Kobelco has introduced its fourth new crawler crane model this year, the 180t-rated CKE 1800.

It follows the introduction at Bauma 2001 of the 80t-rated CKE 800, the 90t-rated CKE 900 and the 250t-rated CKE 2500.

The CKE 1800 is the successor of the 7150, which according to Kobelco is the world’s best selling 150t-170t crawler crane, having sold more than 400 units.

In Kobelco’s nomenclature, the E of the CKE stands for Europe and the CKE 1800 has been designed especially with the requirements of European users in mind, the company said.

‘Due to the ideal design concept of this compact, hydraulic power-house with state-of-the-art technology this crane needs minimal maintenance and is built up from easy to transport, fast to assemble components with ideal transport dimensions and weights. The attractively designed, comfortable cab offers a fatigue-free working environment that satisfies even the demanding operator,’ according to the manufacturer.

The CKE 1800 is available with either a heavy-duty or a light-duty boom head. With heavy-duty boom head this crane lifts a maximum of 180t at 3.7m. With light-duty boom head it lifts 160t at 4m. The CKE 1800 has a maximum boom length of 85.3m and can be equipped with a maximum 30.5m fixed jib.

With 51.8m full luffing tower and 51.8m luffing jib the CKE 1800 lifts 5.5t at 52m radius with main boom angled at 88°. With 51.8m boom and 21.3m luffing jib the CKE 1800 lifts 45.6t at 10m radius and 21.2t at 24m.

Kobelco has included a self-erection system procedure in the design. The CKE 1800 equipped with lower boom arrives on the job-site. The built-in, remote controlled Translifter system lifts the crane clear of the trailer. The lower boom is erected in working position and mounts the crawler side frames, carbody counterweight, rear counterweight, boom and (luffing) jib.

Transport weight is 45t and the lower boom is mounted on the machine. Jib sections are designed for storage inside the boom sections. The boom sections can be placed on top of the flat counterweight slabs which reduces the number of trailers needed for transport.

A pendant storage facility with brackets on each boom- and jib insert is designed to speed assembly and disassembly of pendants. Other features include a new winch system with oil-cooled, multi-disc brakes and a self-diagnostic multi-display monitor.

The full hydraulic winches have a 25t maximum line pull (13.4t rated) on the first layer. These winches have been field-proven on the larger capacity 250t CKE 2500, Kobelco says.

The turbo-charged Mitsubishi engine has a computer-controlled Engine Speed Sensing (ESS) system to provide lifting and travel power by co-ordinating engine speed, hydraulic flow and pressure demands.

Options include a reeving winch for faster and easier assembly, a high capacity third winch mounted in line with first and second winches on the superstructure deck, and a freefall system on all load hoist drums.