Eslohe-based cranes service provider Blüggel Krane has taken delivery of the first 160 tonne Terex Explorer 5600 All Terrain crane in Germany.
Its first job was to lift a 17 tonne bridge, measuring 29 metres in length, on to a heavy haulage vehicle at a radius of approximately 20 metres. Once the bridge was taken to the new location, the crane then lifted it and set it down on top of its concrete piles.
The five-axle 5600 features a seven section 68 metre main boom with a bi-fold swingaway and a 12 metre straight insert, offering a maximum tip height of 95 metres. Features include a single engine concept, start/stop function, wireless remote control, and Terex’s IC-1 control system.
Company owner Friedrich Blüggel said: “One of the main reasons why I decided on the Explorer 5600 was the fact that it could work in tight spaces, as was the case with this project on the Ruhr: It has a width of only 2.75 metres, which makes it as compact as the AC 120 we already had, but it also delivers much greater performance – it’s an enormous leap forward in terms of technology.”
“This project was our chance to put our new Explorer 5600 to the test. Before starting the project, Jens Röttger (a Terex technician) taught us everything there was to know about the machine for three days and then, on site in Olsberg, provided us with invaluable advice regarding the crane’s configuration.”