One of Gelco’s ‘clever crane’ at Saie 2006, with its four legs jacked down.
Gelco’s stand at SAIE 2006: at the rear, visitors walk beneath the crane’s chassis as it stands on its four hydraulically jacked legs.
The ‘Clever Crane’ range clearly shows its Italian origins: it is designed for access to the sort of narrow, winding, streets that enchant visitors to the country, but infuriate crane operators. Cristian Torri, from Gelco’s distributor Compass Consulting, showed Cranes Today the three key, patented, features of the range.
Steering a Gelco crane up a steep incline
Steering a Gelco crane through an alley
Setting up in alley
The most noticeable difference between Gelco’s cranes and other self-erectors is the set of four legs that can lift the entire unit 2.75m into the air: enough for pedestrians or vehicles to pass underneath the crane safely. Each leg is extended with a separate, independent, hydraulic jack, meaning that the crane can be safely erected on a slope or with two of the legs standing on a ledge, higher than the others. The company also points out that the extra height the legs give to the chassis can make it easier to extend the crane’s jib in tight spaces.
Adjusting the legs on a Gelco crane
A Gelco crane, standing on raised legs
As well as being easy to erect in tight spaces, without interfering with passing traffic, the crane is designed to be manoeuvred under its own power through narrow, winding and sloped roads. Afour stroke motor on the chassis provides power to four steerable wheels, controlled through an electronic console at the rear of the crane. The company claims that the crane can be steered up slopes at a 25° gradient.
Erecting a Gelco crane
Erecting a Gelco crane
Erecting a Gelco crane
Erecting a Gelco crane
Erecting a Gelco crane
Erecting a Gelco crane
The fully erected boom of a Gelco crane
Finally, a third section to the crane’s telescopic mast both increases its height in use, and reduces its folded length when being transported. In the largest crane in the range, the G 2626 TTBE, a 31.7m high crane can be folded and transported in a unit only 9.9m long. This model can lift 700kg at 25.5m, or 1500kg at 12.5m.
A van drives beneath one of Gelco’s cranes
Torri explained that the company has been making good sales in Italy since 2006, but has now bought in a new sales team market the range to customers overseas.
