Articulated cranes are often claimed to have an edge over telescopic boom-type cranes in world markets other than Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia and the US.

However, Furukawa Unic cranes - which are equipped with a straight boom and hoist-winch - have superior capabilities and benefits compared with articulated cranes, says a spokesman for Furukawa Unic of Japan.
Unic cranes are gaining popularity and their superior properties are gaining widespread recognition in many countries - as evidenced by their increasing export sales year on year, he adds.
Since 1946, Furukawa Unic has been a pioneer in the manufacture of efficient hydraulic cranes. Mobility, ease of operation and economy have been the consistent design goals for more than three decades.
Today, Unic  has become synonymous with the most advanced hydraulic telescoping cranes, according to the spokesman, and enjoys a more than 40 per cent share of the crane market in its native Japan, where it is manufactured at the latest production facilities to ensure a quality product at a reduced cost.
 Furukawa Unic exports to various countries in South East Asia, Oceania, the Middle and Near East, Africa and many other areas worldwide.

Characteristics
Unic cranes have a long telescopic boom and hoist-winch as standard, and a unique turntable system which enables continuous 360 degree boom-slewing, the spokesman explains. They also enjoy a good reputation for their lifting performance, wide working range, ease of operation and high level of safety.
'Because of the hoist-winch, the long telescopic boom and the excellent hydraulic devices such as oil pump, cylinder and motor, Unic cranes handle heavy cargo extremely well,' the spokesman says. 'The span of the outriggers is wide, and therefore the crane stays stable and safe. The four-point supporting system also contributes to the crane's stability during operation.

'The cranes are compact when travelling but stretch out wide in operation, and therefore have excellent capability in handling not only the cargo on the truck's platform, but also  cargo which is pitched high, below ground level or at a distance from the truck.
'Furukawa Unic cranes are made of good-quality high-tensile Japanese steel, under strict production controls and finished products are closely inspected before shipment. They are equipped with several safety devices which have passed severe Japanese environmental conditions as well as standards such as the JIS.
'The Unic crane has a smart appearance, is comparatively light weight and compact for storage, which makes more space available on the truck's platform. The centre of gravity of the crane is designed to fall right on the centreline of the truck, which prevents the vibration of the boom while the truck is running. The crane can be easily changed to operational mode from its stowed status.
'The high-outrigger version tilts the truck's platform to enable forklifts, bulldozers and shovels to roll on to the truck,' he adds.
Articulated cranes offer various attachments for grappling, grabbing or rotating but this can make handling rather difficult while the risk of causing damage to cargo through operational mistakes is much greater, he claims.

Comparing Unic with articulated cranes, the spokesman says: 'Unic cranes have wide lifting capacities, with the ability to lift from overhead, below ground level and also over barriers such as fences. They are safer in operation because they work accurately and efficiently. They can load in the vertical plane, which enables operation in a confined space such as on the platform of the truck, in a warehouse etc, and reduces the risk of causing damage to the cargo.

'When loading and unloading cargo by winch, the speed of operation can be controlled slowly and accurately because of the hydraulic feature of  Unic cranes. Thus, the shock from starting or stopping operation is much less than that of the articulated cranes.
'When handling heavy cargo, the hook has to be transferred from the outer to the inner boom tip in an articulated crane - which is not necessary with Unic cranes.
'In articulated cranes, the boom has a tendency to drop suddenly when the crane exceeds the rated loading conditions. In this case, the truck would lose its balance and tilt. This uncontrolled drop of the boom may cause the truck to tip over.
'With the Unic crane, when the truck starts to tilt because of overloading or exceeding the rated working radius, a balance can be maintained by either retracting the boom or discharging the cargo by releasing the winch. The cargo can then be easily lifted again by trucking the wire-rope.'

Unic cranes are used on dedicated trucks for a specific transportation business, for transporting various materials and at work sites, as well as for the construction of prefabricated houses and of drains and roads.
They can also be used for delivery of logs at site as well as transportation of machines, concrete products and maintenance parts; installation of utility poles and other materials; transportation and assembly of products; in iron and steel and other machine production facilities; for handling and placing of plants and garden stones; and for garbage collection.