Up front

GROVE LAUNCHS NEW FIVE-AXLE ALL-TERRAIN CRANES

After successful demonstrations and launch into the European market, three new all-terrain models from Grove will be landing Down Under soon.

GROVE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE

release of two new models in its five-axle range. The models are the GMK5120L, a five-axle long boom taxi crane with a capacity of 120t and the GMK5150XL, rated at 150t with a new longer 68.7m boom. Neil Hollingshead, sales director, mobile cranes, Manitowoc Cranes Australia, confirmed that the first of the Grove GMK5150XLs had already been ordered. Always looking for a competitive edge, Frank Zammit, owner of Two Way Cranes, was first to put his name on the new model.

The new models were launched to the European market throughout September and October 2021, with multiple customer events staged at Manitowoc’s Wilhelmshaven facility in northern Germany. Guests were treated to factory tours showcasing the latest operational improvements, live demonstrations, and presentations of the company’s all-terrain crane range.

GROVE GMK5120L

The 120t capacity Grove GMK5120L offers long reach with stand-out 66m main boom. With this versatile all-terrain crane, Grove expands its all-terrain range with another brand new taxi crane. Customers benefit from greater flexibility and low transportation costs. The allterrain crane can easily carry a classleading amount of counterweight – no matter if counterweight configurations for 10t or 12t per axle are required.

With compact dimensions of just 14.195m overall length and 2.75m width, the GMK5120L offers superb access to jobsites, versatility with Grove’s MAXbase outrigger positioning, and great maneuverability resulting from Grove’s Megatrak independent suspension.

Two Way Cranes will be taking delivery of the new GMK5150XL in early 2022.

GMK5120L (66m boom taxi crane) highlights include:

• 24m hydraulic luffing fly with integral panel jib – improves logistics and setup time • 6.2t capacity on full 66m boom length • 3.1t counterweight at 50t gross vehicle mass (GVM) for roading in all states • 14.6t counterweight at 60t GVM/only one trailer required for full setup • Counterweights compatible with GMK5150L and GMK5150XL • Latest GMK carrier cab • CCS and MAXbase isometric outrigger settings

GROVE GMK5150XL

The Grove GMK5150XL all-terrain crane provides increased capacity and a boom length that surpasses cranes in the 160–200t class. This new model redefines the five-axle, 150t class by offering almost 69m of main boom.

At 68.7m, it can handle 8.1t, at 66m it lifts 9.4t, and at approximately 60m it lifts an incredible 12.7t. These load charts are unmatched in the market, it says. The GMK5150XL crane’s taxi charts are also best in class, ensuring easy roadability and transport savings. In addition, it shares interchangeable counterweight slabs with the GMK5120L and all Grove 150t cranes.

Furthermore, its flexible range of counterweight configurations enable setups tailored to different market needs. Taxi configurations start from just 1t of counterweight for 10t per axle. For configurations maintaining 12t per axle, the GMK5150XL can carry up to 10.2t of counterweight. Also, the heavy roadable counterweight configuration (16.5t/axle) makes it possible to drive with 30.9t of counterweight on board, boom over front, where site conditions allow.

The new Grove model also comes with notably compact dimensions for a five-axle crane. At just 2.75m wide it can easily access the narrowest of jobsites, and with MAXbase, optimising crane setup and lifting position is efficient and easy.

Neil Hollingshead, sales director, mobile cranes, Manitowoc Cranes Australia, had this to say about the new GMK5150XL: “The XL is designed to complement and not replace the GMK5150L-1, which has proved to be a really popular crane in Australia, with over 50 units delivered already.

“We see the boom length being the real game changer with this model. The GMK5150XL is the new benchmark in five-axle boom over front cranes, with the longest boom and lightest axle weights in the sub-220t class.

“This crane is ideal for tower crane erection and also reduces the need to fit the fly due to its extra-long boom, simplifying logistics, reducing setup time, and increasing safety. When that additional fly length is needed, the total boom system length can reach up to 99m with hydraulic luffing and an integral 33t capacity panel jib.”

Both the GMK5120L and the GMK5150XL come with the new generation of Grove carrier cabs, providing increased operator comfort and convenience. The new carrier cab design seats the operator an extra 235mm away from the centerline, enhancing visibility and manoeuverability.

Zammit from Two Way Cranes is pleased to be the receiving the first GMK5150XL in the country.

“When I first heard about specifications on the new GMK5150XL I was impressed, and wanted to make a bit of statement by ordering and receiving the first one in the country,” he said.

“All crane companies are looking for a competitive edge and we are no different at Two Way Cranes.

“To have a crane with such a massive reach, on a small footprint, will suit the type of work we do. As construction bounces back, we can already see a tremendous amount of tower crane work coming up and the extra boom is going to be ideal for this.

“I’m really impressed with the main boom at [68.7m], which is the longest boom below models in the 220t class and, because it is over the front of the crane, it runs without a dolly. When you add the 30.2m fly jib, you have 99m of unmatched reach for this class of crane.”

GMK5150XL (68.7m boom) highlights:

• 22m hydraulic luffing fly with integral 33t panel jib – improves logistics and setup time • 8.1t capacity on full 68.7m boom length • 50t GVM for roading in all states • 10.2t counterweight at 60t GVM • Counterweights, auxiliary hoist and fly inserts compatible with GMK5150L and GMK5250XL • Latest GMK carrier cab • CCS and MAXbase isometric outrigger settings

GROVE GMK6400-1

Customers were also able to get their first glimpse of the upgraded GMK6400-1 after its virtual launch at ConExpo 2020. Able to take on jobs that would usually require a seven- or eight-axle model, this 400t all-terrain crane features an improved hydraulic system with faster flow to provide quicker operating speeds and smoother movements.

As an upgrade to the GMK6400, its implementation of Manitowoc’s crane control system (CCS) ensures that performance is optimised and operation can be boosted to a whole new level. Furthermore, with the addition of MAXbase variable outrigger positioning, capacities on the main boom are increased. The GMK6400-1 now offers unmatched flexibility on jobsites, says Grove.

With the introduction of EUROMOT 5, all Grove all-terrain cranes can be operated with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) diesel that enables CO2 emission reductions of up to 90 per cent. New opportunities to tender for eco or government projects where green credentials are often required are now possible.

“These new Grove cranes deliver a level of performance that was not previously thought possible from cranes in this class, and we can’t wait to get the first shipments to our customers,” said Andreas Cremer, vice president product management mobile cranes.

“It was wonderful to finally be able to welcome so many valued customers and friends back to Wilhelmshaven, show them these exciting new cranes, and hear such positive feedback – especially when our Voice of the Customer program plays such an important role in how we design our cranes.”

All new Grove GMKs entering the Australian market are now fitted with Grove’s telematics system that replicates all the data from the crane remotely for expanded product support and fleet management.

With fitments starting in Q3 of 2021, and on all cranes coming in 2022 and onwards, Grove says the system is setting the new standard for remote diagnostic support and operational transparency. The system is robust and will soon have remote updates and repairs capabilities.

At 68.7m, the Grove GMK5150XL can handle 8.1t, at 66m it lifts 9.4t, and at almost 60m it lifts 12.7t.