Loader cranes
For example, Effer and its sister company, access equipment supplier Bizzocchi, used the show to announce details of their acquisition by CTE (see news story on page ??).
By 2007, CTE wants Effer and Bizzocchi to produce approximately 2,500 cranes and 500 access platforms a year (compared with approximately 1,600 cranes and 250 platforms this year), and achieve a turnover of 60 million Euros.
Indeed, the acquisition has done nothing to dampen Effer’s enthusiasm for new developments. The company launched nine new loader cranes at SAIE.
These included the 275 and 305 based on Effer’s modular “Octopus” concept. This, the company claims, enables it to offer end users the widest possible selection of boom combinations.
The 275 and 305 develop a lifting moment of 26 and 28tm respectively, and come with booms containing up to eight extensions for a total outreach of 22m. The optional fly-jibs allow a maximum working height of 30m.
Meanwhile, three new models – the “20”, the “40”, and the “45” Easy Power (at 2, 4, and 4.5tm respectively) – complete the lower end of the Effer range. Easy Power was launched in 2004 with the Model “30”, a 3tm crane mounted on small lorries.
The 40 and 45 models come with four hydraulic extensions booms, featuring an outreach of 9me.
Finally, Effer presented the prototype of the new 130-145 range, a series of cranes designed to fill the segment of the 13tm lifting capacity.
To complete its display at SAIE 2005, Effer showed the 1550-JP loader crane with a new boom design with a decagonal profile. The version on show had eight hydraulic extensions and a six-sections fly-jib, with a maximum height of 40m.
This year has, according to managing director, Giovanni Fassi, been the best for five years (excluding an exceptional 2002) in the Italian market for Fassi, which produced 6,800 cranes, 20% up on a year earlier.
The 40-year-old company used SAIE to launch the F240B and F260BXP loader cranes, which form part of its new “Evolution” series. Evolution is designed to integrate mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic aspects of the crane so that they work together better.
The F240B and F260BXP, which offer capacities up to 45tm, have double con rods, and the “Prolink” (progressive link) system on the secondary arm. This is designed to enable the working angle of the secondary arm to be increased by 15 degrees above the nominal line while maintaining the standard rated lifting capacities.
Pipes supplying the stabiliser jacks have been installed inside extension supports to ensure greater protection and smaller crane dimensions.
The command centre’s configuration is also new, with the positioning of the distributor on the column side protected by an ABS case.
Another new feature is the S800 type Fassi distributor, made in collaboration with Danfoss. “The new composition of the distributor means significant multifunction capacity, good individual action speed, and gentle movements, when combined with the new generation dedicated (XF) valves,” says Fassi.
Fassi also introduced the F800BXP (“XP” stands for extra power), which is fitted with the Integral Machine Control “IMC” system designed to co-ordinate the crane’s operating management and safety devices through a continuous interchange of information from sensors connected via interactive Canbus-technology. When a selector button on the remote control button pad is pressed, the movement speed can be reduced while increasing the lifting capacity by around 10%.
Finally, Fassi’s light cranes – the F22A, F38A, F50A and F65A – made their debut at SAIE 2005.
The F38A has up to three extension booms with a maximum hydraulic reach of 7.55m and weight of 575kg. Compared with the previous corresponding model, the capacity is 25% higher (from 2.8 to 3.4tm).
The F50A and F65A, have up to four extension booms. They have the same reach as the models they replace, but provide 10% better capacity. They are the first crane in the range (which extends to the F80A) fitted with the new Fassi HO (Hydraulic Overload) moment limiter.
Heila introduced the HLR450 loader crane – the first in a new series – with a nominal moment of approximately 45tm. The crane can extend to a vertical height of around 28m (lifting a load of approximately 0.8t) with six telescopic extensions plus three fly jib extensions, and offers full rotation with extensions that are individually extendible. Other configurations are also available including seven and eight extensions. Electronic control of the crane is performed by a unit supplied by 3B6.
Heila plans to launch the 550, 650, and 750 versions of the crane – with load moments of 55, 65, and 75tm respectively – at Intermat in Paris in April next year.
Following the completion of a 6,000 sq m factory in September Amco Veba now operates three assembly plants and a cylinder manufacturing plant.
The company used SAIE to showcase two new heavy-duty loader cranes – the 4tm 804 and 5tm 805 (designated the 904 and 905 when supplied with a remote control unit developed with Hetronic). The cranes feature one to four extensions. With four extensions, the cranes have a horizontal outreach of 10.7m, and can lift 0.3t at the tip.
The remote control supplied with the “900” models can be operated with one-hand. It offers proportional speed control, and uses standard AA batteries.
Meanwhile, Amco Veba has extended its T Series vehicle recovery cranes with the launch of the 809T, which has a load moment of 8.4tm, and a vertical reach up to 9.55m with the maximum four extensions.
Finally, for extra strength, the company’s new 936 36tm loader crane with one to eight extensions, features a double linkage between the main and second boom, and column and main boom. Its SGS (Sprint Generation System) is claimed to allow particularly fast extension and retraction of the crane. The crane can reach21m long horizontally, and lift 0.9t at the end with all eight extensions.
F.lli Ferrari’s 500 Series small articulated cranes use the same radio remote control as on Amco Veba’s 900 series cranes, allowing one person to perform lifts, and reducing labour costs. The latest model in this series is the 530, a 3tm unit with a horizontal outreach of 7.4m (8.8m with the boom extension). The company sells around 500 units a year of the 500 Series, and has high hopes of its latest addition to the range, expecting to shift 300-350 units over the coming year.
F.lli Ferrari’s new 714 14tm loader crane comes with up to five extensions, and has a horizontal outreach of 14.6m (18.7m with an extension). The company’s articulating connecting rod system called “Red Power” is said to allow more leverage in the crane boom.
F.lli Ferrari’s biggest crane is the newly launched 46tm 749R with up to eight extensions, and a maximum horizontal outreach of 20.5m (25.9m with the jib extension). The company plans to launch an even larger crane next year. The 90tm 990 will, it says, be the first crane with 10 extensions.
Cormach launched the 34000 E ASC eight extension loader crane, the ninth crane in the 34000 series after the E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8, E5F64, and E6F64.
The crane is available with a basket for access, and the operator can choose between sitting in a top seat or using radio remote control.
The outriggers and ground plates have been improved compared with previous models, and additional outriggers with lateral extension, outriggers with hydraulic extension and tilt-up outriggers are all available.
Cormach supplies the crane with a winch and a pump fitted with a load sensor. The model has also been marine treated.
Hiab’s latest launch at SAIE was the XS 111 11tm loader crane, which completes the eight-model range from 5 to 16tm. The crane uses the company’s new XSDrive, a remote control unit featuring two-way communication with the crane using radio or cable. The device controls up to 24 proportional functions, and up to seven on/off functions, all programmable.
Autogru PM launched the 22SP, an articulating crane series with load moments from 17.5 to 18.6tm, and designed for three axle trucks. The boom is cable of a 12-degree negative angle, which is said to allow the operator to unload more easily towards doors or openings at ground level. The new model is the most compact within the category at just 220cm tall. The 22SP is equipped with double connecting rods on the points of articulation.
Autogru also showed the 48SP series offering load moments of 38.7 to 42.3tm, and 360-degree rotation. It uses the PM Power Tronic electronic system, which maximises crane control by letting it perform movements even when the crane is blocked because of an excessive load.
The 80SP series, which also ises the PM Power Tronic system, offers a maximum load moment of 60.9 to 68.5tm/
Other new Autogru PM cranes at SAIE were the “idea” Classic with a load capacity of 220kg at 7m, and the 3.5 Classic with a load moment of 2.8tm.
Mobile cranes
Grove has sold its first five 30t (34USt) rough terrain model 530 cranes out of the new plant in Niella Tanaro, Italy, which is the first to manufacture Grove products, including RTs in Southern Europe.
Two models have been sold to FIMI, a dealer based in the south of Italy. One is for its own fleet, and another was sold to an undisclosed customer in Sicily. A third model has been sold to Fissolo, a dealer in the Piemonte region of Italy.
Two more cranes will be delivered in December to fellow Italian dealer the Effe Group.
The RT530 has a full power boom, which can extend to 29m. The maximum tip height for the unit is 31.2m, and further reach can be attained through either a 7.9m (26ft) swingaway or a 7.9 to 13.7m (26 to 45ft) telescopic swingaway.
Liebherr showed its compact LTC 1055-3.1 crane as well as all-terrain-cranes with three, four, and five axles.
The LTC 1055-3.1 is a hydrostatically driven, three-axle mobile crane with a maximum load capacity of 55t developed for indoor, industrial, and “other special uses that call for manoeuvrability”.
With a 36m telescopic boom and 15 m long double-folding fly jib, the LTC 1055-3.1 has a maximum lift height of 51m and a working radius of up to 46m.
The LTM 1070-4.1 four-axle mobile crane has a telescopic jib length of 50m. With its 16m double folding fly jib, its hook height is 65m. The “all-in concept” of the LTM 1070-4.1 is said to ensure that the 48t four-axle vehicle with a ballast of 10.7t, a 16m double folding fly jib and accessories is ready for use as soon as it is driven on the road. Additional ballast of 3.8 tonnes is available to increase the working load.
The five-axle LTM 1095-5.1 was also exhibited in Bologna. Its telescopic jib length of 58m is said to be the longest in its class. The lifting height can be increased to 82m and jib length to 62m when the 7m telescopic jib extension and the 19m double folding fly jib are attached. The new 95t crane model’s maximum weight of 60t permitted for road transport includes a ballast of 15t.
Tadano Faun showed its recently launched ATF 65 G-4 all terrain crane in the colours of Bologna-based crane rental company Tagliavini. This company’s first two cranes in 1998 were 60/120t Tadano Faun models, and its latest acquisition was delivered after SAIE.
Tadano Faun has sold around 30 ATF 65 G-4 cranes so far in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and Spain.
Truck crane manufacturer Copma 2000 launched two new cranes at SAIE. The centrepiece of the Italy-based company’s stand was the new FS_120 Z, which has just emerged from testing, and will be available to customers this year.
The crane is built to EN 12999 Class H1 B4 standards with four slewing cylinders. It has hydraulic extendable stabilisers, which are manually turnable with control leavers at the top and bottom. The crane also features an emergency stop button, lifting cyclinder protectors, and two working lights.
Copma also previewed the FS_250 Z, which will be available to customers next March. The crane has an eight-extension boom offering the option of a fly jib at the sixth extension.
Crawler cranes
Terex Bendini revealed the prototype of the TCC45 44t (at 2.5m) telescopic crawler crane. The crane complements the company’s A600C 60t telescopic crawler crane introduced in the later Nineties (a steady seller at four or five units annually). The TCC45, which uses the same boom as the RT45 rough terrain crane (a 37.4m boom when extended, 9.5m retracted), will go into full production in Spring 2006, and.
Marco Gentillini, general manager of Terex Italia, admits that the TCC45 will be operating in a niche market for pick-and-carry operations or lifting in difficult land conditions, but he still expects to sell 10 to 15 a year.
Gentillini is keen to push his company’s presence in Africa and the Middle East, and Africa, where he believes he has the right “simple and reliable” products. In 30 to 60t RTs and crawlers. To this end he is busy consolidating dealer relationships and reviewing the company’s current network.
The Asterix 6510/3S2 mini crawler crane is a joint venture between Benelligru (which supplies the upper part of the unit – effectively a loader crane) and Belgian dealer Van Bouwel (which supplies the base including the crawler tracks). This 6.5tm crane has three telescopic extensions plus two more in the fly jib making a total horizontal powered outreach of 12.7m, and lifting 150kg.
It complements a 3t version launched at last year’s SAIE, and will be joined by a 13t version in January. The 3t version has been selling at a rate of approximately 10 a month, and Benelligru expects to sell 15 6.5t units this year.
One unusual feature of the crane is the stabilisers, which automatically reconfigure depending on the reach of the crane, and the weight of the load.
