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| Long boom sets all-terrain crane at the top of its class  Manitowoc's Crane Expo demonstration event held at the Shady Grove, Pa. facility marked the U.S. debut of the Grove GMK6300L all-terrain crane. This crane combines some of the strongest lift capabilities in its class with an extremely long 262 ft boom. The design offers unprecedented ease of operation in a full range of applications including tower crane erection, placing auxiliary services (HVAC equipment, elevator equipment, etc.) and performing chimney work as well as general lifting. Andreas Cremer, regional product manager for all-terrain cranes in North America, said the new crane has several class-leading attributes that benefit customers. "The GMK6300L is a remarkable strong crane with significant advantages over other cranes with similar boom lengths," he said. "It is designed for substantial picks on its main boom without the need to rig the jib or Mega Wing Lift. For example, with the boom extended to 245 ft, it will lift 15.7 USt, and with the full boom of 262 ft, it lifts 13 USt." The GMK6300L is also the only crane among its competitors to offer a fully automatic transmission with torque convertor. The Allison transmission is a strong, reliable and cost-effective drive-train solution. Its capabilities are proven in the most demanding conditions, and the electronic controls allow it to adapt to its surroundings and provide self-diagnostics for easier maintenance. An integral retarder offers enhanced braking on hills and greater confidence for the operator when moving a heavy vehicle. The Allison transmission and Grove's Megatrak independent suspension system provide optimum travel for both on and off the road. The all-wheel steered GMK6300L has the latest steer-by-wire technology included on the fifth and sixth axles. Steer-by-wire uses fewer components making for better use of space and optimized steering angles, reducing tire wear. An additional design feature is a new cab for the carrier. It is similar to Grove's four- and five-axle all-terrain cranes, but it has been adapted to fit the wider carrier of the six-axle crane. It can comfortably accommodate three crew members and has more ergonomic positioning of the instruments and controls. Visibility, heating, air conditioning, aerodynamics and noise reduction are also improved. There are five available outrigger positions, more than any other crane in this capacity class, giving greater flexibility. As an additional feature, the suspension can be controlled from the outrigger control boxes on each side of the carrier for improved and faster rigging. Axle spacings also help with roadability, with 10.5 ft between the first pair of axles and 8.2 ft between the second. Maximum counterweight of 102 USt is made up of two 11 USt, five 10.5 USt and two 10 USt slabs, in addition to the 7.7 USt base plate. The optional auxiliary hoist can be rigged together with the counterweight without the help of an auxiliary crane, improving efficiency. A Mercedes OM 926 LA provides power for the superstructure, and power for the carrier comes from a Mercedes OM 502 LA. Both comply with the latest requirements of Tier 4i and Euromot IIIB legislation. The OM 502 LA is an eight-cylinder engine that generates 405 kW, and the OM 926 LA is a six-cylinder engine that produces 210 kW. The crane has excellent reach with the 262 ft, seven-section Twin-Lock boom that includes patented Megaform design for optimized rigidity and capacity. For additional reach, a 121 ft jib is available. Maximum available length is 384 ft, and the crane can still lift an impressive 2.2 USt at this height. A second jib is also offered, a heavy-duty jib with a capacity of 42 USt, for superior lift capability at tall heights. Control comes from Grove's well-established ECOS system and an EKS 5 with full graphic display is included for monitoring lift activities. write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Construction News :: home page |