MANITOWOC Cranes has recently unveiled its massive new crawler crane, the 31000, which has a capacity of 2,300 tonnes. In addition, the leading innovator and provider of crawler, tower and mobile cranes for the heavy construction industry has also introduced a fixed jib option for its popular 400-tonne crawler crane, the Manitowoc 16000.

The 31000 has the longest boom and jib combinations ever designed for Manitowoc crawler cranes. This is in addition to its considerable capacity and unique variable position counterweight.

Mike Wood, senior product manager with Manitowoc Cranes, says that with a crane the size of the 31000, maximising flexibility and versatility were major design priorities.

“We have designed the 31000 to be as adaptable as possible,” he says. “The crane is available with multiple boom and jib configurations, as well as five counterweight configurations.”

The highly innovative crane comes standard with a 55-m heavy-lift main boom, but using optional 5-m and 10-m inserts, the main boom can be extended to a total length of 110 m. Optional boom configurations can also dramatically increase the crane’s reach and lift height, he says.

16000 fixed jib option for its popular 400-tonne crawler crane.

The first attachment is a fixed jib with a basic rating of 1,400 tonnes and a basic configuration of 24 m. With optional inserts, users can extend the fixed jib to 42 m.

A luffing jib is also available for the 31000. The standard luffing jib is 36 m, but can be extended to 114 m by using optional inserts. The maximum capacity of the luffing jib is 1,100 tonnes. The 31000 also has a combination boom, which combines parts of the main boom and the luffing jib, and with various inserts, has a total maximum length of 138 m.

Wood says that there is always an emphasis on asset management when designing the various boom and jib combinations.

“We are utilising much of the luffing jib for the fixed jib, and many of the boom sections and boom top of the luffing jib are used in the combination boom, thereby ensuring maximum utilisation,” he points out.

Fixed jib

Manitowoc’s newly-released fixed jib option for the 16000, designed at the request of many customers, complements the existing luffing jib attachment.

The fixed jib for Manitowoc’s popular 400-tonne crawler crane has a 93-tonne capacity and a maximum length of 42.7 m. At a length of 24.4 m, the fixed jib can be installed on a 72-m main boom. This newly-designed jib helps reduce rigging time for applications where luffing is not required or at sites that do not facilitate the use of a luffing jib.

A fixed jib for this capacity is typically used in offshore oil platform fabrication yards, on transportation and infrastructure projects, as well as in refineries and petrochemical facilities.

Jerry Maloney, global product director for crawler cranes at Manitowoc, says this fixed jib is useful in any situations where the crane operator must lift up and over existing structures.

“Those that will benefit the most from the new fixed jib are users that need to reach up and over, but not necessarily manipulate the jib,” he adds.

In line with Manitowoc’s efforts to provide as much asset utilisation as possible to its customers, the 16000 fixed jib incorporates inserts and other components from the Manitowoc 2250 luffing jib.

Founded in 1902, the Manitowoc Company is a multi-industry, capital goods manufacturer with over 115 manufacturing, distribution, and service facilities in 25 countries. It is recognised globally as one of the premier innovators and providers of cranes for the heavy construction industry, which are complemented by a slate of industry-leading product support services. In addition, Manitowoc is one of the world’s leading innovators and manufacturers of commercial foodservice equipment. In 2011, Manitowoc’s revenues totalled $3.7 billion, with more than half of these revenues generated outside of the US.