Towering giant

It's not only crawler cranes that are getting bigger. At the time of going to press Favelle Favco claims to be about to launch the biggest luffing jib tower crane ever built. This giant, a tailor made machine, will be called the M2480D.

It will offer around double the capacity of the company's Favco M1280D - 275 tonnes at 15 m radius and 9 tonnes at 90 m - and will be able to free stand on an 80 m tower. Maximum boom length will be an incredible 90 m. Transport-friendly its components all fit within a 4 x 4 m square. The company expects to have working machine on site later this year.