Manitowoc, one of the world’s largest providers of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, launched a number of its new cranes from Grove and Potain ranges at the SAIE tradeshow in Bologna, Italy, held last month (October 15 to 18).

Occupying centre stage at its stand at the exhibition was the Igo 30, Potain’s newest self-erecting crane. Also on show were Potain’s top-slewing tower cranes and self-erecting cranes and Grove range of mobile cranes.
The Igo 30, the largest in the Potain range of Igo self-erecting cranes, is able to move with full ballast on only one truck, according to Vincent Milan, Manitowoc’s senior product manager for self-erecting cranes.
“Featuring many of the design elements that make the Igo range so popular with customers, the new Igo 30 is a strong addition to the line. The crane has a maximum capacity of 2.2 tonnes, which it lifts out to 14.6 m. There is a 30-m jib version that lifts 900 kg at its jib end, and a 28-m jib version that lifts 1 tonne at its jib end. Height under hook is 20.5 m and the jib can luff to either 8 degrees or 20 degrees,” he says.
Milan says the versatility of the Igo 30 would make it popular with both rental companies and end-users.
“The Igo 30, with its ballast attached, has a total weight of less than 26 tonnes, meaning it can travel with just one truck in many of its key markets, lowering transport costs. It is also very easy to move and erect. Its flexible working configurations make it suitable for a variety of jobsites. It also has Manitowoc’s strong reputation for reliability behind it, backed up by Manitowoc Crane Care for parts and service. When combined with the expected strong residual value that Potain cranes enjoy, it makes it an attractive option to both rental companies and contractors,” says Milan.
 The new crane features the SmartCom system that incorporates special sensors fitted around the crane to improve efficiency during folding and unfolding operations. For ease of set-up, the crane has side ballast which means the counterweight does not need to move for folding and unfolding.
“This is especially useful on jobsites where ‘free slew’ is not possible or where there are strict rules regarding the position of the jib during out-of-service operation,” he notes.
There were two other Potain self-erecting cranes on the stand, the Igo 42 and the Igo T 85. All the cranes have the latest Potain technology, focusing on optimised safety and simplicity, and offering industry-leading operator comfort both in terms of on-site use and transport and erection.
From the top-slewing tower crane line, Manitowoc showed the MDT 268, the newest Potain topless crane that offers contractors greater space utilisation on sites where multiple cranes are working or where height restrictions are an issue, according to the company. It comes in two versions, either J10 or J12, with capacities of 10 tonnes and 12 tonnes respectively. The maximum jib length on both versions is 65 m. The J10 version can pick 3 tonnes at the jib end and the J12 version can pick 2.9 tonnes. For greater flexibility, the crane can be configured with shorter jib options to increase lifting capacity. With a 25 m jib, for example, the J10 picks 9.5 tonnes at its jib end and the J12 picks 9.3 tonnes.
Says Frans Vanwinkel, Manitowoc’s senior vice president for sales and marketing in EMEA (Europe and Middle East area): “The Potain MDT 268 offers optimum flexibility to customers. Because there are two versions available with numerous configurations, it can be adapted to a wide range of projects. Also, it can be equipped with a choice of winches to give varying hoist speeds. The LVF Optima hoists offer productivity gains by optimiding the hoist speed in relation to the load on the hook. The hoists also offer cost savings because smaller generator sets can be used compared to cranes equipped with conventional hoist winches.”
Among the Grove cranes at the stand, was the GMK5170, one of the latest cranes in Manitowoc’s all-terrain crane range.
The Grove GMK5170 has a 170 tonnes maximum capacity and a six-section telescoping main boom that reaches 64 m. With jib extensions, the crane can reach a tip height of 101 m. The lattice extension for the GMK5170 includes an 18 m bi-fold swingaway jib and two 8 m fixed non-offsetable sections. When combined, these attachments give the crane a maximum tip height of 98 m.
Says Vanwinkel, “With its strong load chart with excellent lift capacities and maximum outreach of 76 m, the GMK5170 is one of the most powerful and versatile cranes in the five-axle category. It is also incredibly easy to rig and manoeuvre.”
The superstructure of the GMK5170, according to him, features an ergonomically-designed hydraulically adjusting cab, equipped with the Ecos control system. The cab is tiltable to 20 degrees with a full-vision screen and an adjustable operator seat with suspension. Additionally, the new all-terrain crane has Manitowoc’s Twin-Lock boom pinning system, the patented Megatrak suspension, all-wheel steer and the EKS 5 light load-monitoring system.
Other Grove cranes on display were the Grove RT540E, which is a 35 tonne-capacity rough-terrain crane with a main boom of 31 m and a maximum tip height of 47 m with jib and the 100 tonne-capacity GMK4100-L, from its all-terrain crane line, which features a seven-section, 60 m Megaform boom and has a maximum tip height of 83 m with jib.