ALE plans demo of 4,300t capacity crane in September

The crane will have a maximum boom length of 148m (486ft) main boom and 48m (157ft) backmast. It can lift rated capacity using four strand jacks mounted at the boom tip, a similar arrangement to Mammoet's MSG 80 crane, which has a maximum capacity of 3,070t. It can lift 600t with a winch with 10 parts of line.

Like other very heavy cranes, it slews by turning around a large modular ring that is set up outside its lower structure. But unlike some other ring cranes, it can operate with only a section of a complete ring assembled.

The crane raises maximum load with 4,000t of counterweight. Its maximum load-moment is 96,000tm. A 120,000tm model is also planned.

The crane is intended for large petrochemical jobs, ALE director Roger Harries explained to Cranes Today.

"We have found uses in the Middle East for large construction projects, where the large load moment capability has an advantage over the current ring designs as it does not sterilize the foundation area of the construction plot. It has changed a lot of the thinking concerning construction techniques of new plants."

He added: "There are many other application where the capacity of the crane allows engineers to build more efficient process plant."

As of mid-August, the prototype was still being assembled. Testing begins at the end of the month.