Manitowoc’s largest topless tower crane
The Potain MDT 809, which offers a lift capacity of up to 40t and jib length of up to 80m, is the largest topless crane Manitowoc has ever built. The MDT 809 was developed in response to strong demand for bigger topless cranes by customers that want models with higher lift capacity and faster assembly.
Thibaut Le Besnerais, Manitowoc’s global product director for tower cranes, said: “Over the past 10 years we’ve seen consistent growth in demand for topless cranes, with customers benefiting from their fast assembly and compact design, which makes it easier to get more cranes onto a job site to complete work quicker. Alongside this we’ve seen an increase in modular construction, with contractors needing to lift heavier loads. The MDT 809 satisfies the demand for greater capacity, while preserving the portability, speed of assembly and performance of our other topless cranes.”
The entire crane can be transported in 10 or 11 containers, depending on the winch option selected, which is four to five fewer containers than is typically required for a crane of this size. Design features to aid shipping include protective packaging for the jib sections, optimized space usage for containerization and a cab that rotates for transport.
The MDT 809 has a new 8m cross base that offers the performance characteristics of a 10m chassis, but is easier to transport and faster to set up than the 10m alternative. According to Manitowoc, the MDT 809 can be assembled around twice as fast as other 40t cranes and also requires less space. For a 50m working height, the crane can be assembled in less than three days.
Options for assembling the jib range from the 30m minimum length up to the 80m maximum length in 5m sections. A reinforced K-mast system, enables freestanding heights of up to 80m.
“The MDT 809 has a promising future in the Middle East where we see increase in demand for high lifting capacity and topless technology. In particular, it will be beneficial in congested sites where the transport, installation and operation of the crane will be faster and easier,” says Semple.
David Semple, senior vice president, Middle East, India, Russia, Africa (MEIRA) region, Manitowoc Cranes.
First mobile Potain Hup self-erecting crane
The Potain Hup M 28-22, which is scheduled for launch in 2020, is the third model from Potain’s Hup self-erecting crane range and the first to prioritize mobility. When folded, the crane is 11.5m long, which enables access to narrow, restricted job sites and transportation from site to site.
The Hup M 28-22 has a 28m jib and features 16 configurations. The crane has a maximum capacity of 2.2t and can lift 850kg at its 28m jib end. The crane’s raised jib offers four positions: horizontal, 10°, 20°and 30°. These functions give the crane a height under hook range between 20m and 31m.
Three new Grove all-terrain cranes
Manitowoc launched a five-axle model, the 250t GMK5250XL-1, and two three-axle models, the 60t GMK3060L and 50t GMK3050-2.
The Grove GMK3060L and GMK5250XL-1 all-terrain cranes.
The GMK5250XL-1, an update to Grove’s existing GMK5250L, has a 78.5m boom, the longest in the five-axle category. The crane features a Megatrak suspension and the Twin-Lock boom pinning system. It is also available with the MAXbase variable outrigger function for added versatility on the jobsite. Options for the GMK5250XL-1 include the VIAB turbo retarder clutch, which first featured on the original GMK5250L.
The GMK3060L has a seven-section Megaform boom with 48m of main boom and a maximum tip height of 65m when working with its full jib. The 60t crane features Manitowoc’s Crane Control System with boom configurator.
The GMK3050-2, an update to Grove’s existing GMK3050-1, offers a 40m main boom, and a single counterweight configuration. The crane’s engine and design have also been updated to meet the latest requirements of Euromot 5 (which also covers both Tier 4 Final and Tier 3 regulations in the US and the rest of the world).
“The 50t GMK3050-2and 250t GMK5250XL-1 all-terrain cranes with long booms will be ideal for the petrochemical industry in the Middle East. They have the specifications that meet the exact requirements of the industry,” says Semple.
More Grove rough-terrain cranes manufactured in Italy will benefit Middle East customers
In 2018, Manitowoc’s factory in Italy boosted production of Grove rough-terrain cranes to better serve customers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Manitowoc guarantees the specifications and quality of its RT cranes from Italy are the same as those of its cranes manufactured in the US.
The company exhibited two rough-terrain cranes at the bauma expo, the 100t GRT8100 and 51t GRT655L. The GRT8100 is the largest Grove rough-terrain crane built in the Italian plant; in future, the GRT655L, too, will be manufactured in Italy. Both cranes are also built at the Manitowoc factory in the US, but the company took the strategic decision to broaden Italy’s production capabilities following an extensive customer feedback programme.
The Grove GRT655L and GRT8100 rough-terrain cranes.
“Cranes manufactured in Italy, such as the GRT8100 and GRT880 are selling well in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. We’re excited about the GRT655L model. Now, we have a 50t rough-terrain crane that fills the gap between our existing 45t and 60t models. The Tier-3 version of this crane will be available as a made-in-Italy product by the end of 2019,” says Semple.
Semple points out that the change in manufacturing location from the US to Italy has delivered several cost and time advantages for customers.
“Previously, the strength of the US dollar made these machines expensive when imported from the US to the Middle East. The shift in manufacturing from the US to Italy helps us to take advantage of the weaker Euro and offer a more competitive price to our Middle East customers. With shorter lead times and lower shipping costs, customers in the Middle East and Africa buying Italy-made cranes benefit from a price reduction of at least 15% compared to the US-manufactured cranes,” says Semple.
