Manitowoc has been supplying the Italian market with RTs for some time, but, until now, they have been made at the company’s US plant in Shady Grove, Pennsylvania.
Italian public works contractor Toto Group – which specialises in the construction of roads, viaducts, tunnels, railways and highways – has already ordered six new Grove RTs.
The Italian plant will spend the first year building RTs, and will also assemble small GMK all-terrains. The first models to roll off the Niella production line will be 30t (30USt) RT530 cranes, but there are plans to add further models over the coming months.
The RT530 has a full power boom, which can extend to 29m (95ft). The maximum tip height for the unit is 31.2m (102ft), and further reach can be attained through either a 7.9m (26ft) swingaway or a 7.9 to 13.7m (26 to 45ft) telescopic swingaway. Power comes from a six-cylinder Cummins 6BT5.9l engine capable of generating 113kW (152hp) at 2,500rpm.
Grove currently manufactures GMKs at its plant at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, and RTs at Shady Grove.
Phillipe Cohet, executive vice president for Manitowoc’s EMEA region, said: “In the decade we have operated the [Potain] manufacturing facility in Italy, the Niella team has grown their expertise and efficiency to deliver high quality products. Therefore, we felt this strong manufacturing culture provided excellent foundations to support our manufacturing expansion from tower cranes to mobile cranes.”
Grove’s RT mobile crane range comprises seven models ranging from 25t (25USt) to 120t (130USt) capacity with tip heights varying from 33m (108ft) to 85m (279ft).