King Lifting of the UK has taken delivery of the first GMK 6220-L to roll out of Grove’s factory in Germany.
The 220t all terrain is the biggest lifter in King’s fleet of 60 cranes.
The GMK 6220-L, announced at Conexpo earlier this year, is notable for its 72m six-section main boom, and with up to 38m of jib extension it offers a tip height of 112m.
Previously, King’s biggest crane was a 120t unit and if it needed anything bigger it would rent it from a competitor. ‘Because it is such a big step for us,’ said managing director Bob King, ‘we carefully evaluated all the alternatives in the 200t-250t class, including visits to the three major manufacturers in Germany, and we also consulted other users who have experience of the latest GMK models. We finally chose the Grove because of its outstanding performance, in both jib length and lift capacity.’
King also said that the hydraulic luffing jib, which can luff under full load, was ‘another appealing feature’