Manitowoc Cranes Archives

Grove GHC demo launch

Manitowoc has launched the new Sennebogen built GHC series of telescopic crawler cranes to dealers and customers at an event at its Shady Grove factory plant.

The company used the Research & Development facility at the plant for introduction, with a full audio and video set-up that included lights, music and projection screens. A curtain dropped to a drum roll and attendees were invited to check out the new cranes.

All three models, the 50 tonne GHC55, 70 tonne GHC75 and 120 tonne GHC130, were on show at the event which was also attended by Sennebogen staff. After the hands on session the cranes were put through their paces outside, with details given about optional equipment which include: pole claw, auger and working platforms. All three cranes have load charts with the machine level as well as two and four degrees out of level.

Dave Hull, senior vice president global sales and marketing said: “From time to time, we look beyond our traditional borders to re-evaluate our portfolio to ensure we are offering our customers a complete line of lifting options to suit their needs. It’s with this in mind that we are introducing to you the new Grove GHC Telecrawler series, which we know will find plenty of use in the Americas, from utility projects to construction and everything in between.”

One of the attendees – David O’Connell, president of Grove and Manitowoc dealer Shawmut Equipment, said: “We expect that companies working in the utility, bridge-building and marine industries are going to find considerable use for these cranes, with their quick setup times, the 100 percent pick and carry capacities, and the ability to still pick a load when not completely level. We will certainly be stocking the new cranes.”

First Grove for Horizon

Falkirk, Scotland based Horizon Reinforcing and Crane Hire has taken delivery of its first Grove crane – a 300 tonne GMK6300L All Terrain.

The six-axle GMK6300L features a seven section, 80 metre main boom and a 29 metre bi-fold swingaway extension an boasts a 120 metre maximum tip height. Features include Megatrak independent suspension and all-wheel steering.

Run by the Dougall family, Horizon has a fleet of 12 cranes which is topped by the GMK6300L. Established in 1973 the company also deals in the steel reinforcing industry.

Manitowoc completes VPC-MAX testing

Manitowoc has completed the testing of its 650 tonne MLC650 crawler crane fitted with its variable position counterweight extension (VPC-MAX) attachment.

Increasing the MLC650’s capacities from 650 to 700 tonnes, the VPX-MAX features additional counterweight and a beam that automatically extends the counterweight beyond the rear of the crane depending on the weight of the load. As part of the load testing the crane boom was positioned in a number of positions, including over one corner of the crane in order to apply the maximum level of stress through the structure.

Dustin Soerens, Manitowoc marketing manager, said: “We attached hundreds of strain gauges to the MLC650 and picked a number of loads in the test yard to test its capacity with the VPC-MAX attachment. The testing went very well with no surprises. No changes are needed on the crane, as it performed superbly. We’re well on our way to releasing this innovative crane to the global market.”

Manitowoc’s VPC-MAX attachment provides capacities similar to wagon/tray mounted attachments, but requires fewer components and assembly steps, which helps reduce setup times and transportation costs.

Grove for Crowland

UK rental company Crowland Cranes has added a 60 tonne Grove GMK3060 to its fleet.

The crane follows the first four axle 100 tonne Tadano ATF100G-4 in the UK delivered in January. The GMK3060 was handed over to Paul Bishop, Crowland Cranes hire manager at its Peterborough depot by Jerry Welford of Manitowoc UK.

“The GMK3060 was chosen because we already operate a GMK3055 which has proven to be a reliable taxi crane, and the GMK3060 has had a nice facelift with a larger counterweight configuration and increased load chart which fits nicely in the 60 tonne range that we currently operate whilst still remaining a very compact three axle machine,” said Crowland’s Pete Issitt.

“The crane also has the newly released Manitowoc ‘Crane Control System’ (CCS) which amongst other things enables operators to select the correct boom configuration for the lift required in a very simple way, saving rigging time and searching through pages upon pages of load charts.”

Manitowoc expands in Argentina

Buenos Aires-based construction equipment provider Covema has been appointed the distributor of Manitowoc crawler cranes and Grove mobile cranes in Argentina.

Currently a Manitowoc Crane Care partner, Covema will now offer the company’s full range of All Terrain, Rough Terrain and crawler cranes throughout Argentina. It will also be responsible for providing spare parts, service and training.

Manitowoc’s vice president of sales for South America, Cristian Galaz, said: “This alliance will enhance our presence in Argentina with products that serve customers in the energy sector and many other industry sectors.”

Established in 1965, Covema is also the distributor for a range of construction and mining manufacturers including New Holland, Wirtgen, Schramm, AFM, Hamm, Kleemann and Vögele. Based just outside of Buenos Aires, the company is in situated close to Manitowoc’s production facility in Passo Fundo, Brazil.

First GMK6400 in Australia

South Australia based Fleurieu Cranes has taken delivery of the first Grove GMK6400 to arrive in Australia.

The company had originally intended to purchase a luffing jib for its existing 350 tonne Terex AC350/6 All Terrain crane, but after seeing the capabilities of the 400 tonne Grove GMK6400, the company’s management decided to add one to its fleet along with its full 79 metre luffing jib.

Fleurieu, which is based in the Adelaide suburb of Wingfield, purchased the GMK6400 through local Manitowoc dealer RMB Service Group. The crane joins three other Grove All Terrains in the company’s fleet – two 55 tonne Grove GMK3055 units and a 100 tonne GMK4100. The new GMK6400 travels in a trailing boom configuration, with a with a three axle boom trailer.

Philip Allen, who co-founded Fleurieu Cranes in 2005 with friends John Elliot and Nick Berry, said: “By adding another All Terrain crane in the 300 to 400 tonne capacity class, we have increased our company’s resources. And because the luffing jib provides impressive reach and capacity on the GMK6400, we’re also now able to work in new markets. As a result, we are able to bid projects including wind farm maintenance and tower crane erection. Our operators really like driving the Grove cranes.”

On arrival the GMK6400 went straight to work at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, dismantling a tower crane belonging to Select Plant. The GMK6400, configured with 44.8 metres of its 60 metre main boom plus 43 metres of luffing jib and 115 tonnes of counterweight, managed all the lifts comfortably, including the removal of the 13.7 tonne top section of the tower crane with the jib luffed to 80 degrees working at a radius of 46 metres.

“The Royal Adelaide Hospital job was high profile and an ideal first job for our GMK6400 in many ways,” said Allen. “The crane had ample capacity and the configuration worked really well with regards to height restrictions from the local airport. We also had a crane technician flown in from Manitowoc Crane Care to assist us through the job. The GMK6400 can lift so much more than anything else in our fleet, I think we will get strong demand for it beyond our traditional borders.”