Bronto still going up
10 March 2009
Bronto Skylift wasn't able to show its planned 104 m model at APEX, but visitors still had plenty to see on the company's stand with the new 78 m straight boom S 78 XDT taking centre stage.
The 78 m model extends upwards Bronto's range of straight boom models - the previous largest was the 70 m unit - and offers customers a lower cost alternative to the articulated boom HLA range.
Jan Denks, Bronto's export sales manager, said the 78 XDT is around 20% less expensive than the HLA equivalent. It is also around 5 t lighter, has higher cage capacities (up to 700 kg) and maximum outreach at 37 m is 3 m more than the 78 HLA.
Mr Denks said the company continued to develop the 104 m model, but that showing the 78 m unit had been more important; "That's the priority - it gives us something new to sell. The 104 m model is a bigger version of the 101 m." The 78 m machine will be ready for full production in December; with the 104 m giant ready sometime in 2009.
"The large truck mounted sector so far seems less exposed to the uncertainty in the access market. Mr Denks said there had been no order cancellations so far - although customers have to pay a significant deposit when they order the big units - and that the company had sufficient work to keep it busy for the next 12 months; "even if we don't take any other orders."