Tadano Faun gave a preview showing of its new ATF 100-5 all-terrain crane at an open day for distributors and clients last month, and so claimed victory in the four-way race to bring a five-axle 100t-capacity taxi crane to the market.
But Mannesmann Dematic countered five weeks later by unveiling its rival machine, the AC 100 at a ‘crane day’ at its factory on the 23rd of this month. And Dematic says that it will beat Faun to make the first deliveries.
Deutsche Grove is showing customers its new GMK 100 at the end of this month and Liebherr’s model is in development for launch next year. This is acknowledged to be the first time all four major German AT manufacturers have gone head to head in this way. Though the competition is more about quality than speed to market, such is the demand thought to be for this model type, whoever is first to market is expected to gain an important lead.
Mannesmann Dematic claims a clear lead in orders, with more than 130 on its books, mostly for European customers. The first two are due for delivery in December and most of the rest will follow next year.
In contrast Faun has 17 orders for the ATF 100-5. Unlike Dematic which has promoted its crane vigorously, Faun kept its plans under wraps for many months. Faun’s second unit is now in production and four further machines are in the production programme for this year. These first six are scheduled for delivery in January. Ten more units are scheduled for production in the first quarter of 2000.
Grove has orders for more than 50 machines and deliveries begin in the first quarter of next year.
The new cranes follow the taxi-crane principles of the successful ATF 60-4, for which Faun has taken 140 orders since launching it just 18 months ago at Bauma ‘98.
