It may not have the vibrancy of Vegas but it has infinitely more class. This year’s industry outing is to Paris. Yes, it’s Intermat, the French construction equipment show, comes around once every three years, in a cycle with Bauma in Munich and Conexpo in Las Vegas.
The International Exhibition of Equipment and Techniques for the Civil Engineering and Construction Industries, to give its full name – takes place this month, from 16 to 21 May in Paris at the Parc des Expositions de Paris-Nord Villepinte.
It would be convenient to report that the whole crane industry will be there, or at least the whole of Europe’s. But they won’t be. Grove and Terex – who together account for something probably approaching two thirds of all the mobile cranes at work in France today – have decided that the cost of exhibiting at the show does not justify the benefits. There may be some wisdom in that, given that most of the top crane buyers in France were able to congregate in a modest car park in the Bois de Boulogne last year at the Interlev exhibition, and be quite satisfied with the lifting equipment displayed.
Intermat only began life in 1988 and remains very much the third ranked of the Top Three. It has grown rapidly and Paris is a popular venue, but Intermat is still working hard to establish itself as a major international event, and to justify the need for a construction equipment show just 11 months before the mighty Bauma.
However, most of the other crane manufacturers take the view that Intermat is too important not to be seen at, and it is hard to imagine that Grove and Terex would have withdrawn their initial applications for space had trading conditions appeared more favourable.
The exhibition organiser says that there will be 1,300 exhibitors, with 60% of them from 27 countries other than France. International manufacturers will be represented either by their headquarters or through their regional distributors. Small and medium-sized companies will also participate in the show through national pavilions grouping companies and industry representatives of the country.
The exhibitors will cover an area of 300,000m2. An outdoor equipment demonstration zone will occupy 25,000m2.
In 1997 the show had 1,200 exhibitors and drew 171,500 visitors from 113 countries. This time around, they are hoping for 190,000 visitors.
Intermat is traditionally a civil engineering exhibition, but it is increasingly drawing visitors from the building industry too (25% of visitors in 1997), a trend expected to accelerate with the dynamic upswing of this market, according to the organisers.
For the first time at Intermat, Innovation Awards are to be given to “materials, equipment and services displaying innovative features”. The judging panel is composed of representatives from professional bodies and trade associations, including DLR, the French dealers and hirers group, and SNUG, the crane users’ association. Award winners will be announced on the opening day of the show, 16 May.
Highlights
Most attention will probably be drawn by the major manufacturers such as Mannesmann Dematic, Liebherr, Manitowoc and Potain.
Three lattice boom crawler cranes at the show, the new 450t-rated Demag CC 2500, and Manitowocs 222 and 2250 (the former with a new luffing jib, the latter with new Max-er attachment) – will all be in the colours of Scotland’s Weldex Crane Hire, to whom the cranes will be shipped after the show. Other crawler cranes that are either new, or new to Europe, will be shown by Sennebogen and Favelle Favco (USA).
New tower cranes are being shown by Raimondi and Wolff as well as Potain and Liebherr. Liebherr will also be giving a first outing to a truck-mounted tower crane and its five-axle 100 tonner. With Tadano Faun, Mannesmann Dematic and Liebherr all showing five-axle, 100t-rated ATs, the market has a great opportunity to make its own comparisons. It is a pity that Grove’s new competitor in this category will not be on show. Also absent is Compact Truck’s machine in this category, though the Swiss producer is showing two-, three- and four-axle machines. The concept of compact mobile cranes, or city cranes, is clearly gaining popularity and there will be many to see in Paris, including the new (or rather, new to Europe) Tadano Crevo. It is illustrative that Mannesmann Dematic has chosen to exhibit, as well as three new ATs, its not-so-new AC 25 and AC 40-1 city cranes which have sold well in France and elsewhere.
Over the pages that follow we present a comprehensive preview of lifting and access equipment on show at Intermat.
Ascorel
Ascorel is showing its range of operator assistance devices, including its new safe load indicator for mobile cranes, the MC 320. See Operator aids feature on p47 for further details.
Bauer
The German manufacturer of specialist foundation equipment will exhibit its new continuous flight auger drilling rig specially designed for the construction of continuous flight auger piles. The BG 18H is mounted on a CAT 325 base machine with an engine capacity of 175kW and is fitted with a 16t main winch and an 8t auxiliary winch.
The maximum drilling depth of 22.6m is achieved by extending the 15m auger at the top with an 8m long extension in the form of a kelly bar. As a result, the total height of the mast does not exceed 20.6m. The 600mm diameter continuous flight auger is powered by a rotary drive providing 175kNm of torque.
CT Compact
Truck Three all-terrain cranes will be displayed by CT Compact Truck, including the 80t-capacity CT.3-80 which it recently exhibited at an open day of its Dutch distributor Kuiken Cramat. This four-axle AT is just 9.15m long and 2.49m wide. The boom telescopes from 7.3m to 46m.
The Swiss manufacturer says that the very tough road travel regulations make the Netherlands its best market. The CT.4-110, previously written about in Cranes Today, will be presented to customers at a later date, says managing director Alexander Lutz.
Deutz
Engine manufacturer Deutz sold 158,100 diesel engines in 1999, ranging from 4kW to 7,400kW, but the company has struggled in the crane market in recent years. But there are developments such as changing over its industrial engine range from air cooling to liquid cooling and a co-operation agreement with Volvo.
Sennebogen, for one, has chosen to use Deutz engines, with a 1013 series powering its 630 HD ‘nose down’ telescopic mobiles.
Deutz will be showing its full industrial range at Intermat. The company says that the electronic governor that it developed has already partially superseded the mechanical governor. This improves, for instance, the smooth running characteristics and facilitates engine setting,” says Deutz. Another recent improvement is the MVS solenoid valve-controlled injection system. “With these two features the company has established the basis for the future standard of industrial diesel engines,” it claims.
First fruits of the Volvo agreement will also be on show at Intermat, the Volvo-developed, Deutz-branded 1014 six cylinder engine.
Favelle Favco
No one needs a good Intermat more than Favelle Favco. Its innovative range of crawler cranes caused quite an impact at the Conexpo show in the USA last year, but interest generated has yet to translate into sales, with just six units delivered. Favelle Favco (USA) president and shareholder Danny Davis, who drove the tower crane manufacturer’s diversification into crawlers in the first place, was sacked in September by the Malaysian parent company which has now taken closer control of the US operation.
Favco’s telescopic and lattice boom crawlers are based on major components supplied by Caterpillar Industrial Products and the strategy was to tap into Caterpillar’s dealer network. While the little rubber tyred cargo handler that was seen at Conexpo, the FFC 9T, has been left behind, the three other machines on show in Las Vegas have been brought over to Paris. These are the FFC 28T, FFC 38T (28t and 38t telescopic boom crawlers) and the FFC 50mT (a 50t lattice boom crawler). These are joined for the first time by the FFC 50PL, a 50t capacity pipe layer.
Hetronic
Sharing a stand with Ascorel, its French distributor, Hetronic’s exhibits include a brand new Nova range built around its current Nova range.
JLG
JLG is unveiling at Intermat what it describes as “a revolutionary new series of electric boom lifts” for access up to 20m. It is also showing, for the first time in Europe, the JLG 600 SC crawler series, a range of three diesel-powered models of telescopic boom access platforms fitted with tracks of either steel or rubber-padded steel. One model has an articulated jib, offering a 20.1m maximum platform height and 17.3m horizontal outreach. Other models making their European debut are the 330 CRT compact rough terrain and 260 MRT mini rough terrain scissor lifts.
Kobelco
Kobelco cranes and excavators will be exhibited together on the same stand at Intermat in Hall 6.
The show sees the introduction of the left-hand drive version of the 25t rough terrain RK 250-5. The RK 250-5 replaces the RK 250-3.
This is the first Kobelco RT model to have left-hand drive (cab mounted on the left). In response to customer requests, Kobelco is now offering left-hand-drive as an option on the RK 200, RK 250-5 and RK 500-2, without any increase in purchase price. Kobelco’s RTs are equipped with an automatic sway control system which promotes safety and efficiency, Kobelco says.
Liebherr-Werk Biberach
Liebherr’s city and fast-erecting tower cranes enjoy strong success in Germany but there is now to be a big push on the products internationally. New tower cranes for Intermat are the 120K self-erector and the 90 LD top-slewing crane.
Liebherr claims that the 120K is “the only fast [self]-erecting crane which can be moved as a complete unit on the road as a semi-trailer with a 50m jib and hook height of 29m”. Maximum load is 8t and maximum hook height is 33.8m, increasing to 55m when the jib is angled upwards. On the end of the 50m jib it can lift 1,250kg. In raised position, the jib operates at a radius of 39.3m and load capacity at the end of the jib rises to 1,750kg. Frequency converter hoist gear is an option on this unit.
The 90 LD supplements the LC series. It can lift 1,300kg at the end of its 50m jib, and with a narrow tower and small base is designed for restricted building sites.
A third innovation from Biberach comes courtesy of assistance from Liebherr’s mobile crane factory at Ehingen – the truck-mounted MK 80 mobile tower crane. Designed for quick and easy assembly by one person, the telescopic lattice tower is mounted on the slewing platform of a four-axle forward-control Liebherr chassis, powered by a 270kW Liebherr diesel engine. The tower is positioned such that the truck can move with the tower up. It can lift a maximum of 8t or 1,700kg at the end of the 42m jib. Maximum hook height is 48.1m.
Liebherr-Werk Ehingen
Mobile cranes from Ehingen on display are three new ATs, at 60t, 100t and 300t capacities.
The 60t-capacity LTM 1060/2 and the 300t LTM 1300/1 were shown to customers at factory open days last September, but the LTM 100/2 – a five-axle 100 tonner, coming out shortly after similar models from Liebherr’s German rivals – finally makes its debut at Intermat.
Following the “all in” concept that all manufacturers are now pursuing, its 60t GVW includes “between 11.5t and 15t of ballast according to its equipment specification”. To adapt to different road regulations, options include either three of four driven axles, road tyres or off-road tyres, and an 11m or 19m folding jib. The six-section boom extends to 52m. The Liebherr turbocharged engine produces 370kW and it also features the new ZF 16-speed AS-Tronic gearbox with fully automatic electro-pneumatic shift. The Liccon computer unit includes the new LiSSy service and diagnosis system that Liebherr offers.
The four-axle 1060/2 is also an “all in” model. The 48t GVW and 12t per axle load includes 12t of counterweight, a 17m double folding jib, 16 inch tyres, eddy-current brake, three driven axles, hookblock and a full tank. The 42m telescopic boom and jib offer lifting heights up to 52m and the ability to lift 10t on full main boom.
The six-axle 300t LTM 1300/1, claimed to be “the most powerful crane in its category”, has a six-section, 60m boom.
Liebherr-Werk Nenzing
Liebherr is also showing a crawler crane from the Nenzing factory in Austria. Nenzing’s duty-cycle product range has recently been widened to include lift cranes. The latest of these is the LR 1140, a 135t-rated lift crane with two 12t winches. Main boom is up to 78m long and the luffing jib up to 46m. Maximum boom and jib combination is 49m + 46m. A fixed jib between 11m and 22m long, and with two positioning angles, is an option. Power output from the Liebherr engine is 240kW.
MAN Wolffkran
MAN Wolffkran is showing its latest trolley tower crane, the Wolff 4615 SL. According to its chart, when double reeved it can lift 1.5t at the end of its 46m jib or 4t at 24m. Its maximum lift capacity is 6t. The company says that compared to the Wolff 71 SL, the new 4615 SL is more economical and has better electrical equipment, as well as higher capacities.
Manitowoc
Manitowoc can always be relied upon to show some interesting new iron and, though this is not (yet, at least) a classic year for new product development from the US lattice boom crane manufacturer, given what we have seen in other years, there are two significant attachments getting their first viewing at Intermat which will attract some attention.
As previously reported by this magazine, Manitowoc is showing its new Max-er 2000 attachment for the 2250 and a luffing jib for the 222 bridge crane. The Max-er 2000 attachment, which will be mounted on a 2250 at the show, increases lifting capacity from a maximum 272t to 453t. For more details of this, see p47 of the March issue of Cranes Today.
The luffing jib attachment for the 91t-capacity 222 Series-B offers lifting capacities up to 32t and, by adding a fixed jib to the end of the luffing jib, reaches up to 96.1m (35.1m main boom plus 42.7m luffing jib plus 18.3m fixed jib). On that long combination, the crane is rated to lift 3,180kg at a 22.9m radius. Maximum 32t capacity is achieved on basic boom plus luffing jib combination of 16.8m plus 15.2m.
Manitowoc will also be displaying and demonstrating the prototype of a crane cab simulator that will be used to train operators.
Mannesmann Dematic
Mannesmann Dematic, now part of the soon to be floated Atecs Mannesmann group, is taking twice the stand space that it had initially booked. Its 1,200m2 stand gives room for it to show five telescopic all-terrain cranes and a lattice boom crawler. The crawler is the 450t-rated Demag CC 2500, which will be one of the biggest cranes at the show. It can lift 222t with 72m of main boom at 12m radius. The telescopic cranes on show are: the AC 25 and AC 40-1 city class cranes (25t and 40t capacity respectively): the new five-axle 100 tonner, the AC 100; the new six-axle 200 tonner, the AC 200; and the new 500 tonner, the AC 500. The AC 100 and the AC 500 were seen by many in the industry at Dematic’s open days in Germany last year, but Intermat represents their first showing at a trade fair.
The AC 100, for which more than 150 orders or reservations have been placed, is designed to meet 12t per axle load limits while carrying on board 13.2t of counterweight, 17m of folding jib, and a hookblock. The AC 500 is similarly travel-friendly in that it can be used as a ready-to-roll 300 tonner with zero counterweight (lifting 37t at 12m radius), as well as a genuine 500t AT complete with 180t of counterweight. The crane on display is to be delivered to French rental company Hivet after the show.
Brand new, though, is the AC 200, available in standard six-axle and optional five-axle versions. Add the folding jib to the 60m main boom and tip heights of 93.7m are reached. It is also, claims Dematic, the only crane in its class that can be equipped with a luffing jib. The manufacturer adds that the crane’s particular strengths are at long range picks. On full 60m boom it can lift 7.9t at 38m radius, for example. The carrier is powered by a 405kW engine, linked to a ZF-Transmatik transmission providing 14 forward gears and one reverse. The upper is powered by a 124kW engine which drives two power-controlled axial piston variable-displacement pumps and a fixed-displacement pump enabling three hydraulic circuits and three simultaneous working movements. The hot water heater with engine preheating has a seven day programmable timer.
Mannesmann Dematic will be looking to Intermat to help ensure 2000 is at least as good a year as 1999 was for the company. It reported turnover up 7% in its mobile cranes division (which includes Demag crawlers and Gottwald’s railway and harbour mobile cranes) for 1999 to about E500m. Orders received rose 4%. Star performer was the AC 40-1, of which more than 150 were delivered around the world last year, surpassing all forecasts.
Ormig
Italy’s Ormig is exhibiting a pair of its industrial pick and carry cranes. The 33tmE is electrically powered and has a maximum lifting capacity of 33t, while the 9tm is diesel powered and lifts 9t.
Potain
Potain is exhibiting a new crane assembly system, the MDi, and semi-trailer versions of its HD 32 and HD 40 self-erecting cranes. It is also showing a new telescopic self-erecting model, the HDT 80, and the Australian-designed PC10T portable crane that it is marketing. For further details, see feature on page 30.
Raimondi
Intermat sees the launch of a city version of Raimondi’s ER 180 tower crane. Designated the MR 183, it has been redesigned to cut maintenance costs and speed erection and dismantling time by having fewer components to put together on site, with the ‘A’ frame erected at the same time as the jib.
Lift options include a maximum capacity of 10t (2t at the end of the 66m jib). When mounted on an expandable element the maximum free standing hook height is 71.45m, or rail travelling on a 6m gauge base it offers a height of 66.7m. The inverter drive control system on hoist and trolley dispenses with the traditional direct electrics with timers and circuit card, thus reducing vibration and associated stresses. The inverter also includes a condition monitoring facility.
A hydraulic climbing frame version of the MR 183 is also available for higher hook requirements, as is a floor climbing version.
Sennebogen
Sennebogen comes to Intermat having “laid a solid foundation from which to step into the new century,” the company says. At Intermat Sennebogen will be giving another public outing for its top of the range 180t crawler crane, the 6180 HD Starlifter, which features a maximum hook height of 110m.
An addition to Sennebogen’s new generation of crawler cranes is the 6130 HD Starlifter, which has a maximum lift capacity of 136t at 3.7m and has a wide variety of boom and jib configurations. Fitted with a 45.7m main boom and 42.9m luffing jib, for example, it is rated to lift 10t at a radius of 17m or 9t at 30m – and up to a height of 84m in either instance. Tip heights up to 95m are offered.
The boom system of the 6130 HD has been designed so that the components slide into each other to ease transportation and Sennebogen boasts other easy transport and easy erection features. It is powered by a water-cooled Deutz engine which produces 223kW at 1,900rpm. Engine power is converted by four hydraulic pumps – a separate pump for each crane function.
Sennebogen is also showing the ‘nose down’ style telescopic crane that it launched last year, the crawler-mounted 630 HD. A wheeled version, the 630 M, is also available. “Excessive over-engineering has been deliberately dispensed with,” says Sennebogen. “Rather, the design engineers have put the main emphasis on reliability, versatility and economic efficiency.” The four-section boom features fully hydraulic extension and retraction, with boom extension continually adjustable to a hook height of 32m. Maximum rated capacity of the 630 HD is 35t at 2m radius. With the boom fully extended it lifts 5t at 3m. A 13m lattice jib (a 7.5m one is an option) extends maximum hook height to 39m. Power is from a 1013 EC series Deutz engine, producing 150kW.
Sennebogen is also promoting its top of the range harbour mobile crane for general cargo handling. The 6180 HMC lifts 50t at a 14m radius and has an operating weight of 160t. The first unit was delivered last year, as previously reported in Cranes Today.
SMIE
A range of operator assistance and anti-collision devices are being exhibited by SMIE. For further details, see feature on page 59.
Snorkel
Access platform manufacturer Snorkel is showing four new models at the show: the SL 20 narrow slab scissor lift; the SLH 4084hd rough terrain scissor lift; the ATB 50 articulating boom lift; and the PRO 66 articulating jib boom platform.
Tadano Faun
Tadano Faun of Germany is displaying its all-terrain ATF 100-5, the five-axle 100 tonner which has now had its load chart upgraded to show a maximum lifting capacity of 110t.
From parent company Tadano in Japan, there will be a TR 600 EXL, the European version the TR 650 XXL, the 65t rough terrain crane that was shown at Conexpo last year, and the Crevo 200 City Crane that has recently been launched in Europe. Intermat represents the official international launch of all three machines.
UpRight International
The end of the 1990s saw plenty of new product launches from UpRight, the aerial access platform manufacturer, as it sought to fill out its range. With that programme largely complete, attention has turned to refinements and improvements.
Among improved products on show at Intermat are the 26.4m working height SB 80 boom lift, to which has been added a new levelling capability, and the 13.5m self-propelled articulating boom AB 38, which now comes with optional basket rotation, giving 60° rotation either side of the main boom.
However, new products have not been neglected. New from UpRight is the AB 62RT, a 20.9m working height, articulated rough terrain boom lift. It offers 10.7m horizontal outreach at a 9.1m pivot height. The platform rotates through 180° and it has 360° continuous turret rotation with zero tailswing. Full height is reached in 75 seconds, drive speed is 6.8kmh, and four-wheel drive and oscillating axle are standard.
Intermat also sees the European launch of a variation of the X and XRT series of slab and RT scissor lifts. The XRT 27E (10.2m working height) and the XRT 33E (11.8m) are electrically powered scissor platforms with off-slab capabilities. They are designed to fill the gap between slab and RT models. These machines were first seen in the USA at the American Rental Association show in February.
