international
construction
march 2015
CRANES
74
Lifting innovation
themachine to traverse different types of terrain.
XCMG also had a new big luffing jib tower crane at the show,
in the shape of the 750 tonne-metre XGTL750, which offers a
maximumworking radius of 60m.
Besides these, the exhibition was most notable for the new
wheeled cranes on show from some of the key manufacturers.
Zoomlion showed the new 110 tonne capacity QY110 truck
crane, while Sany had the 200 tonne capacity STC2200 at
BaumaChina.
In terms of new all-terrain cranes, Zoomlion showed the
800 tonne capacity QAY800, which shares several design
features with the 2,000 tonne unit it launched at Bauma
China 2012. XCMGmeanwhile showed its 450 tonne capacity
XCA 450, seven-axle all terrain, which features an 80 m
mainboom.
Sany’s newest model at the show was the 600 tonne capacity
SAC6000, which was on an eight-axle carrier and offers a 90m
main boom. Like somany cranes in this class, it is aimed at the
wind turbine market. Sany says the crane can lift an 80 tonne
nacelle – about 2MW– to a height of 80m.
Further down theweight class range, therehavebeenother new
all-terrain crane launches over the last few months. Terex has
added the 130 tonne capacity Explorer 5500 to its range, which
offers a 60mmainboom.
With this type of crane most likely to be used on urban
construction projects, compact dimensions are a key point.
The five-axle carrier is 12.1 m long and 2.75 m wide. To meet
different road regulations there are variable axle loads and axle
pair intervals. In addition, the boom can
be demounted and or the crane can travel
with a dolly.
Like the rest of the Explorer range, the
5500 is powered by one engine, rather
than the traditional two-engine design
for all-terrain cranes – one to move the
wheels, the second for the winch and
boom. Terex says one engine reduces
purchase, operation and maintenance
costs. Liebherr is anothermanufacturer to
adopt this design philosophy for some of
its all-terrainmodels.
Meanwhile Tadano has launched the
new 100 tonne capacityATF 100G-4 all-
terrain crane and updated the 70 tonne
ATF70G-4.
TheATF100G-4hasa51.2mandoffers
amaximum radius of 73m if an extension
is used. Power comes from twoMercedes
Benz engines. Similarly, theATF70G-4 is
powered by twoMercedes Benz units and
nowhas a 52.1mmainboom.
So for a sector which is experiencing
difficult business conditions, it is perhaps
surprising how many new products
and innovative new ideas are finding their
way into the crane sector.
iC
XCMG showed
an all-terrain
crane at Bauma
China, which
features a set of
tracks alongside
the traditional
wheeled chassis.
Sany’s 600 tonne capacity SAC6000 is
aimed at thewind turbine erection sector.
Rail lift
Heavy duty crawler places 355 tonne deck
T
he expansion of themunicipal
railway aroundHeilbronn, Germany,
necessitated the construction of
a new railway bridge inBadWimpfen.
However, with little space available on the
hillside site, the options for placing the 355
tonne bridge deckwere limited.
Heavy lift specialist Riga-Mainz settled
on a single Liebherr LR 1600/2 crawler
crane for the lift, but even positioning it for
the jobwas a challenge. It was set up on
two reinforced concrete ramps, which had
to be specially constructedwith foundation
piles up to 13m deep.
The night before the lift, the 40m long
trussed deckwas transported to site
using two parallel self-propelledmodular
transporters (SPMTs) with ten axles each.
Extension pieceswere then added to
the bridge deck towhich the handling
and lifting gear was attached, although
this took the total load to be lifted to 402
tonnes.
The cranewas fittedwith 565m of
ballast for the operation, which involved
lifting the deck and then reversing 10m to
position it over itsmounting points.
