Potain’s MCT 385 tower crane has undergone a comprehensive series of improvements, boosting freestanding height and increasing the load curve along the jib, as well as extending the offering with the addition of a new 16 t capacity option. Renamed the MCT 385A, the crane will be available in markets across Asia, Latin America, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia and New Zealand.
As the first topless crane to be produced from the Potain factory in Zhangjiagang, China, the 20 t capacity MCT 385, was an immediate hit when it launched in 2012. A 14 t capacity model followed later, and was awarded ‘Tower Crane of the Year’ at bauma CTT Russia in 2019.
The MCT 385A is available in two configurations: the MCT 385A L20 and MCT 385A L16. The jib which has a new design and extra reinforcement provides the MCT 385A L20 with a greater tip load than its predecessor. At 75 m, the capacity has increased to 3.4 t compared to the previous figure of 2.7 t. The new L16 model offers capacities of 12.4 t at 30 m, or 3.8 t at the end of its 75 m jib.
Height performance has also been enhanced, with both new models offering a better maximum freestanding height of 68.2 m, compared with the 64.9 m of the original MCT 385, or the 65.3 m of the MCT 385 L14. The original, compact, high-performance 2 m cross-section mast has been retained, however, providing compatibility with the 3.33 m or 5 m mast inserts that enable height under hook to be adjusted in 1.66 m increments.
Congested urban projects are the natural habitat of the MCT 385. Three counter-jib options, ranging from 14 m – 22 m in length with counterweight blocks of 4.85 t and/or 3.15 t, support this suitability, along with the other well-known performance advantages of Potain’s topless cranes.
“Customers have great trust in the Potain MCT 385 and it’s delivered reliable performance on projects all over the world. The new models have inherited all of that core DNA, ensuring the quality continues from design to production,” said Wang Lei, senior vice president of Manitowoc emerging markets. “Our factory is one of the few crane manufacturing plants in China to be certified in line with the ISO 9001 quality assurance standard, and by adopting the FEM1.001 standard for design and development, our topless cranes are built to help users gain a competitive advantage and ensure their confidence in Manitowoc remains strong.”