Tower crane exhibitors, who come every other year, return once more to the fairground in Bologna, Italy. For many visitors, this will bethe time to spend some time with the Italian tower crane specialists who may have been overlooked at Bauma in March/April.
According to figures from trade group ANIMA, the Italian material handling equipment market (excluding tower cranes) will drop 1% in 2004, following a similar drop last year, to about Euro 916m. Exports are also expected to fall, to Euro 369m. As a result, market prices should also drop. In other words, it is a buyer’s market.
New this year is a rental pavilion in new hall 16. Here, manufacturers and hire companies can present their rental service offerings (training, IT and marketing support), contractual conditions and hire rates, according to the organisers. Participating crane hire companies include the large rental company Noledil (C13, D14) and Mister Gru, the Italian Tadano Faun dealer (E59).
Selected exhibitors
Alfa of Novafeltria, a small town near Rimini, presents its heaviest-duty flat-top tower crane, model A807, which can lift 1.5t at the end of a 60m jib and a maximum of 6t. This crane’s performance is similar to those of the Citymatic range, which are designed to be erected quickly and easily. Jib, slew ring and counterjib can be assembled on the ground, and after a few lifts the crane is ready for work. The company is also showing a model of the Alfamatic self-erecting tower cranes, whose octagonal mast sections are hot-dip galvanised to protect them from the weather. The Alfamatic range has jibs ranging from 20m to 35m and lift loads from 400kg to 4t. All are transported complete within the road regulations.
Amco Veba is again showing the 950, which it claims is the largest loader with rack and pinion steering. It is also showing the 11tm 911. It features a proportional HAWE control valve and HBC remote control. It also features a centralised greasing system. An alternative model is also available with a short jib.
Next door is sister company Fratelli Ferrari, which is showing models 721 and 726, whose welding of base and column pinion increases their stability. Up to eight hydraulic extensions are available. Both cranes come equipped with Danfoss PVG32 control valve and radio remote control.
Benazzato Gru is showing its 40m hydraulic self-erecting tower crane and its 35 and 50m City tower cranes. The company offers 19 models with jib sizes from 14m to 50m. The company, established in 1963, has an 80,000 m2 site in two locations near Milan.
Brevini Winches is showing its range of winches for hoisting and pulling. Its BW series places all the mechanical and hydraulic parts inside the winch drum; maximum line pulls range from 600 to 6,600 daN. The BWF series (maximum line pulls 1,000 to 7,000 daN) is designed for even tighter spots, and have no protruding parts. Both have negative lamellar-type brakes. Delta series winches feature a negative static hydraulic brake as well as motor brake and linepulls range from 500 to 3,000 daN. The HW series, with line pulls ranging from 2,500 to 20,000 daN, features a lubrication system housed in the winch frame, so the rope need not be unspooled for maintenance.
Cormach is showing the 125tm 125000 loader crane shown at Bauma. The model is fitted with four to nine boom cylinders and also has a six-section fly jib.
Edilgru started out in 1911 as a manufacturer of processing machinery for silk, but switched in the 1950s to heavy steelwork, which led to crane building. It specialises in manufacture of hydraulic, bottom-rotating self-erecting tower cranes. The cranes are manufactured according to DIN 15018/15019/15020, among other standards. The company also rents new, second-hand and overhauled cranes. The range varies from the 10tm M.H. Turbo 18 to the 40tm 1000-40 F.A.
Effer is showing three new models. The 3tm model 30 is designed for mounting to trucks with a GVW of 3.5t. The 110-115 series cranes have lifting capacities in the range of 11tm. It is also launching another monster loader, the 114tm class 1550-J-Power 6S with six-section fly-jib equipped with winch. These last two models feature the DMU 3000 computer control box that reduces the speed of extension as the sections reach the end of their stroke, provides a forced sequence of extensions when the jib is being unfolded, automatically de-rates the crane over the front of the truck, and provides maintenance reminders, among other functions. Other models on show will be the 16tm 165.11.6S, 30tm 370.11.4S with 2,500 daN winch, 70tm 850/6S with 3,600 daN winch and the huge 130tm 1750/L/8S.
Elca specialises in design, production and distribution of radio remote control systems for commercial, manufacturing and building applications. It produces on/off and proportional control systems as well as products based on customers’ specifications.
Fassi launches a new range at the show. On display will be five models: the F170B, F190B, F210B and F230BX that feature dual connecting rods between the column and principal boom, and forks between principal and secondary boom to help improve lifting ability without adding weight. The company says the cranes will be equipped with an ‘exclusive, high-performance hydraulic system as standard’. It is also showing the Sioux 75, an elevated work platform.
Ferrari International 2 is launching a range of hydraulic rotators with link attachments. It also has a new model of basket made of fibreglass. It is also showing its range of steel and aluminium baskets, as well as its line of stabilisers, stabiliser blocks, log grabs, buckets, forks, winches and other crane attachments.
FM Gru is showing two new tower cranes. There is the FM 13.40 TLX topless city crane, which has a maximum load of 1.3t at end of 40m jib, and maximum capacity of 4t. Height under hook is 42m. It is also showing the RB 10.30 I hydraulic self-erecting tower crane. It lifts 1t at end of 30m jib, and a maximum of 4t. Height under hook is 27m. FM Gru is also planning to show new frequency-inverter controlled winches. Other cranes on show will be the 150tm class 25.60 TCK and 35tm class 10.35 CTY.
Manitowoc Crane Group’s stand at the show is claimed to be ‘significantly expanded.’ Grove is launching the five-axle, 130t GMK 5130-1, with 60m boom and powered luffing jib. Also on show are the 55t GMK3055 and 80t GMK4075-1 ATs. Grove is also showing its 30t rough-terrain RT530E launched at last year’s show, which might well prove a competitor for Bendini’s new machine. It features a 29m main boom and has optional off-settable swing-away extensions.
Hetronic is showing its programmable radio remote control system, BMS-2. In this system, all digital and analogue functions can be assigned to any command on the transmitter and output on the receiver. Once assigned, the commands can be modified – for example, ramps can be set for movements. The company is also showing its programmable graphic display. Users can set up their own icons on the display and customise their association with commands. ‘We have to imagine that the transmitter and receiver units are not anymore just a restrictive concept where for every command placed on the transmitter corresponds a defined signal on the receiver that has been already assigned from the radio manufacturer,’ the company says.
IMET is showing its digital and analogue command radio remote controls, including the M550 range and the company’s range of optical-contact joysticks. The company claims it is able to suit the requirements of many different application fields.
Manitowoc Crane Group’s Potain product line, whose main distributor in Italy is C.E.E.R,, based in Imola, is showing a new flat-top tower crane, the MDT 98, which can lift 1.5t at 50m jib end, and whose maximum load is 6t. It is also launching its smallest self-erecting tower crane, the Igo 10, which can lift 500kg at 20m jib end and whose maximum load is 1.3t . Also on show is the 4t Igo 50 and the 50tm class GTMR 346B, both launched at Bauma. It will again show the Vision cab.
Ormig is showing its 22t and 33t battery-driven yard cranes. Both are equipped with three motors: one for driving, one for the hydraulic pump and one for services. The company is also showing its 80t 804AC truck-mounted recovery crane. The six-section boom can reach 48m high.
Aerial platform vendor Palazzani is showing a new model, the Ragno TSJ 39, has 39m maximum working height, a gross weight of 7.5t and a width of 1m.
Terex-Demag’s stand returns some of the stars of this year’s Bauma show. There is the three-axle 55t AC 55 City crane, equipped with 40m main boom. Providing some competition for Grove’s new 130t AT is the AC 120-1, the 120t AT that shares the upper of the AC 140, but has a 250mm thinner carrier. Also on show will be the AC 250 that features 80m of main boom and a 36m hydraulically offsettable boom extension. This extension uses its own diesel hydraulic pump to hydraulic cylinders, rather than using long hose lines with oil fed by the main pump.
On a nearby stand, Italian rough-terrain subsidiary Bendini is showing its new 40t rough-terrain model, the RC 45. Five-section boom length varies between 9.5m and 37.4m.
TCM is showing a model of its telescopic-boom crawler crane, the RTC 70. The crane, which can lift maximum 70t on stabilisers and 32t on tracks, has a maximum reach of 25m and hook height of 28m, or 40m with jib attachment. The Termoli, central Italian company is also showing an aerial platform that can rise up to 17m high and lift 200kg
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Selected exhibitors
