 33m (108ft) and has a 15.2m (50ft) jib. The 60 ton RT and truck crane, having identical uppers, have a maximum boom length of 34m (112ft) and a 17.7m (58ft) jib. The TT- and RT-800 XXL have a 43.9m (144ft) boom and a 17.7m (58ft) bifold jib.