Terex product marketing manager Arndt Jahns explains that the crane was designed in response to customer demands for an all terrain superstructure on a commercial carrier: “We were the only manufacturer that could offer our customers an all terrain superstructure within a width of 2.55 m. It offers the best lifting capacity in its class.”
Terex’s US plant in Waverly has built truck-mounted telescopic cranes for some time, all with welded four plate square booms. This new crane was designed, at least in part, at one of Terex’s French plants, Montceau-les-Mines. It is almost 25% stronger than any of the previous range.
The crane is a product of Terex’s international network of production plants, and promises to make increasing use of those plants in future. Jahns says, “The superstructure is built in Zweibrücken and the outriggers in Montceau-les-Mines. The first step will be to sell the crane in Europe, but we could manufacture this type of crane overseas.
“We can mount the superstructure and outriggers on any suitable truck carrier, at one of our own plants, or it can be mounted in the customer’s yard: it’s a simple task. We prefer to deliver the whole crane—we can order carriers for less if we buy a lot—but some customers may want to mount them on their own carrier.”
The new crane will be on show at Journées de Levage (JDL, ‘Lifting Days’) in Paris on September 9-10. The Roadmaster 8000 features a choice of main booms: 59.4m (from the AC100/4L) or 50m (from the AC100/4), for a respective maximum system length of 81.7m or 77m.
The manufacturer is aiming squarely at the taxi crane market, pointing out that it is fully roadable on a five axle commercial carrier and is useable as a “one-man” crane.
Jahns says, “It’s good for customers who don’t, all the time, need off road capability. On residential job sites, where the ground is prepared, you don’t always need an all terrain. But on the capacity side, it is the same as an all terrain crane.
“It will be used for more long distance jobs, in emergencies, or when customers re-hire to other rental companies.”