October looks like being a big month in the loader crane world this year. It’s always a key month for the Italian manufacturers, of course, with the annual SAIE exhibition of construction technologies. Another major event is the launch of six new cranes by Hiab at the IAA show in Frankfurt, Germany.

Hiab is not yet ready to reveal details but marketing manager Anders Hansson described the launch as “the biggest event for Hiab in 20 years”. The new cranes will be base models spread across the range, some of which will complement, and others replace, existing models. Hiab is aiming for flexibility with these models, and specifically to be able to identify and cater for niche market applications worldwide.

With work continuing on the constant cycle of expansion and renewal of loader crane ranges, among launches promised for SAIE are three new series, rated at 24tm, 39tm and 68tm, from Autogru PM. These follow on from the 34tm, launched late last year, and continue the update programme.

Effer also has new models for launch at SAIE. And cranes under development at Amco Veba include a 20tm model that might be ready in time for the show.

New loader crane models already seen this year include Palfinger’s PK 4501 and PK 6001, launched in June. Palfinger claims that these models are lighter, more compact and easier to maintain than competing models of the same capacity. The weight-performance relationship, particularly of the PK 6001, is “astonishing” according to the manufacturer. Both cranes have four hydraulic extensions, and a wider hexagonal profile to increase boom rigidity. A hydraulic overload protection device is designed to make the crane easier to handle and reduces the need for maintenance because there are fewer valves. Return oil utilisation gives increased extension and working speeds. Own-brand radio remote control is also fitted.

Flli Ferrari, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, says that its latest loader crane model, the 550, is very light in weight for its lifting capacity. It is a development of the 4.2tm model 545 and is rated at 5tm. It is particularly suitable for the German market because of the 4.8m stabiliser width to fit on 7.5t GVW trucks, Ferrari says. The next new Flli Ferrari model will have a 15tm rating and should be out by the end of the year.

Next year’s new models will include a 40tm crane from Amco Veba.

In the US, a market now being heavily targeted by many European manufacturers, indigenous manufacturers are putting up strong resistance. Service trucks constitute an important sector, particularly for straight boom cranes, an area where US manufacturers traditionally dominate. Stellar Industries claims several unique features for its new heavy duty 9620 telescopic crane. These include proportional radio remote control as standard, a 20ft (6m) hydraulic reach and a winch speed of 60ft/min (18.3m/min). Due to a planetary drive, winch speed is more than twice that of the competition, according to Stellar. The new model is aimed at heavy equipment dealers, construction and mining companies.

Other business

The launch of new models is not Hiab’s only reason to be cheerful, for sales are up too, according to Hansson. “In general, order intake worldwide is extremely good.” Markets that are “booming” include France, Spain, Germany and North America. Hiab is gaining market share in the 8tm to 12tm range, particularly in France, he says.

Atlas Weyhausen also claims increased market share in export markets, including the USA, Saudi Arabia and north Africa, mostly with the large 250.1 and 300.1 models.

Palfinger is showing strong growth, mainly due to a rising demand for loader cranes, especially for light and very heavy models, according to this year’s first quarter results. Figures for the Palfinger Group show a year on year increase of 41.9%. This includes revenue from Guima, the manufacturer of container hook loader systems acquired by Palfinger in the latter part of last year. Even without this revenue, the increase is still shown as 26.5%.

Several manufacturers are making infrastructure investments to increase capacity and efficiency. Autogru PM has expanded its factory by 2,000m2 and installed a new paint facility which doubles existing capacity. The final testing area has been extended, logistics have been improved and there is a new computer system for 3D design. Last month Amco Veba moved to a new $6m assembly plant with an annual production capacity of 5,000 units. The plant includes paint, finishing and testing facilities. All cranes are built to order rather than for stock and delivery is quoted as three to four weeks.

Car recovery cranes, for which Amco Veba is well known with its VT range, have been selling well again this year, particularly in the UK. Many orders are to replace existing cranes, some of which are now 10 years old and are up for renewal. Company president Giancarlo Perego says he is not worried by competition for this type of crane because Amco Veba is so well established in the sector, with up to 10 models on offer. This represents a significant investment that he says competitors do not match because the return is too small in terms of volume. If the niche market is divided up between several manufacturers each one will not have enough sales to recoup development costs. Perego says Amco Veba is finding new niche markets all the time. Latest is selling its smaller models for mounting on tracked drilling rigs.

Recovering aircraft wreckage is another niche application. Palfinger’s PC 2400 model has been used to recover parts of a 747 aircraft which crashed close to Hatfield Forest in the UK. The 2.3tm rated cranes are mounted on the back of three Supacat six-wheeled all terrain vehicles. These vehicles can cope with the often difficult terrain of aircraft crash sites and they also minimise environmental damage. Aircraft often disintegrate on impact so pieces of wreckage, apart from engines, rarely weigh more than 1.5t which is within the capacity of the PC 2400. The pieces are loaded, pick and carry fashion, onto the Supacat and taken to a collection area. The PC 2400 weighs only 175kg which minimises payload reduction. It slews through 340° and picks 540kg at 4m radius.

Niche applications are not Bonfiglioli’s main business although it has built a few straight boom car recovery cranes. Standard models are the priority and the philosophy is to build simple cranes, particularly for customers who hold the view that in many applications the crane is only used for a few hours a year so a full specification of extras is not justified. Bonfiglioli builds its own electronic load limiter and a maximum of only 10% of production is fitted with remote control.

The principle of simplicity is also applied to extensions. According to market research, Bonfiglioli says, four extensions is really the maximum, although it sometimes builds cranes with five or six. Depending on the model, reach with four extensions is up to 13m. More extensions than this can be useful but stability becomes an issue and so stabilisers need to be larger.

Best selling models are ones rated between 10tm and 15tm, for general applications, but Bonfiglioli also claims a good reputation for medium to large cranes, from 40tm to the largest, the 160tm model. Bonfiglioli’s current L series, which is between one and two years old, covers the range 2tm to 15tm. The renewed XL series is the medium size range from 15tm to 30tm. The shape has been revised to reduce costs and the narrower design saves space during transport, weighs less and still manages to have a slightly longer boom. Components and the fabrication work have been simplified for robotised production. Another improvement is the use of 39 nickel chrome molybdenum for the gears which means they are smaller, lighter and perform better.