The 24th Samoter, the international earthmoving and building machinery exhibition, is being held from 3 to 7 March in Verona, Italy. As ever, crane manufacturers and component suppliers are well represented.

The organisers of the show are promoting it as an opportunity to analyse and interpret market information and statistics, such as the forecast that the period 1999-2000 will see an increase in construction output of 1.3%, with growth being generated particularly by a rise in the repair, maintenance and rebuild sector. But in fact visitors are more likely just to want to see the array of new machinery on show. Samoter has a tradition of being a working show, and as such is a good barometer of technical and technological development.

Further information on the show, including details of how to get there, can be found at Samoter On Line, via www.veronafiere.it

Autogru PM

Three loader crane models are being given their first showing at Samoter 99: the PM 36025+J63, the PM 26024 LC+J53 and the PM 12022S.

The PM 36025+J63 is designed to meet the growing market requirement for a crane suitable for various operations. It is a new version of Series 36000 and is lighter than other cranes of equivalent capacity, PM says, and can be fitted out on trucks starting from 19t GVW. An LC version allows loading and unloading close to the column.

The PM 26024 LC+J53 is part of the 26000 series and is also designed to be versatile. Aimed at a wide range of construction industry users, it can be fitted to trucks starting from 15t GVW.

The mid-range PM 12022S, for vehicles of 10t GVW and upwards, is designed for building materials use and can be fitted with spreader or bucket.

PM is also exhibiting: PM 3s, PM 5023, PM 6523 LC, PM 8522+J12, PM Lift Away 10013, PM 14023 LC, PM 16524 LC, and PM 47026.

Autogru Rigo

Visitors to Samoter will see the first of Rigo’s RTT 603, its three-axle all terrain crane that was previously called the RTT 703 but has been renamed. It lifts 60t at 3m radius through 360o. The five section boom is 40m long. Standard version is 6x4x6, but a 6x6x6 version is available as an option.

Rigo, which is on home territory, being based in the Verona area, is also showing its RTT 904 and RTT 1200 all terrain cranes as well as the rough terrain model RT 500 which it showed at Bauma last year.

Cormach

Cormach is showing its complete range of knuckle boom cranes, ranging from 4tm up to 156tm in capacity. Among them is the 49000E, first seen at Bauma last April, which is available with various numbers of hydraulic extensions up to a maximum of eight, plus two hydraulic extensions on the fly jib, offering a total hydraulic horizontal reach of 24.8m. This

crane is also available with automatic speed control (ASC), for which it is re-designated

the 51800E.

Another new entry to the Cormach range is the 88000E, which supercedes the 80000E. The new version has four or six extensions to the second boom, and a 4+jib version will also be available, the company says.

Effer

Five of the six cranes displayed by Effer are new models, including the 2200 CL 6S + 6S fly jib, “the real star of the show” says the company, which claims it is the largest knuckleboom crane ever manufactured that can be mounted onto a four-axle truck. It can lift 45t at 2.5m, the basic boom length is 26m, and the foldable six extension fly jib gives it a 49m vertical reach.

Other new models on show are: the 28 3S (2.8tm capacity, hydraulic vertical outreach of 9.5m); the 38 3S (3.8tm, 9.5m reach); 250 4S (25tm, 16m reach; and the 720 6S (70tm, 21m reach). The first three all have a hexagonal boom design and single stage extension cylinders.

Jolly Crane

Jolly Crane is showing its complete range of small truck-mountable cranes. Single jib and articulated cranes will be presented, with hydraulic and electrohydraulic versions of models for special vehicles.

Mannesmann Dematic

The German mobile crane manufacturer believes that its Demag AC 300, the first 300t-capacity crane on just six axles, will be a highlight of the show. The machine on display is the third to be sold in Italy and will be delivered to the company Stroncone after the show.

Mannesmann Dematic, which says that it has significantly increased its share of the telescopic crane market in Italy in recent years, is also exhibiting the four-axle, 80t-capacity AC 80-1 and the three-axle AC 50.

Marchetti Autogru

New from Marchetti is the MG 70.4 all terrain crane, a compact 70t-capacity machine on four axles that can carry 7.4t of its maximum 11.4t counterweight and remain within the 12t per axle loading limit, while still carrying its 16m two-piece swingaway fly jib, auxiliary winch and 40t hookblock.

The MG 70.4, powered by a 254kW Mercedes-Benz engine which drives a fully automatic ZF 6H600 gearbox, has a standard 8x6x8 chassis and a 6.94m turning radius at the outside of the wheels. Total length with main hoist is 12.06m and the five-section boom is 40.5m long to give a total height with the optional fly jib of 59m.

Ormig

Ormig is putting the Samoter show at the centre of its 50th anniversary celebrations. It began manufacturing industrial cranes in 1949, added lattice boom cranes soon after, and says that it was the first company to introduce the all terrain concept to the market. Some models of its new AT range will be on show in Verona, together with its diesel and electric industrial cranes, which range in capacity from 9t to 45t, and a new model of crane fitted onto a vehicle.

Rozzi

Rozzi is showing a range of attachments for cranes, loaders and excavators, including its polyp grabs, clamshell buckets, grabs and augers.