The new Potain MDT 809 is the largest topless crane ever built by Manitowoc. The crane offers up to 40t of lift capacity and can accommodate up to 80m of jib. The entire crane can be transported in either 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. Smart 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 crane also has a new 8m cross base that offers the performance characteristics of a 10m chassis, but which requires only one container for transport.
The crane can be assembled at a 50m working height in less than three days. There are dedicated slinging points on the crane to aid on-site assembly and jib sections can be assembled either on the ground or in the air, depending on site conditions and available space. The rotating cab and easy-connect points for the counterjib further simplify erection. Options for assembling the jib range from the 30m minimum up to the 80m maximum in 5m sections.
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. It’s clear to us that there is strong demand for bigger topless cranes. But we wanted to be sure that any new model we launch not only satisfied demand for greater capacity, but also preserved the easy transport, fast assembly and industry-leading performance our other topless cranes deliver. The MDT 809 provides all that and more.”
Le Besnerais, added: “We’ve designed the jib not only to be easier to assemble but also to make it easier to service. Overall the MDT 809 represents a new way of thinking in terms of high-capacity topless cranes. It is ideal for large construction sites yet also offers an ability to be assembled on projects where space is constrained. We’re already seeing strong interest from the construction, industrial and shipyard sectors.”
