TRUCK CRANE
Truck crane supports installation of 5G antennas The expansion of the infrastructure for the 5G mobile communication standard is progressing in large steps. The new technology offers even higher transmission rates for mobile surfing with less delay than its predecessor LTE/4G. For a network with such fast transmission rates, a denser mobile network with an extended transmission mast infrastructure is the technical prerequisite. As a result, thousands of existing masts must be modernised, and numerous new mobile communication sites have to be built every year. In the Netherlands, network operators are currently working intensively on the installation of 5G antennas, too, to install the new network throughout the country as soon as possible. The Böcker truck crane AK 52 makes a significant contribution to the conversion of the transmitter masts. Thanks to its long reach, the crane removes the old LTE/4G technology and then lifts the new antennas to their exact installation location. The 5G antennas with a weight of more than 100 kg are delivered preassembled and are mounted on the transmitter tower’s scaffolding at
different locations at a height of up to 40 metres. The AK 52 can easily reach such heights thanks to its long extension length of up to 52 metres (opt. 55 m) and possible payload of up to 12 tons. Also, a little further down on the mobile phone mast, switch boxes weighing more than 200 kg are replaced with the help of the crane. Due to its lightweight construction, the AK 52 truck-mounted crane is ideally suited for use at the various transmitter masts. Since at the installation site it is often placed on grass using outrigger support plates or moves on meadows, a low deadweight is required in these cases. Furthermore, its compact footprint and space-saving design are of great importance as they allow jobs to be carried out at the roadside while traffic is still moving. The uniquely small slewing radius of the turret specific to this model makes it possible to use it with
the outriggers out on one side only. The fully variable outrigger technology also offers the greatest possible flexibility and safety during modernisation works when setting up the crane. Each crane outrigger can be extended as far as required. The practical automatic levelling function ensures a fast and safe crane set-up, which can be conveniently controlled from start to finish via radio remote control. The efficient set-up and dismantling of the crane are particularly important in this case as the location is changed frequently. Besides, the low travelling and fuel costs of the Böcker AK 52, due to its permissible gross vehicle weight of only 26 tons as a crane on a 3-axle vehicle, are a decisive advantage because of the high mileage incurred during the whole project. Precise working and exact positioning of the 5G antennas on the transmitter masts is made possible by the state-of-the-art BICS (Böcker Intelligent Computerbased