Ruthmann's 27 m boom design could win prize

German truck mount specialist Ruthmann has entered the design of its 27 m working height boom for the 2010 Swedish Steel Prize.

Advanced high strength steel makes it possible for Ruthmann to create a boom that reaches to a 27 m working height and mount it on a truck within the 3.5 t weight class, the Steiger TB270.

With a reach of 27 m, the small truck's reach has increased by 5 m compared to previous models, or 22%. Steiger TB270 has a 14.8 m outreach and a maximum cage capacity of 230 kg.

Stephan Balzer, site manager for Ruthmann's production facility just outside Münster, Germany said, "The difference is huge for these heights and vehicle size, the areas of application are rapidly growing. Work that previously required large, heavy trucks can now be carried out by two people with a small light truck that is set up in a couple of minutes. In addition, it operates in tight spaces and sensitive environments that large trucks can't reach."

Ruthmann says that the material is crucial for the strong yet lightweight design. The lift boom consists of five telescoping sections, made of advanced high-strength cold-rolled steels. Tensile strength is 1200 N/mm2 and the material thickness varies between 1.5 and 1.8 mm, almost 50% thinner than the previous design. "Even though the material is thinner, the design is stronger with better properties, partly because of the high tensile strength of the high strength steel, and partly because of Ruthmann's innovative new design solution," says Ruthmann.

Design manager Nico Wessels said, "The changes are extensive but a few of the key points are that we changed the lift boom profile and moved the location of power, hydraulic, and data cables that go between the vehicle and working cage. The boom is now lighter, stronger, and more rigid."

Ruthmann said that the vehicle generated great interest at its unveiling just before summer and the order books are already full and production is booming.