Factory news

In the industrial wheeled mobile crane sector Manitowoc Crane Group's new Grove YardBoss range has been finalised. All seven models are built by US-based industrial crane specialist Shuttlelift. Lifting capacity ranges from 7.7 to 18 tonne (8.5 to 20 US ton) and the 7.7 tonne YB4409 and the 18 tonne YB7720 are available as XL (long boom) versions. The YB4409XL has a 9.2 m (30 ft) main boom compared with the standard 6.5 m (21 ft) boom on the YB4409, while the YB7720XL is 20.4 m (67 ft) against the standard 13.1 m (43 ft).

Engines from the YB4409 to the YB5518 can be dual fuel (gasoline or LPG) or standard diesel. A pivoting boom head for work where headroom is limited is available on the YB4411, YB5518, YB7720 and YB7720XL. All models have four wheel steering.

From Italy, Ormig's latest addition to the range is the model 60tm pick and carry crane. Its maximum 60 tonne lifting capacity is at 1 m radius from the crane's front plate and at 2 m the maximum is 50 tonnes. Capacity is high for the crane's minimal dimensions, the manufacturer says. Maximum working height is 17 m and maximum outreach is 10.5 m. Different counterweights can be fitted, varying the crane's weight between 35 and 47 tonnes.

The 60tm has large diameter wheels chosen to ease operation and help increase stability and safety on uneven surfaces. Turning radius is minimised by having a tight steering angle. The 60tm can be driven on the road at up to 25 km/h so it does not need a separate truck to transport it, Ormig says. The maximum travel speed is automatically adjusted according to the load being carried and the transmission has a ZF torque converter and automatic or manual speed selection.

Recently chosen largely for its manoeuvrability was another Italian wheeled industrial crane, a Valla 120d, for maintenance work at the UK's Drax power station in the north of England. The 12 tonne capacity wheeled industrial crane is lifting electric motors in the confined space of the pulverising mill at the 4000 MW coal-fired station. An oscillating rear axle with mechanical lock and 130 degree steering angle helps negotiate the complicated site.

Liebherr in Germany says its LTC 1055 Compact mobile crane was developed for indoor, industrial and other special applications where high manoeuvrability is needed. Hydrostatic drive and mounting the engine on the superstructure gives a compact carrier. Combining the 36 m main boom with the 15 m bi-fold fly jib gives a maximum lift height of 51 m and a working radius up to 46 m. It runs on three axles, has a boom-down design and there is one top-mounted cabin both for operating and driving.

Heavy industrial

Telescopic hydraulic gantries are typically used for heavier loads in industrial applications. Two new systems were unveiled last year by Lift Systems in the US. Largest of the two is the 40 ft (12.2 m) model 34PT8552WT Power Tower, which can lift 850 US tons (771 tonnes) to a height of more than 31 ft (9.6 m), and 525 tons (476 tonnes) to 40 ft. It has a height indicator with digital readout and a wireless load indication system.

The other new system is the Mighty Mini Jack model 2033SCT, which lifts a maximum of 33 tons (30 tonnes) to a height of nearly 12 ft (3.6 m), and 25 ton (22 tonnes) to 20 ft 6 in (6.2 m). It runs on standard 220 V power and the narrow width design allows operation in 3 ft (900 mm) aisles.

Also in the US, J&R Engineering has shipped a new 48 foot (14.6 m) lift height T903-4-48 Lift-n-Lock hydraulic boom gantry to a customer in China. The electrically powered unit has a wireless controller and a digital height indication system.

Alternatives

The Italian-built Raimondi Raivan tower crane is presented by UK distributor Vanson Cranes as an alternative to conventional wheeled industrial cranes. Vanson says its Raivan MR123 tower is ideal for yard applications as it has a small footprint and needs less ground space than wheeled machines.

The crane can be mounted on existing crane rails and the jib can be raised or lowered to allow operation close to adjacent properties or other obstacles. A new rounded cab is designed to give an improved view of the operational area.

Another alternative for heavy industrial in-plant pick and carry applications, for example, handling dies and injection moulding tools, is the Wheelift OEM 140T, a 140 US ton capacity system from the US. Similar to the SPMT (self propelled modular transporter) concept, but on a smaller scale, it is a hydraulic platform trailer system that runs on a series of modular heavy-duty Uniload wheel drive/steer units. The open centre axle design with pairs of 12-inch (300 mm) wide solid urethane tyred wheels, which, at 18 inches (457 mm) diameter, are much smaller and lower than on conventional SPMTs.

The Wheelift's computerised SynchroSteer system allows all types of steering mode for omnidirectional manoeuvrability in congested factories. Like a conventional SPMT, the independent hydraulic suspension system equalizes to accommodate undulations and can be raised or lowered to pick up or set down a load. The axle pairs are connected to the suspension ram by trunnion pins that allow +/- 4 degrees of lateral articulation.

Power for the OEM 140T comes from a 140 hp GM propane engine in a sound deadening enclosure. Overall deck height of this model is 48 inches (1.2 m), the load deck is 14.5 ft (4.4 m) long and 8.2 ft (2.5 m) wide, while overall length is 20 ft (6 m). On this model the vertical lift stroke is 5 inches (130 mm) but can be as much as 15 inches (380 mm).