37
JUNE 2014
ACT
TRUCKCRANES
PRODUCT FOCUS
Palliser’sTriangle, winterweather is often
turnedupsidedownbywhat are known
as chinookwinds that can take a -5Fday
and turn it into a 50For even60Fday.
It’s noproblem forNiwa. “We operate
those cranes 12months a year in100
degreeweather and40below,” he said.
As far as boom trucks encroachingon
“I thinkwhat best defines Link-Belt’s
success in the truck cranemarket is its
focus onways to save time (which is
money) for the folks thatmake a living
withour truck cranes. Fastmobilization
features in combinationwith efficient
ways to transport allowLink-Belt truck
owners to covermore jobs throughout
theworkweek,” saidCurnutte.
The crossover betweenboom trucks
and truck cranes continues tohappen at
the lower capacity endof the spectrum,
but the overall demand for truck cranes
hasn’t decreased.
“At the lower capacities of the truck
craneproduct segment therehave been
someunits that have converted to larger
boom trucks,” said JayBarth, product
manager, TerexCranes. “However, the
trade-off is not as dramatic as logicmight
drive you to think. Truck crane operators
andowners remain very loyal to their
products anddonot readily convert to
another formof crane, even if it is very
similar in form and function,” he said.
GregNiwahas been rentingLink-Belt
cranes for 38 years.
“It startedoutwithme and anHTC35.
Thatwas the first of its kind inCanada.
Wewere just getting startedwithbigger
cranes for the oil patch. I don’t even care
to guess howmanyLink-Beltswe’vehad
over the last 38 years,” saidNiwa.
MedicineHat is subject to intense
weather. Located in a regionknown as
John Skelly
reports on
the evolution of truck
cranes and how these
workhorses are still a
mainstay in the taxi crane
market inNorth America.
S
peed, accessibility, long reach
andhigh capacitybooms.
That’swhat sets a truck crane
apart fromother cranes that have been
pinching theirmarket share over the last
30 years. Boom trucks completelywiped
out truck cranes in the 20- to40-ton
market andhave started to challenge
in the 50- to60-tonmarket. All terrain
cranes have the lifting capacity, andmore,
but aredifficult tomobilize andoften
require twoor three overflow loads to
transport them. Truck cranes arehardly
niche equipment, but they fill a special
need, and as a result drive innovation.
Abigpart ofwhatmakes a truck crane
special is the ability to travel at highway
speeds and their quickmobilization/
demobilization.
“Truck cranes are best known for
being taxi cranes,” saidRickCurnutte,
productmanager, telescopic truck and
all terrain cranes, Link-BeltConstruction
Equipment. “Get in, do the job, get out,
and thenmove on to thenext job.”
NiwaCranes ofMedicineHat, Alberta,
Canada, is a rental company that operates
on a 250-miles radius.
“It’s nothing todrive 150miles to a job,
work all day anddrive backhome. Going
up anddown the roads is very important
tous,” saidGregNiwa, president.
What contributes to the speedof truck
cranes is the relatively littleman-power
needed tooperate and transport them.
>38
Niwa Crane’s 140-ton and
100-ton Link-Belt truck cranes load
120,000-pound bridge beams.
”
‘‘
I think what
best defines Link-Belt’s
success in the truck
cranemarket is our
focus on ways to save
time (which ismoney)
for the folks that make
a living with our truck
cranes.
RICK CURNUTTE
Product manager, telescopic truck and
all-terrain cranes,
Link-Belt Construction Equipment
Ready to roll
