The crane can be fitted with 63m fixed jib or 95m luffing jib. What the company calls an ‘improved’ superlift system increases jib lengths by 7-12m and increases lifting capacity by 12-60%. There is also an auxiliary winch available. The crane can lift its rated capacity with 160t or 140t of counterweight. The counterweight tray has a self-installation system. On show the crane was displayed with about 115t of counterweight. The crane has an eight-axle chassis. Six axles steer and four axles drive. The QAY400 all terrain crane shares some features of the 500, but is smaller. It has a five-section pinned boom on a seven-axle carrier.

Chinese crawler crane and truck crane manufacturer Sany showed a prototype of its first all-terrain crane, the QAY 220, at Bauma China. Unlike similar ATs made by rivals Zoomlion and XCMG, the crane runs on five, not six, axles. It has an automatic six-section, 62m main boom, and the total system length with automatic luffing jib is 105m. The crane runs on a Hydac hydraulic suspension and Kessler axles and has a low-speed turning radius of less than 20m. The carrier’s imported Benz OM 502LA.E3A (390kW at 1800 rpm) transfers power through a ZF AS-Tronic gearbox. The 15.8m-long crane weighs 60t, and roads at 12t/axle, (without counterweight)

At the show, Zoomlion launched a V series of truck crane with a new cab design and other improvements. On show were 90t, 120t and 150t capacity models with 48m, 57.5m and 59m booms. A 220t-capacity all terrain crane launched earlier this year with six axles and 61m boom was also shown. Zoomlion has reportedly finished designing a 350t-capacity all terrain which it plans to release in 2009.

Japanese manufacturers Kato and Tadano both showed 70t rough terrain cranes and new traditional truck cranes mounted on Chinese-made carriers.

The Kato NK-550V is a 55t hydraulic truck crane with 43m boom mounted an FAW chassis and FAW Euro Tier III engine with 258kW (at 2,100rpm). A Euro II-compliant engine has been available since 2007; a new version with Tier III engine has just been released. Kato assembles the crane in Japan.

Tadano’s truck crane effort comes from its joint venture company in China, BQ Tadano. The GT-750E is the joint venture’s largest traditional truck crane, with 75t lifting capacity, 44m boom, on a carrier with 283kW engine built by Chinese partner Beijing Jincheng.

Kato’s 70t capacity high-speed rough terrain crane, the SR 700L, is a version of its MK 650 high-speed rough terrain crane, but with left-hand drive for export. It features a 44m boom and 257kW (at 2,200 rpm) engine. Production is expected to begin by April 2009. It features a Euro Tier II engine for primary markets of China and the Middle East.

Tadano’s 70t capacity rough terrain crane follows the US design with full-size hubs and tyres, so it is not street-legal. The GR-700EX has a 44m boom and 200kW engine and is wholly made in Japan.

Kato released a 30t-capacity truck crane, the NK-300VR, based on the NK-300E, but with new boom, cab and superstructure, and a 30t rough terrain with a similar upper design, the SR-300L.

All four Katos come with the MS-200 crane computer with outrigger interlocks and range limitation as standard.

None are CE-marked.