Kobelco Construction Machinery America will show two crawler cranes at the Las Vegas exhibition in March, the CK 1000 and and CK 2000, rated at 100 US ton and 200 US ton respectively.

These machines are the American versions of the models known in Europe as the CKE 900, rated at 90t, and the CKE 1800, rated at 180t. The CKE 900 was launched in Europe last year at Bauma. The CKE 1800 followed on later in the year.

With an optional, heavy-duty boom tip attachment, the CK 2000’s maximum lifting capacity, obtained with a base boom length of 12.2m (40ft) and a 3.7m (12ft 4in) operating radius, is 181t (400,000lb). Maximum boom length is 85.3m (280ft) and maximum boom plus jib combination is 73m + 30.5m (240ft + 100ft). Equipped with 73m of main boom and 30.5m of fixed jib, offset at a 10° angle, it can lift 5.3t (11,600 lb) at a radius of 36.6m (120ft).

A luffing jib is offered as an option, and maximum boom plus luffer combination is 55m + 51.8m (180ft. + 170ft). Luffing jib capacity is 48.6t (107,100lb).

The CK 2000, which supersedes the 7200 model, has forced-circulation, oil-cooled, wet-type multi-disc brakes installed in each winch drum. According to Kobelco, the forced circulation of oil through the brakes’ discs maintains their efficiency and keeps temperatures down during long/continuous operations. Kobelco says that placing the brakes within the winch drums means that the drums can be wider, which increases rope capacity and reduces the chance of uneven winding. This helps to extend the service life of the wire rope.

The machine is powered by a 235kW (316hp) Mitsubishi 6D24-TLA2F diesel engine. This six-cylinder engine is water-cooled, fuel-injected and turbocharged. The CK 2000 also features a computer-controlled Engine Speed Sensing (ESS) system that coordinates engine speed, hydraulic flow and pressure demands.

Rated line pull for both drums is 13.4t (29,500lb). The raising and lowering line speed for the front and rear drums is 100m/min, based on a single line on the first drum layer. Maximum line pull, determined by the performance of the winches, not by the strength of the wire rope, is 25t (56,000lb).

The CK 1000 features much of the technology of its bigger brother. Its maximum boom length is 61m (200ft), while maximum boom and jib combination is 58m + 18m (190ft + 60ft).

A full Conexpo preview is published in the February 2002 issue of Cranes Today.