MANITOWOC has recently added two new rough-terrains to its already stellar line-up of Grove rough-terrain cranes. The new models – the RT770E and RT550E – that help boost efficiency on the jobsite will be unveiled at bauma 2013, alongside two new all-terrain cranes the GMK6400, which will be the largest mobile crane on Manitowoc’s booth, and three-axle GMK3060.

The RT770E has been designed keeping in mind the feedback received from customers in the Middle East with regard to boom length, says David Semple, vice-president of sales Middle East and Africa for Manitowoc Cranes Middle East, the fully-owned regional subsidiary of the company in Dubai, UAE.

The 65-tonne capacity RT770E features a lengthy 42-m, five-section, full-power main boom on a compact 8 m by 3.33 m chassis. “This gives customers extremely long reach and a five-section boom without having to upgrade to the bigger 70-tonne to 80-tonne crane class, where cranes are heavier on the road and take up more space on the job site,” explains Federico Lovera, EMEA product manager at Manitowoc. “This enables the crane to fit into much tighter work spaces and eliminates the needs for permits that bigger and heavier cranes require for travel.”

Lovera says the RT770E will especially appeal to customers in the Middle East and Africa.

“Crane users across Europe and Africa have long-desired a rough-terrain crane in the 65-tonne class that has a longer boom,” he says. “With the RT770E, we have been able to extend the boom to 42 m using a five-section, full-power design without having to add more size or weight to the crane’s chassis. This makes for a more manoeuvrable crane that has a higher lifting capacity and longer reach.”

The new Grove GMK6400 all-terrain crane ... 400-tonne capacity.

The RT770E comes with a Cummins 6.7-litre engine, and has both four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. It can be fitted with a 10.1-m to 17.1-m bi-fold swingaway that combines with the main boom to 59.1 m and extends working radius out to 44 m.

Paul Cutchall, rough-terrain crane product manager at Manitowoc, says new technology and an improved design have made the RT770E a much more efficient crane.

“Normally for customers to obtain this boom length on this size of rough-terrain crane they would need to install inserts, which would require an assist crane,” he says. “We’re using a single cylinder technology that eliminates the need for a hydraulic hose reel. It lightens the boom, and in turn, the entire crane. It has given us considerable freedom and flexibility in the crane’s design and its performance.”

Meanwhile, the 45-tonne capacity RT550E offers the highest capacity and the longest boom in its class at 39 m, says Lovera. At less than 12 m long, 2.55 m wide and weighing under 29 tonnes, the RT 550E is a compact crane that fits well within most national European road regulations for heavy machinery.

The crane is designed to give maximum capacity in an innovative yet easy-to-use package, Lovera says.

“We have used the latest technology to make life easier for the operator and make lifts more efficient,” he says. “The crane’s strength and size make it a very versatile machine that is perfectly suited to general construction and installation work throughout Europe and in markets around the world.”

The RT550E also features the new Crane Control System, which includes a boom optimisation feature that automatically configures boom length to suit specific loads and radius. It is designed to optimise operation of the crane through a user-friendly interface, removing the need for operators to complete lengthy lift set-up procedures.

The five-section boom has the ability to telescope partial loads from between any two boom positions. It can also be fitted with an 8-m fixed swingaway boom attachment to extend its reach to 47 m. The hoist offers higher single line pull and increased speed, with line pull speeds that are up to 70 per cent higher than on similar cranes in this class, Lovera claims.

All-terrains
This year’s bauma will see the production launch for the new 400-tonne capacity Grove GMK6400 all-terrain crane.
Andreas Cremer, all-terrain cranes product manager at Manitowoc, says he is looking forward to highlighting the unique capabilities of the crane to visitors at the Munich trade show.

“We want to show visitors to bauma 2013 what makes Manitowoc different: the GMK6400 offers customers capabilities they can’t get with any other manufacturer. It has the best load chart in its class, a new drive system for the carrier never seen in this size category, and a unique self-rigging capacity enhancement Mega Wing Lift attachment.”

The GMK6400 offers the best lifting capability of any six-axle mobile crane and includes a self-rigging Mega Wing Lift capacity-enhancing attachment, Cremer states. “Its main boom is 60 m and when working with its luffing jib, the crane can perform lifts no other six-axle or even seven-axle crane can currently achieve. There is a new, wider carrier cab, and the crane’s design has a single engine driving both the carrier and powering the superstructure. This reduces its overall weight and improves fuel economy,” he points out.

Another all-terrain that will be launched at the show is the Grove GMK3060, which is an upgrade of the popular GMK3055 and offers improved capacity across the entire load chart, thanks to an additional two-tonne of counterweight. It features a powerful 43-m boom on a three-axle carrier, making it highly versatile and suitable for a variety of general lifting and contractor duties in tight locations and at busy job sites. In addition to an improved load chart, the model has a new operator cab.

The GMK3060’s new boom optimisation feature allows operators to input basic lift parameters, such as load, radius and load height, and the system automatically provides optimal boom options for performing the lift. This saves time at the job site and makes the set-up process much easier.

The GMK3060 is also one of the first Grove mobile cranes to feature Manitowoc’s new Crane Control System (CCS), a standardised and user-friendly interface which will eventually be rolled out on all new Manitowoc, Potain and Grove cranes.

It consists of a set of displays, joysticks, control units and a jog dial. The use of standard parts will make maintenance easier and improve fleet management for Manitowoc customers. Software is also standardised across Manitowoc product lines and the system is directly attuned to Manitowoc Crane Care service software.

“This control system makes our cranes easier to use and more efficient,” Cremer says. “The new GMK3060 and RT550E, which we expect to be very popular among rental companies and contractors, will show visitors at bauma 2013 how the system works and how operators can get the most out of a Manitowoc crane.”

Founded in 1902, the Manitowoc Company is recognised globally as one of the premier innovators and providers of crawler cranes, tower cranes, and mobile cranes for the heavy construction industry, which are complemented by a slate of industry-leading product support services.