Looking-Up

JUNE 2013 ENGLISH

VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2

A MANITOWOC CRANES MAGAZINE

31000 in South Korea SHOW REVIEW

JOB SITE REPORT

PRODUCT FOCUS

bauma 2013

Potain in India

Grove RT765E-2

Tilt cab

Superior boom design

Removable outrigger boxes

RT9150E rough-terrain crane At Grove, we provide high-performance features, reliable 24/7 support and a quality product lineup – because cranes are all we do. With 10 rough-terrain models ranging from 30 -135 t (30 - 150 USt), we’ve got a crane to handle any jobsite.

Featured is the RT9150E – its 135 t (150 USt) capacity and 60 m (197 ft) boom combination provide the best capacity and longest boom in its class.

LEADERS IN LIFTING 2 | LOOKING UP | JUNE 2013

For more information, visit www.manitowoccranes.com

WELCOME

Comment Manitowoc’s booth at bauma 2013 turned award, “especially against competitors and into a week-long succession of celebrations. products that we really respect.”

Customers and dealers from around The award is a timely reminder of the the world came to see the value that Manitowoc’s product company’s latest cranes and development team brings to to ink their latest orders. The customers. The global crane company prepared for a busy industry has seen a number week, but even those closest to of crane manufacturers rise to the event admitted they were prominence in recent years with surprised with the number and new models appearing on the quality of visitors. market at a near frantic pace.

Celebrations were not So it is worth remembering confined to new orders. On the that it pays to take a step Thursday evening of the show, back and look at what a crane more than 500 of Europe’s can do that its competitors most prominent crane industry can’t. In the case of the Grove Ben Shaw players were at the Westin GMK6400, that’s greater lift Editor-In-Chief Grand Hotel for the ESTA capacity than any other sixawards, run by the European Association axle crane (or seven-axle crane, in many of Abnormal Road Transport and Mobile lift configurations). It’s a single-engine Cranes. The association represents Europe’s design that provides greater strength; it crane owners and buyers, and many of the has a hydrostatic drive for unmatched awards recognize projects. maneuverability; a self-rigging capacity However, one award is reserved for enhancement attachment that can be set products, and is hotly contested by all in 20 minutes; and an intelligent fuel saver manufacturers. Manitowoc won the control that shuts off the engine when it’s Innovation Manufacturer award for its not needed.

Grove GMK6400, which was judged Product development done properly to represent the very best of product takes time, effort and money (and lots innovation. Jens Ennen, senior vice of each). For the engineering team that president of engineering and innovation, created the GMK6400, it’s been worth all said the company was “thrilled” to win the that and more.

IN THIS ISSUE 4

News............................................ Manitowoc around the world

8

Regional Report..........................................Boom trucks in Canada

10

Show Report................................................A look at bauma 2013

12

Job Site Report........................................Potains on Indian high rise

14

Product Focus............................................. First job for the 31000

16

Job Site Report......................................... Groves on Canadian mine

18

Product Focus......................................................Grove RT765E-2

20

News Report...................................... Innovation award for GMK6400

21

Lift Solutions........................................ Tailoring Manitowoc crawlers

22

Product Focus................................................New Potain MCT 178

23

Job Site Report..................................................... Texas high lines

24

Show Review................................................... bC India in Mumbai

25

Crane Care.................................................EnCORE work in the U.S.

26

Job Site Report..................................... Manitowoc 18000 in Siberia

JUNE 2013 ENGLISH

VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2

A MANITOWOC CRANES MAGAZINE

31000 in South Korea SHOW REVIEW

JOB SITE REPORT

PRODUCT FOCUS

bauma 2013

Potain in India

Grove RT765E-2

On the cover: The Manitowoc 31000, operated by Chunjo Construction Co., makes its first lift in South Korea.

Looking Up reports on page 14.

A number of trade and brand names appear in Looking Up. For ease of design, these are displayed without their superscript or subscript symbols. The most common names are: MANITOWOC®, NATIONAL CRANE®, MANITOWOC CRANE CARE®, MANITOWOC FINANCE®, GROVE®, POTAIN®, TWIN-LOCKTM, MEGATRAK®, MEGAFORMTM, EPIC®, CRANESTAR®, VISION CABTM, MAX-ERTM and RINGER®.

Americas 2401 S. 30th Street PO Box 70, Manitowoc, WI 54221-0070, USA Tel: +1 920 684 6621 Fax: +1 920 683 6617 EMEA 18, rue de Charbonnières – BP 173 69132 ECULLY Cedex – France Tél: +33 (0)4 72 18 20 20 Fax: +33 (0)4 72 18 20 00 China 16F Xu Hui Yuan Building 1089 Zhongshan No.2 Road (S) Shanghai 200030 China Tel: +86 21 6457 0066 Fax: +86 21 6457 4955 Greater Asia-Pacific 4 Kwong Min Road Singapore 628707 Singapore Tel:+65 6264 1188 Fax: +65 6862 4040 manitowoccranes.com Publisher: Ingo Schiller Editor-in-Chief: Ben Shaw Managing Editor: Katie Propati Contributing Editors: Amanda Barbarossa Carole Bolomier John Bittner Chris Bratthauar Ronan Cloud Punitha Govindasamy Damian Joseph Cristelle Lacourt Stephen To Jean-Pierre Zaffiro E-mail: lookingup@manitowoc.com Subscriptions: manitowoccranes.com/lookingup Copies are available free of charge to crane customers, dealers, end users and enthusiasts. Material published in Looking Up remains the intellectual property of The Manitowoc Company, Inc.and may not be reproduced without prior written approval. Looking Up is written and designed by:

June 2013

JUNE 2013 | LOOKING UP | 3

NEWS

Groves donates crane to university Steve McReynolds, owner of Groves Equipment Rental Company in Texas, U.S., donated a Grove RT880E rough-terrain crane to Baylor University in Waco, Texas, for construction of the university’s new football stadium.

Painted and decaled in Baylor’s official green and gold colors, the Baylorthemed crane enhances the spirit of the university as the machine helps erect

the sporting venue.

McReynolds has strong ties with Baylor University.

He graduated from the school, as did both his parents, his wife, many of his cousins and all three of his children. His youngest daughter is currently a junior at Baylor. The donated crane was a meaningful way to give back to the university.

“I am happy to give back to my alma mater in a unique and meaningful

Belgian train crane Belgian Lifting & Equipment Company, based in Puurs, Belgium, just completed a unique construction: a railmounted crane and access platform for Duchêne, a rail construction and maintenance company.

Duchêne plans to use the platform for the installation of overhead electrical wires across Belgium’s railways.

BLE chose a Grove RT530E-2 crane for the platform. The company removed the 30 t (33 USt) crane’s superstructure and replaced its steel counterweight with a

way,” McReynolds said.

With its headquarters in Groves, Texas, Groves Equipment Rental Co., has served the construction industry, oil refineries and chemical plants along the Gulf Coast with heavy construction equipment for more than 50 years. The donated RT880E began work the first week of February 2013 and is expected to remain on site for around 20 months.

GMK6300L erects tower cranes

much more compact lead counterweight. The Grove was mounted onto an 18.66 m (61.2 ft) wagon and equipped with specialized electronics, slew limiters, emergency generators and automatic axle locking.

The process took several months, including testing and approval. After the customizations, the Grove now offers 29 m (95 ft) of boom and a 14.3 t (15 USt) capacity when lifting at 3 m (10 ft).

Duchêne said the new crane has boosted the company’s efficiency considerably.

Kanson Cranes' new GMK6300L will assist with tower crane assembly.

Duchêne's RT530E-2 train crane built by Belgian Lifting & Equipment.

4 | LOOKING UP | JUNE 2013

The Grove RT880E donated to Baylor University in the U.S.

Hong Kong rental company, Kanson Crane & Heavy Transport, purchased a Grove GMK6300L all-terrain crane to help with tower crane assembly.

Nelson C.K. Kan, owner

of Kanson Crane, explained the 300 t (350 USt) GMK6300L will fill a gap in his company’s portfolio and allow it to handle more high-rise work.

“After extensive research and comparing the cranes available, our team chose the GMK6300L as the best option,” Kan said. “The GMK6300L has a long boom that is perfect for tower crane erection. We have lots of work to do on new high-rise buildings here in Hong Kong.”

Built at Manitowoc’s facility in Wilhelmshaven, northern Germany, the GMK6300L features Megatrak independent suspension, all-wheel drive and a cab that can comfortably accommodate up to three crew.

Kanson Crane has specialized in the crane rental and heavy transportation industry for more than 40 years. The company has 50 operators, 60 percent of whom it trains directly.

NEWS

First GMK6400 in Switzerland

Celebrating the delivery of the first GMK6400 in Switzerland. Left to right: Hans Borner, Stirnimann; Burkhard Lichtner, Stirnimann; Katharina Lichtner, Stirnimann; Beat Senn, Senn; Heinz Senn, Senn; Jörg Senn, Senn; and Fritz Oschwald, Stirnimann.

After pulling in the crowds on the Manitowoc booth at bauma 2013 in Munich, Germany, the world’s most powerful six-axle mobile crane, the Grove GMK6400, has again been making news. This time the story is in Switzerland where the first GMK6400 in the country was delivered in April to Senn AG, a steel construction, transportation and construction company. Its first job was the installation of a new bridge.

Jörg Senn, one of the owners of Senn AG, said the crane’s strength and size meant it already had a

busy schedule lined up, even ahead of its delivery to the company.

“The crane has great strength and is also relatively compact, which is a perfect combination for a mobile crane,” he said. “We will use it for assembling and disassembling tower cranes, maintaining and servicing wind power plants, and lifting large components at industrial job sites.”

The GMK6400 boasts a 400 t (450 USt) maximum capacity. The unit for Senn was delivered through Manitowoc dealer Stirnimann AG.

H&E eyes the future H&E Equipment recently celebrated the opening of a new facility in Baton Rouge, La. The new building will help the company expand support and product, as well as grow the company’s rental fleet.

The new facility consolidated the Baton Rouge and Gonzales, La. operations into one. The two locations will now be housed together in a newlyconstructed facility on the same campus as the company’s corporate headquarters.

H&E’s new location is an upgrade from its previous stores. It’s much larger, with 4,100 m² (44,000 ft²) of office and shop space on a 60,703 m² (15 acre) lot. A large portion of the new

building is devoted to product support. There are 18 service bays and an 850 m² (9,200 ft²) parts warehouse. The company has also expanded its inventories of new, used and rental equipment.

Jeff Stringer, branch manager for H&E in Baton Rouge, said the new construction is all about serving the company’s clientele.

“Our new Baton Rouge facility will enable H&E better serve our customers for decades to come.”

Established in 1961, H&E offers a host of services for the all of the Manitowoc crane brands, including crane rentals and sales, parts and services, and training.

The new H&E facility located in Baton Rouge, La.

Potain solution for Indiabulls A leading real estate company, Indiabulls Real Estate, is using several Potain cranes on a major residential development taking shape in Mumbai — India’s most populous city.

The real estate company, which also runs its own contracting division, approached four tower crane manufacturers for crane solutions for the new development.

Only two manufacturers, including Manitowoc’s Potain brand, were able to

supply cranes at the required working heights that could also fit on the 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) mast sections needed.

There are eight MC 205 cranes building the three high-rise towers that will make up the development.

Working heights will range up to 270 m (886 ft).

Sumit Bhat, general manager of Indiabulls Real Estate, said the company was looking for more than just cranes when planning the project.

“With this project, we weren’t only buying a product, we were buying a solution,” he said. “We looked at all the options

available, and the plan from Manitowoc was the best. Its team understood our needs and helped us develop an optimized lift plan.”

Potain MC 205 cranes on a real estate development in Mumbai, India.

JUNE 2013 | LOOKING UP | 5

NEWS

GMK6300L at Sydney Aquarium A Grove GMK6300L attach the fly jib from side delivered into Australia, has streets.” been working on various Adair also likes the projects since arriving in adjustable suspension from New South Wales, including the outrigger control pads relocating sharks at the that make it easy to setup Sydney Aquarium and on uneven ground also. In refurbishing a cruise ship. addition the crane is user The 300 t (350 USt) allfriendly, easy to rig, terrain crane belongs to DJ extremely maneuverable Adair Crane Services and and the fly jib can be the company’s owner, attached quickly.

Danny Adair, said the DJ Adair also owns a crane’s many standout GMK4080, GMK4100 and features are the reason it is recently took delivery of a able to work on so many GMK3055 as well as a different jobs.

GMK5130-2.

“The 80 m (262 ft) boom has given us an advantage over other lifting solutions,” he said.

“For example, when we worked on the shark relocation at the Sydney Aquarium, we were able to achieve a 72.5 m (238 ft) radius in a confined space with the main boom.

With any other crane we would have needed A GMK6300L at the Sydney Aquarium. ancillary cranes to

Moran calls in Manitowoc

A Manitowoc 16000 will help Moran Iron Works deliver a range of steel components to customers.

A Manitowoc 16000 in Michigan, U.S., will help Moran Iron Works deliver a range of steel fabricated components to customers in the mining and energy businesses.

Moran Irons Works, a custom steel fabrication company in Northern Michigan, U.S., purchased a Manitowoc 16000 crawler crane to help process the company’s growing workload. The company produces large steel components, some weighing more than 150 t (165 USt), and needs the Manitowoc 16000 to load finished parts onto barges for delivery.

Victor Ruppert, director of product management at Moran Iron Works, explained that Manitowoc’s reputation for quality and service convinced the company the 16000 was the right crane.

“Not only does Manitowoc make quality cranes with great life expectancy, but they also provide great service,” he said.

Located in Onaway, Michigan, Moran Iron Works was founded in 1978 by Thomas Moran upon leaving high school. Since then it has grown from one man in a garage to a thriving company with more than 100 employees.

About 75 percent of Moran Iron Works business comes from energy companies, with marine and mining companies making up the rest. Over the course of the next eight months, the company will produce and ship more than 4,000 t (4,409 USt) of steel modules for the energy industry.

Second time round for Potain cranes When French contractor Razel-Bec, part of construction giant Fayat Group, started work on the Tabellout Dam in Algeria, it immediately wanted Potain cranes. The company previously used two Potain MD 345 cranes to build the Koudiat Acerdoune dam, also in Algeria.

Given these past positive experiences, Razel-Bec selected the same pair of cranes it had used on the previous job, giving both a complete

6 | LOOKING UP | JUNE 2013

inspection and overhaul before installing them on the new dam. Also selected to work with the MD 345s were an MD 365, supplied by international rental company Arcomet, and an MD 175, also from RazelBec’s own fleet.

Jacky Legras, crane fleet manager at Razel-Bec, said selecting Potain cranes for this latest job was an easy choice.

“Our MD 345 cranes worked well on the Koudiat Acerdoune dam and they were in great shape when

we chose them for the the largest infrastructure Tabellout Dam job,” he projects in the country’s said. “We gave them a full history. servicing and a coat of paint to ensure they will work efficiently, as well as visually impress on this highprofile job.”

The cranes are providing general lifting and concrete pouring duties Erecting one of the four Potain cranes working on the on what will Tabellout Dam in Algeria. become one of

NEWS

Turkey gets first GMK6300Ls The first three GMK6300L all-terrain cranes in Turkey have been delivered and are all working well.

Manitowoc’s Grove dealer for Turkey, Karun, said the three cranes had been an instant hit in the country after they were delivered last year.

The company sold all three cranes during 2012’s Ankomak construction equipment exhibition in Istanbul, with all going to Turkish rental companies.

Servet Vinc in Istanbul, Acvi Kardesler in Ankara and Doğan Vinc, based in

Dörtyol, all added the successful Grove 300 t (350 USt) machine to their crane fleets.

Orkun Öztuna, Karun’s general manager, said the GMK6300L brings new capabilities to Turkish crane users.

“The GMK6300L offers the best boom length in its class, combined with strength in an easy to maneuver and a highly versatile carrier,” he explained.

These class-leading cranes will be very busy as Turkey is experiencing strong demand for high-

Customized GMK4100S

A shorter boom version of the GMK4100 – perfect for indoor lifting.

Grove’s engineering team created a special version of the GMK4100 mobile crane for German rental company, Dornseiff, based in Burbach.

Dornseiff requested two of the cranes for heavy-lift work inside a manufacturing facility where the ceiling height was just 10 m (33 ft).

The GMK4100S’s 35.6 m (117 ft) boom is capable of telescoping loads of up to 50 t (55 USt) and lifting 32 t (35 USt) with the boom horizontal. When retracted, the crane’s boom is just

8.5 m (28 ft) long. A tiltable boom head with hydraulic pinning improves underroof reach and is combined with a new compact hook block to offer marketleading capabilities for indoor lifting.

Dornseiff’s Grove GMK4100S cranes are based in Wetzlar and Olpe where they join the company’s 45-strong rental fleet. Manitowoc is talking to several other companies about future Grove GMK4100S deliveries.

Manitowoc and customers celebrate the orders for the first GMK6300L cranes in Turkey. Left to right: Örkun Oztuna, Karun; Klaus Kröppel, Manitowoc; Mehmet Kanar, Dogan Vinc; Halil Avci, Avci Kardesler; Sedat Coskun, Servet Vinc; Murat Kanar, Dogan Vinc; Thorsten Bolender, Manitowoc. quality machinery. There are many large scale projects underway and the Turkish government is

investing in hydropower projects, wind farms, power plants, railways and roads.

Mexico WindPower 2013 Manitowoc’s team from the Monterrey, Mexico, office did an excellent job promoting the company’s unique tools for the Latin American wind industry at Mexico WindPower 2013.

The event was held in Centro Banamex, Mexico, on January 30 and 31.

Regional business manager Cuauhtemoc Flores explained the importance of helping customers understand Manitowoc’s capabilities for the wind industry.

“Mexico’s wind energy industry is set to greatly expand in the coming years,” he said. “Manitowoc

is committed to helping the country realize its potential as a world leader in this growing sector.”

Mexico has 1,400 MW of installed wind energy capacity with the goal to increase that number to 12,000 MW by 2020.

Visitors at the event were impressed with Manitowoc’s 400 t (440 USt) capacity 16000 crane with Wind Attachment and Boom Raising System. The Manitowoc 16000 makes construction and maintenance of 100 m (328 ft) wind towers much easier.

Manitowoc staff and visitors discuss Mexico’s wind power industry at a trade fair earlier this year.

JUNE 2013 | LOOKING UP | 7

REGIONAL REPORT

Canada’s boom truck boom National Crane boom trucks have become a ubiquitous sight on Canada’s highways.

Damian Joseph explains.

T

he Canadian oil industry is thriving like never before. It’s helping to drive business in other industrial sectors, too, including the crane industry. National Crane boom trucks are being delivered to customers as quickly as the company can produce them. Boom trucks are popular in the oil industry because they offer significant advantages for oil field work, such as versatility, maneuverability, size, hauling ability and quick setup.

The nature of the oil business in Canada is particularly fast-moving.

Jobs come suddenly and companies must react immediately. Often, crane owners don’t know where their machines will be needed even the next day. National Crane boom trucks are easy to move among job sites. Also, often no additional permitting is needed for highway travel.

Most of the boom trucks in Canada come from Strongco, the Mississauga, Ontario-based equipment dealer.

Strongco has held long-standing relationships with the majority of Canada’s boom trucks users since it entered the region in 1992.

The owner of the biggest National Crane boom truck fleet in Canada is Acheson-based Myshak Group.

Despite global economic woes, the company is flourishing, thanks to the oil boom. Myshak was founded by Mike and Jim Myshak in 1996 and has since expanded to more than four locations.

“We use boom trucks because they are so mobile – there are a variety of sites across Canada and they can have great distances between them,” said Corey Mitchell, president of Myshak Crane and Rigging.

Myshak has been using National cranes since its inception. It has more than 75 boom trucks in its fleet ranging from 6 t (6.6 USt) capacity to

8 | LOOKING UP | JUNE 2013

This NBT55, owned and operated by Slave Lake Hot Shot, has been specially adapted with its own fifth wheel.

Al Dennis Light Oilfield Hauling, based in Leduc, customized its NBT45 with a unique blue paint job, track lighting and custom chrome.

50 t (55 USt) capacity and the number is still growing. The company has several 8100D models, 9103As, NBT40s and NBT45s, among others.

“We chose National Crane boom trucks because of their proven reliability. We try and surround ourselves with the best products so that we can ensure our clients have access to the best products.”

For the future, Myshak plans to stick with National Cranes. Soon, Myshak will take delivery of five new National Crane 9103s to be used in industrial and commercial construction, as well as several oil industry-related applications.

“We have always enjoyed the National Crane product. It’s recognized and well-respected in Canada’s oil industry.”

Slave Lake Hot Shot Services (SLHS) is another one of Canada’s major boom truck users. With its head office in in Slave Lake, Alberta, which is close to several oil field work sites, SLHS said more than 75 percent of its business is driven by the oil and gas industry. The other 25 percent is construction, power line and mill facility work.

Since 1992, the company has

owned more than 25 National Crane boom trucks. It’s newest, a 50 t (55 USt) capacity NBT55, has been specially adapted with its own fifth wheel than can pull a connected hiboy or lowboy for the counterweight package and/or hauling loads. The custom setup for the NBT55 is one of the first of its nature in Alberta.

Murray Packolyk, co-owner and president of SLHS, said the unique mounting of his NBT55 setup serves several purposes.

“We needed the lifting capacity of the NBT55 to set 17,000 lb to 30,000 lb oil barrel tanks on the job site, but we wanted to be able to haul equipment to and from the oil field using fewer trucks,” he said. “Some of the job sites may be up to 150 miles (241 km) from one of our branches, so this cuts down on travel time and fuel costs.”

Strongco helped SLHS create its custom fifth wheel-mounted crane.

Double B Welding, also based in Slave Lake, handled the rig-up and Edmonton-based King’s Custom Metal Polish did the chrome work.

SLHS also added a camera to the winch for visibility and safety, and gave the truck GPS capabilities for

fleet management.

Packolyk plans to stick with National Crane boom trucks for as long as SLHS is in business. In his view, they’re reliable, safe, comfortable and have unbeatable lifting capabilities. Along with the new NBT55, SLHS owns three 14100s, an NBT40, two NBT45s, three 1800s, an 1100, a 900A, a 500E2 and a TMS9000E. “National Crane is the Cadillac of cranes,” he said. “I’ve tried several different crane brands over the last 30 years and National Crane is the best. I sleep well at night when I send them out to work. They’re bulletproof and built to last.”

SLHS has three locations in Canada: Slave Lake, Leduc and Wabasca. Since it began in 1985, the company has grown to approximately 75 employees. Packolyk and his father, Louis, built SLHS after selling their former business that hauled heavy oil.

Said Packolyk: “I built this company using National Cranes and will continue that way. National Cranes are built to the high standards that we require when working in the oilfields of northern Alberta.” 

JUNE 2013 | LOOKING UP | 9

SHOW REVIEW

T

he biggest construction trade show in the world was a rousing success for Manitowoc this year. Some 530,000 visitors from more than 200 countries visited the attendance-smashing event held in Munich, Germany, during the week of April 15 – 21.

Thousands made it to the bauma booth to see firsthand several new cranes from all of Manitowoc’s product lines.

Eight of the 11 cranes shown were new models. Crane purchases made during the event were celebrated 26 times at the Manitowoc booth with music, champagne and plenty of handshakes and smiles.

And it wasn’t just customers celebrating – Manitowoc took home the ESTA Manufacturer Innovation award for the GMK6400 all-terrain crane. More than 500 people attended the ceremony at the Westin Grand Hotel, held by the European Association of Abnormal Road Transport and Mobile Cranes.

Manitowoc also welcomed customers and staff to its own celebration event at the BMW museum in Munich.

More than 800 people attended the event. President Eric Etchart addressed the group, thanking them for their contributions to the company.

In all, bauma 2013 was a wildly successful event for Manitowoc. Not only were cranes purchased and awards won, but the company was able to garner valuable face time with customers. As we say, “When you buy Manitowoc, you’re not just buying a crane, you’re forming a relationship.” 

A potential customer checks out the new Crane Control System cab for the Grove line. Attendees were able to peek inside several of the new cranes presented at bauma 2013.

10 | LOOKING UP | JUNE 2013

A crowd gathers under the GMK6400, which was lifted in the air and placed on top of pillars, to check out Manitowoc’s masterful engineering and finishing skills.

Customers and guests dine in Manitowoc’s busy hospitality room at the bauma 2013 booth. The company provided catered meals that were prepared using equipment from Manitowoc Foodservice, naturally.

SHOW REVIEW

Eric Etchart, president of Manitowoc Cranes, addresses more than 80 journalists at the company’s press conference.

Booms from several Manitowoc cranes reach into the Munich sky. New models from Grove, Potain and Manitowoc were on display.

With the guidance of Manitowoc experts, a group of attendees check out the cab of the Manitowoc MLC165 crawler crane.

A Manitowoc product expert shows innovative features of the Potain Igo M14 self-erecting crane to potential customers.

Celebrating at Manitowoc's customer event. Left to right: Jongseoung Park, Manitowoc; Eric Etchart, Manitowoc; Ho Joon Bang, Chunjo; Chang Hwan Jang, Chunjo; Glen Tellock, Manitowoc.

ALL Erection & Crane Rental, from Ohio, U.S., celebrates its bauma 2013 crane purchases with members of the Manitowoc management team.

JUNE 2013 | LOOKING UP | 11

JOB SITE REPORT

Sobha plans future with Potain Sobha Developers is moving its fleet towards 100 percent Potain.

Punitha Govindasamy reports.

O

ne of the largest tower crane owners in India, Sobha Developers has exclusively bought Potain cranes since 2004 and purchased 10 in the past 18 months alone. It currently operates a fleet of 40 cranes, 26 of which are Potain, and wants to gradually transform its entire fleet to Potain.

Sobha’s most recent order was for five MCi 85 A units, which will fit nicely into the company’s crane portfolio. The MCi 85 A is built at the Manitowoc factory in Pune and is the most popular model in India. Sobha already owns several of these 5 t (5.5 USt) capacity cranes, including two special traveling versions. In this

Several Potain tower cranes on the Sobha City development in Bangalore, India.

12 | LOOKING UP | JUNE 2013

latest order, three of the MCi 85 A have a chassis for easier set up on a wide-range of jobs.

Sobha certainly has enough projects to put its large fleet of Potain cranes to use. The company specializes in both residential and commercial property development, including luxury villas, high-rise

JOB SITE REPORT

hotels and offices. In 2013, Sobha predicts it will build around 510,000 m2 (5.5 million ft2) of real estate and 139,000 m2 (1.5 million ft2) of commercial projects.

The most common projects for Sobha are high-rise developments, where its Potain tower cranes are employed at heights between 70 m and 90 m (230 ft and 295 ft). The company uses combinations of 1.2 m2 and 1.6 m2 (13 ft2 and 17 ft2) sections to give it the perfect mast configuration for each crane.

One of Sobha’s current, as well as biggest, projects is the Sobha City development in Bangalore. This 36-acre site will include more than 1,500 new homes and has enlisted the help of six Potain cranes. The cranes are working at heights of up to 90 m (295 ft) on the project, which will be completed by the end of 2014.

Another of Sobha’s current developments is the Sobha Forest View — a cluster of residential towers that will house more than 800 apartments, all of which will be built amid dense woodland. Three Potain cranes are working on this job site.

Sobha’s senior vice president, Srikanth Kulkarni, explained that his company favors Potain cranes for their ease of assembly, strong aftersales support through Manitowoc Crane Care and flexibility, especially in configuration.

“We want to standardize our range to make servicing simpler, and we plan to add more Potain cranes in the future.”

Srikanth Kulkarni, senior vice president, Sobha “The cranes perform well and we can configure them at a range of different working heights using different mast sections,” he said. “And if there is ever a problem, we know we get great support through Manitowoc Crane Care, which makes our large

Srikanth Kulkarni, senior vice president of Sobha Developers, said Manitowoc Crane Care “makes our large fleet much easier to manage.” fleet much easier to manage. We want to standardize our range to make servicing more simple, and we plan to add more Potain cranes in the future.”

Sobha will need the cranes to help with its involvement in India’s ambitious development program. As that development continues, construction schedules are squeezed, prompting contractors to use more cranes on single sites. Sobha is leading the way in India for multiple crane sites and was the first company in India to make use of Potain’s Top Tracing anti-collision technology. This technology ensures fast and efficient operations of Potain cranes on busy sites, combined with built-in safeguards against collisions.

In addition to technology, customer support is another area where Sobha takes full advantage of services from Manitowoc. In particular, the company likes the Contact Center run by Manitowoc Crane Care from the factory in Pune.

With such a large fleet, Sobha has frequent questions about the best practice for operating and servicing its cranes, and the Contact Center provides professional and expert advice through a single call. Sobha also uses the service for parts ordering, and likes the 24/7 availability of personnel at the Center through its linkup with other facilities in China, France and the United States 

JUNE 2013 | LOOKING UP | 13

PRODUCT FOCUS

Heavy lift history Manitowoc’s largest ever crane, the 31000, made its project debut at an industrial facility in South Korea. Punitha Govindasamy reports.

Left to right: Chundo Kang, Chunjo; Pyeongkook Jo, Chunjo; Ho Joon Bang, Chunjo; Chang Hwan Jang, Chunjo; Larry Weyers, Manitowoc; John Stewart, Manitowoc; Jongseoung Park, Manitowoc.

O

ne of the world’s biggest crane rental companies is using one of the world’s biggest cranes.

South Korea’s Chunjo Construction Co. has taken delivery of the largest capacity crawler crane ever designed and built by Manitowoc – the Manitowoc 31000.

Chunjo has added the 2,300 t (2,535 USt) crawler to its rental fleet and will supply it to contractors around the globe, including those working on nuclear power plants. The crane’s first job was at an industrial plant run by Posco in Gwangyang, South Korea, where cutting-edge technology is making liquefied gas from low-grade coal. There, the crane made 12 lifts for three of the plant’s vessels, and was rigged with 55 m (180 ft) of boom and 60 m (197 ft) of luffing jib for the work.

Of special interest to Chunjo is the Manitowoc 31000’s Variable Position Counterweight (VPC) system, which ranges from 8 m (28 ft) fully retracted to 29 m (95 ft) fully extended. The VPC is suspended from the rear of the crane minimizing its

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footprint on site and the amount of ground preparation needed.

Chang Hwan Jang, chairman at Chunjo, explained why the company is so attracted to the VPC system.

“The Manitowoc 31000 has a tremendous capacity and we will be able to use it for heavy lifts on a diverse number of projects,” he said.

“But the real advantage is the crane’s VPC, which keeps the footprint of the crane manageable, giving us more space to work on the job site.”

Chunjo also purchased three 600 t (660 USt) Manitowoc 18000 crawler cranes to add to its fleet. When working with the MAX-ER attachment, the 18000’s capacity is boosted to 750 t (825 USt). The 18000 boasts a maximum of 97.5 m (320 ft) of main boom.

In fact, Chunjo owns more Manitowoc 18000s than any other company in the world. And that’s not the only superlative it holds rights to – the company owns more Grove rough-terrain cranes than any other in the Far East.

Jang, described the special

relationship between his company and Manitowoc.

“The partnership between our two companies dates back many years and I can attest that Manitowoc makes the best cranes in the world, whether it’s Grove, Manitowoc or Potain,” he said. “This new Manitowoc 31000 is making its first lifts at the very same site as our first Manitowoc 18000 did many years ago, so it’s a very important and symbolic milestone for Chunjo.”

Prior to the four recent additions, Chunjo's fleet included: • 9 Manitowoc 18000s • 5 Manitowoc 777s • 4 Grove GMK4100Ls • 3 Grove GMK5100s • 17 Grove RT875Es • 9 Grove RT760Es • 59 Grove RT650Es • 18 Grove RT530Es • 1 Potain MD 1100 tower crane International Cranes and Specialized Transport recently ranked Chunjo as one of the world’s 50 largest crane-owning companies on its IC50 list. 

PRODUCT FOCUS

JUNE 2013 | LOOKING UP | 15

JOB SITE REPORT

Manitowoc dominates Canadian mine sites A whopping 23 Manitowoc cranes are currently working hard at two large mines in Northern Quebec, Canada. Amanda Barbarossa reports.

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A GMK6300L lifts lattice construction materials at a Deception Bay mining site in Canada.

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essier Ltd., one of Quebec’s most renowned lifting companies, is using 23 Manitowoc cranes at two large mines in Northern Quebec, Canada. The cranes provide general lifting services at the sites and offer lift capacities of up to 300 t (350 USt). They include 17 Grove rough-terrain cranes, a Manitowoc lattice-boom truck crane, two National Crane boom trucks, two Grove YardBoss industrial cranes and a Grove all-terrain crane.

A division of the company Groupe Desgagnés, Tessier has been in the crane rental business for more than six decades. Over that time, the Quebec-based company has come to rely on Grove and Manitowoc as its cranes of choice.

Pierre Desgagnés, general manager at Tessier, says the company uses Grove cranes for their solid construction, reliability and impeccable design.

“Grove cranes are well-designed products that handle a variety of work,” he said. “They have strong construction and superior technology.

We have a long relationship with Grove. The company is the leader in rough-terrain cranes.”

The two mines are located at Fermont in Quebec and Deception Bay on the Hudson Strait. At the Fermont site, Tessier supplied cranes and operators to lift construction materials and mechanical equipment, such as tanks, boilers, pumps and electric motors. Several lifts were to help construct a fixed gyratory rock crusher, and to help forge a 2.6 m (4.2 km) conveyor section that

spanned between the crusher and a new ore concentrator building, including a bridge section that crossed over rivers. Tessier performed all of the lifting engineering, including lift plans and on-site supervision of the lifting operations.

The project began in 2011 and will finish by early 2014. On site are: • 1 Grove RT760 • 4 Grove RT760Es • 1 Grove RT765E • 1 Grove RT780E • 1 Grove RT9130E • 2 Grove RT9150Es • 1 Manitowoc 777T • 1 Grove GMK6300L • 1 Yardboss YB4415 • 1 Yardboss YB7722XL • 1 National Crane 880C • 1 National Crane 990A The other major mining site Tessier is supplying cranes and operators to is Deception Bay. There, the cranes are lifting mechanical equipment and construction materials, among other duties. This project began in 2008 and is expected to finish this summer. On site are: • 3 Grove RT760Es • 1 Grove RT9100 • 2 Grove RT9130Es • 1 Grove RT9150E One of the biggest challenges for both mines is providing enough operators for the Grove cranes.

Canada’s boom in oil, gas and mining work has left operators in short supply. Still, Tessier has been able to operate all of its Grove, Manitowoc and National Crane models, and finds that operators enjoy using them.

“The mechanics of Grove cranes

JOB SITE REPORT

A Grove RT9130E rough-terrain crane lifts construction materials in Deception Bay, Canada. are simple and easy to use,” Desgagnés said. “For example, the Grove telescopic boom system is very reliable where we’ve had problems with others in the past. Our operators prefer Grove cranes and work well with them.”

For one unique task, a new RT765E was used to help construct an ore storage silo. The crane, wrapped in plastic, was setup with a man basket pinned to the boom point. A giant balloon structure was placed over the crane, and was inflated to buildingsize proportion. Meanwhile, urethane was shot onto the balloon’s interior, hardening the surface and reinforcing its shape. Then, steel rebar was placed and recovered inside the balloon and “shotcrete” was used to construct

reinforced concrete walls within the structure.

“Construction of the ore storage silo lasted four months, working 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week,” Desgagnés said. “We used a brandnew Grove rough-terrain crane because reliability was crucial—once the job began, we would not have been able to replace the crane if it had a mechanical problem.”

Desgagnés said the durability of Grove cranes has been a key to success on the mines, where temperatures can be extreme. Jobs Tessier completed in the past gave the company the confidence to use the cranes at the two mines, Desgagnés said.

“We sent one RT9150E to the arctic mining site of Deception Bay and it

worked well in the cold environment,” he said. “We spent two years working there and conditions were very demanding, especially in the winter, but the Groves held up. We were really satisfied with how the machines performed.”

In all, Tessier has about 100 employees. The company offers a range of services, including stevedoring, crane rental and operation, heavy machinery operation, intermodal transshipment and road transportation.

Tessier’s cranes were supplied by the Quebec branch of Strongco - the Manitowoc, Grove and National Crane dealer for the region. The two companies have been doing business together for 34 years. 

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PRODUCT FOCUS

A best-selling crane Grove is the world’s leading rough-terrain crane manufacturer, so it’s little surprise that one of its biggest sellers, the RT765E-2, has so many admirers.

Chris Bratthauar reports.

S

peaking to customers around the world about the 60 t (65 USt) capacity RT765E-2, it’s clear the crane’s load chart is the standout feature, however many are also quick to praise its versatility, mobility, comfortable cab and easy maintenance.

The crane has shipped in high volume since launching in 2012, with Manitowoc building it both at its facility in Shady Grove, Pa., U.S., and the Passo Fundo factory in Brazil.

Mike Herbert, director of product planning and marketing at Manitowoc, said the crane had a lot to live up to.

“The RT765E-2 is an upgrade to the Grove RT700E, which was one of the industry’s most popular roughterrain cranes,” he said. “With stronger materials and better cylinder strength, we have increased capacity. That gives the RT765E-2 its impressive load chart.”

It’s this class-leading strength that immediately appeals to Luis Castanos Diaz, equipment manager for mining company Sigdo Koppers in Chile. He explained that his company primarily uses the RT765E-2 for mining projects in Chile and in Peru.

“One of the main features we love about the RT765E-2 is the impressive load chart,” he said. “It outperforms comparable cranes from other manufacturers.”

The crane’s strength is also noted

by Dave Glass, vice president and general manager of U.S.-based rental company Ring Power Crane, who also points to its relatively compact size.

“This is a crane that can be used on just about any application thanks to its strength and middle-of-therange size,” he said. “We’ve sold and

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rented several to customers to use on wind farms, bridges, phosphate mines and power plants. It’s not too big, so it can be transported easily on the highway.”

The RT765E-2 features the rugged chassis that customers expect from a Grove rough-terrain crane. Its fourwheel, multi-mode steering offers better handling and mobility, and many of its features make it adept at navigating rough or cramped job sites.

Ric M. Doyungan, manager of Saudi Arabia-based Al Rushaid Construction Company, said the crane’s mobility and versatility stands out.

“This is a crane we can easily utilize in congested areas,” he

explained. “We use it for lifting structural materials, pipework and other construction machinery, often in cramped areas where larger cranes cannot penetrate.”

John Lohse, equipment manager of Lakeshead Constructors, a U.S.

RT770E-2 Having created such an international success in the RT765E-2, it’s little wonder Manitowoc is looking to repeat the success in other new rough-terrain cranes. The new RT770E-2, which launched at bauma 2013, shares many of the same features as the RT765E-2, but with a five-section, full power boom and two operating modes.

The Grove RT765E-2 is one of Manitowoc’s best-selling rough-terrain cranes.

PRODUCT FOCUS

contractor, agrees. He said the crane was also relatively easy to maneuver off site, when traveling on the highway.

“Transporting this size crane under low bridges is no longer a problem thanks to the RT765E-2,” he said. “With this crane we can use our low-bed semi-trailers under the 4 m (13 ft 6 in) legal height in Wisconsin, which makes life easier.”

For operations too, owners report the RT765E-2 is easy to run, requiring little maintenance. When maintenance is required, the crane is easy to service thanks to intelligent design.

Of course, any crane is only as productive as the operator sitting in it, and as with other new cranes from Manitowoc, the RT765E-2 has been fitted with a userfriendly, ergonomic cab. The cab is from a new generation that offers a comfortable interior and better visibility.

Juan Paulo Mejia, crane manager from TRACSA Group in Mexico, was among those who highlighted the new cab’s importance.

“The RT765E-2’s new cab has better visibility and ergonomically arranged instruments and gauges,” he explained. “It offers greater security and visibility compared with other cranes.”

The overwhelming worldwide response to the RT765E-2 is a testament to Manitowoc’s quality product development process. And as with its predecessors, it seems the RT765E-2 has set the latest standard by which all other RT cranes must be judged. 

Views from the job site:

Juan Paulo Mejia,

Crane manager for TRACSA Group, Mexico: “We are very happy with the crane’s performance and versatility. It certainly outperforms other cranes in its category.”

Ric M. Doyungan,

Manager of Al Rushaid Construction Company, Saudi Arabia: “The performance of the RT765E-2 is outstanding. There have been no major breakdowns. It has the fastest setup and outrigger leveling capabilities in its class, and the best line pull capacities.”

Bob Martin,

Branch manager of H&E Equipment Services, Texas, U.S.: “The RT765E-2 has been an excellent, hard-working crane. It’s a strong machine that’s easy to maintain. It’s popular with customers working in the oil industries and those doing road and bridge work.”

Luis Castaños Diaz,

David Rodrigues,

“Our investment in the RT765E-2 has helped us maintain an elite fleet.

We are especially impressed with the hydraulic response speed and the ergonomic cab.”

“Our RT765E-2 performs exceptionally well, working mainly on wind farms, and in the steel mill and refinery industry. We are especially impressed with its mobility on crowded job sites and doing pick and carry work.”

Dave Glass,

John Lohse,

“The Grove RT765E-2’s strong boom allows it to outperform the competition. Plus, the ergonomic cab offers plenty of comfort. In this class, it’s the most popular crane in our fleet.”

“We replaced an older and bigger crane with the RT765E-2 and have been very satisfied. It has great lifting capacity plus updated technology. We haven't regretted this purchase for a minute.”

Equipment Manager for Sigdo Koppers, Chile:

Vice president/general manager of Ring Power Crane, Florida, U.S.:

Commercial director at Makro Engenharia, Brazil:

Equipment manager at Lakehead Constructors, Wisconsin, U.S.:

JUNE 2013 | LOOKING UP | 19

NEWS REPORT

Innovation award for Grove Grove’s GMK6400 earned Manitowoc the “Innovation Manufacturer” award from Europe’s leading lifting and transportation trade association.

Cristelle Lacourt reports.

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he European Association of Abnormal Road Transport and Mobile Cranes (ESTA) named Manitowoc its Innovation Manufacturer of the year at a dinner staged in Munich, Germany, during the bauma 2013 trade fair. The award was presented for the company’s Grove GMK6400 all-terrain crane.

ESTA represents crane users from across Europe, and recognizes the industry’s best lifting and transportation projects, as well as its best new products. Nominees are judged by an independent panel composed of crane owners from across the continent.

Jens Ennen, senior vice president of engineering and innovation, accepted the award on behalf of Manitowoc and was delighted to receive the honor from an organization representing Europe’s crane owners.

“To win against competitors and products that we respect is especially pleasing,” Ennen said. “When we started developing the GMK6400, we had the opportunity to create a crane that was truly different and that would give customers capabilities not available in other machines. To see those ideas come to fruition and receive recognition like this from ESTA is a wonderful feeling.”

The 400 t (450 USt) capacity GMK6400 is currently the strongest crane available on six axles. It features

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Celebrating the ESTA award for the Grove GMK6400. Manitowoc employees pictured left to right: Eric Etchart, Gerhard Kaupert, Philippe Cohet, Jens Ennen, Astrid Hager-Guthrie, Renke Schlarmann, Andreas Cremer, Florian Peters, Holger Haber and Ingo Schiller. several unique design elements that set it apart. For the ESTA submission, Manitowoc’s product management team concentrated on four aspects in particular.

The first was the use of a single engine to power both the carrier and the superstructure. Here, Manitowoc engineers developed a creative solution that allows the larger engine in the carrier to still efficiently deliver the smaller power requirements of the superstructure. The single engine concept also delivers significant weight savings that Manitowoc’s engineers have reallocated to other parts of the design, further boosting capacity.

Another design innovation described in the award entry was the crane’s MegaDrive, which gives the GMK6400 both traditional and hydrostatic drive capabilities. The hydrostatic drive gives the crane powerful and exact control when maneuvering at slow speeds on job sites. At higher speeds MegaDrive disengages and the crane uses a traditional transmission. As with the

single engine concept, MegaDrive saved space in the crane’s design, allowing further optimization of lifting capacity.

The final two design innovations highlighted in the award entry were the self-rigging MegaWingLift and the Fuel Saver Option. The MegaWingLift is Grove’s patented tensioning system that can increase the capacity of the crane. The Fuel Saver option, meanwhile, is an intelligent system that reduces fuel consumption during idling. It reduces RPM while the machine is at rest and eventually disconnects the pumps completely, shutting the engine down to save fuel.

Following the presentation of the ESTA award at the association dinner, Manitowoc continued the celebrations the next day on its booth at bauma.

There were additional tours of the GMK6400 on the company’s stand which, in an appropriately innovative setup, was displayed off the ground, allowing visitors to walk underneath and inspect the detail of the unique carrier. 

LIFT SOLUTIONS

Customized cranes for oil work Four new Manitowoc crawlers with unique customizations are headed to Saipem, an Italian energy contractor based in Milan. Damian Joseph reports.

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hen Italian energy contractor Saipem, a subsidiary of oil conglomerate Eni, needed to replace several of its cranes, the company turned to Manitowoc and Lift Solutions for a customized fleet. The company specializes in the extraction and transportation of oil and gas and sought to tailor its new machines for the work it does in remote areas, both onshore and off, and in deep-water seas.

Four new Manitowoc crawlers, all with unique customizations, are headed to the Milan-based company. The cranes are a significant upgrade to Saipem’s fleet and were ordered by ATCO, the mobile equipment department of Saipem.

Calling on Manitowoc’s engineering, purchasing, operations and sales groups, Lift Solutions was able to give the cranes unique capabilities that would better suit them for the environments in which Saipem often works.

The new cranes are two Manitowoc 14000 crawler cranes, a Manitowoc 777 and a Manitowoc 999. The Lift Solutions customizations include: • Adding a hydraulic tagline winch to aid with load-handling stability in offshore lifting applications.

Personnel-handling winch and twoshaft upper boom point to safely and efficiently transport crew from land to barge with no changes to rigging equipment, saving rigging time and effort.

• Sea salt water protection for all new custom components to protect from corrosion. For example, the backup hydraulic power unit was specified as heavy marine duty and includes a large stainless steel box.

• A special zinc-based primer for components, in addition to the standard priming and paint process, to provide superior corrosion resistance.

• Custom lights installed onto the

cranes’ booms for better visibility while working in the dark.

• An emergency backup hydraulic power unit that can swing, hoist and lower all winches, and can also lift and lower the boom in case of engine failure. The unit is powered by an electric power source in case the cranes’ engines malfunction.

Saipem ATCO, represented by mobile equipment manager Rocco Bello and deputy mobile equipment manager Marco Sozzani, issued a tender for the cranes and customizations it needed.

Critical to finalizing the deal between Manitowoc and Saipem, the new equipment and upgrades had to be designed with RINA (Registro Navale Italiano) certification in mind, to ensure the work complied with both national and international rules.

Manitowoc and Lift Solutions – led

by Enrico Angiolini, sales director, and Davide Camperi, area manager, both of Manitowoc Cranes in Italy – proposed a solution based on Saipem’s needs and

subsequently secured the project, along with four other cranes that will be delivered to Saipem in 2013. The deal was finalized in May 2012.

Dustin Soerens, product support specialist at Manitowoc, said communication with Saipem was crucial to the success of the project.

“On a large-scale, highly-technical customer request such as this, open communication is a must,” he said.

Production began in June 2012 and the cranes were inspected by Saipem ATCO mobile cranes superintendent Andrea D’Ostilio in November and December before delivery. The Saipem job was such a success that the work done will be applied to future Lift Solutions projects, too.

Saipem was founded in 1957 and is listed on the Milan Stock Exchange. The company has some 40,000 employees working around the globe. In addition to the Manitowoc crawlers it owns, the company also uses several Grove roughterrain cranes. 

The new crawler cranes for Saipem will handle both onshore and offshore work.

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PRODUCT FOCUS

Russia gets a new Potain Flexibility, impressive load charts, improved transport and setup – the new Potain MCT 178 tower crane is bound for success in key markets. Ben Shaw reports.

The Potain MCT 178 unveiled at the Manitowoc facility in Porto.

M

anitowoc introduced the latest Potain topless tower crane during an event at the Manitowoc facility in Porto, Portugal.

The new Potain MCT 178 is based on the hugely successful Potain MDT 178, but has additional features designed specifically for key markets in Africa, Turkey, Russia and surrounding CIS countries.

One key difference between the new Potain MCT 178 and the older MDT 178 is the MCT 178 uses Potain’s L-type mast, which is available in 1.6 m (5.2 ft) or 2 m (6.5 ft) sections. Both sizes can be used in the same mast configuration to offer better flexibility on site.

The L-type mast offers a maximum free standing height of almost 67.6 m (221.7 ft), making the crane ideal for high-rise construction. The crane can lift 1.5 t (1.6 USt) at the maximum jib length of 60 m (196.8 ft). When fitted with a 45 m (147.6 ft) jib, the crane can lift 4 t (4.4 USt) loads at more than

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40 m (131.2 ft) radius.

Jean-Claude Doucene, Manitowoc’s commercial director for Russia and CIS countries, was at the launch event in Portugal and said customers were impressed with the new MCT 178.

“We developed a cost-effective crane that combines Potain’s well-known quality with the most recent technology,” he said. “Our customers want cranes that make their life easier and can be erected faster. We listened to their needs to develop this crane, which is the latest in a long line of successful cranes.”

Apart from the crane’s impressive load charts and flexibility on the job site, the MCT 178 is designed for easy transport. The counterjib is a single monoblock design and the ballast support can easily be folded. The crane’s upperworks, including the counterjib, a separate 60 m (196.8 ft) jib and the 50 LVF hoist winch, travels on three trucks. The cab itself is permanently attached to the tower

head, but is mounted on hinges so it can rotate, saving space during transport.

The crane’s cabin, tower heads and hoist can be lifted as a single element by a larger mobile crane for assembly in the air, speeding up the erection process. Mechanisms are in one location, improving communication between crane operators and service engineers for a more efficient erection or disassembly. Assembling the jib at ground level has also been made easier thanks to a stepped pin and centering pin design.

Manitowoc invested in an extensive developments process to create the MCT 178. Following rigorous testing, the crane now enters Manitowoc’s PreProduction Partner program, where the first units will be closely monitored to ensure they meet Potain’s high working standards. Manitowoc strives to bring innovation and constant improvement to its products, two goals achieved in with the new MCT 178 crane. 

JOB SITE REPORT

Boom truck power

Boom truck’s functional features make for speedy power line work in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Texas. Chris Bratthauar reports.

B

oom trucks are helping energy companies install high-voltage power lines with much more speed and efficiency than ever before.

This is currently evident in the Texas panhandle, where a fleet of National Crane boom trucks is helping Service Electric Company install 214 km (133 miles) of power lines.

Chris Forsythe, western regional manager for the Chattanooga, Tenn.based company, said the versatility and dependability of boom trucks provide a more efficient way to perform power line work than methods used in the past.

“Previously, we would climb each pole and do the work by hand, which took much longer,” Forsythe said. “The design of boom trucks allows our crews versatility in multiple facets: lifting capacity, boom use and reach capabilities.”

The NBT45, NBT40 and the 1400H are working at the Texas Panhandle site. The cranes are lifting structural components of the poles, such as pole sections, arms and insulating hardware, as well as work baskets that lift company technicians up to the poles’ tops.

The lifts that the National Cranes are performing on site range from 4.5 t (5 USt) to more than 12 t (13 USt). Soft, sandy soil at the job site requires pads to be placed under the outriggers that give a wider footprint and help disperse the load over a larger area.

The National Crane NBT40 has a 36 t (4o USt) maximum capacity and is available with three optional boom lengths: 31 m (103 ft), 39 m (127 ft) or 43 m (142 ft). It comes equipped with an 8.6 t (9 USt) tailswing counterweight. The NBT45 is similar, but has a 41 t (45 USt) capacity and a 49 m (161 ft) boom, which makes it very compatible to those working in power

line construction. The National Crane 1400H has a 30 t (33 USt) capacity and a 39 m (127 ft), five-section boom, the longest in its class.

With boom trucks, setup and teardown times are greatly reduced, allowing workers to move more quickly job site to job site or from pole to pole.

Also, additional permitting is not usually required for highway travel, saving time and money.

“We don’t need additional highway permits. I can just get on the highway and move on down the road,” Forsythe said. “It’s been very efficient to use the boom trucks for our work.”

The Texas panhandle project began earlier this year and will finish around the end of 2013 or early 2014.

Service Electric Company was founded in 1945 as an industrialcommercial electrical contractor specializing in the construction of electric transmission and distribution systems, power substations and switchyards. The company’s expert crews are equipped to build and maintain transmission lines up to 765 kV and distribution lines up to 35 kV. SEC also performs rapidresponse storm restoration and substation services. 

National Crane boom trucks construct high-voltage power line poles in the Texas panhandle.

JUNE 2013 | LOOKING UP | 23

SHOW REPORT

Manitowoc in Mumbai Manitowoc’s booth at the bC India trade fair in Mumbai drew large crowds. Punitha Govindasamy reports.

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etween launching a new Potain tower crane, showing one of its largest Grove mobile cranes and having Manitowoc Crane Care stage live training classes, Manitowoc’s busy booth at bC India showed visitors some of the highlights of its extensive range of products and customer support services.

The new Potain MCi 48 C tower crane made its debut at the show. Built at Manitowoc’s factory in Pune, India, the crane is designed for mid-level construction jobs and has a 2.5 t (2.75 USt) maximum capacity and a 1 t (1.1 USt) capacity at its maximum jib end of 36 m (118 ft). Freestanding working height for the crane tops out at 34.7 m (114 ft), but that can be extended by utilizing the crane’s telescoping cage and tying off against the building.

Ashwani Mattoo, national sales manager for tower cranes, attended bC India and said the country’s ambitious development program and high workload for contractors means companies are beginning to understand the increased productivity tower cranes offer over other options.

Another impressive crane that turned heads was the Grove GMK6300L. Last year, Shri Dinesh Cranes invested in the first in India. The company was so impressed with the crane’s 80 m (262 ft) boom plus its huge 300 t (350 USt) rating that it ordered a second. It was this second machine, adorned in Shri Dinesh’s colors, which Manitowoc showed at the Mumbai exhibition.

Sumit Joshi, managing director of Shri Dinesh Cranes, said he was proud

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A Grove GMK6300L on display at bC India. to show off his latest fleet addition at the show.

“For many people in the industry, bC India was their first opportunity to get a close look at the GMK6300L,” he explained. “A lot of construction companies and industrial contractors attended the show to see the latest technology the industry has to offer and the GMK6300L was one of the most advanced machines at the show.”

The final highlight of the show was

Manitowoc Crane Care’s training courses, each of which sold out on the four days they were scheduled. Crane Care’s reputation as the leading provider of crane training in India is continuing to grow, with the company offering online and on-site training, as well as providing live training at its factory. Visitors to the Manitowoc booth at bC India 2013 were given insight into this professional setup and didn’t walk away disappointed. 

CRANE CARE

EnCORE gives more One U.S.-based EnCORE partner faces a growing backlog of Manitowoc crawler cranes as customers look to get even better returns. Heidi Kraemer reports.

H

offman Equipment, a New Jersey- based Manitowoc dealer and EnCORE partner, is working on a healthy backlog of older crawler cranes. The company presently is refurbishing three units, each of which will have new Tier IIIcompliant engines installed as part of the rebuild work.

When it comes time for older engines to be replaced, the new ones must be compliant with the latest emissions regulations. Even though the engine replacement adds further costs to the refurbishment work, for many owners the cost is recouped many times over in the additional years of productive and profitable service.

Cranes in the Hoffman yard include: a 4100 crawler from Trevcon Construction in Liberty Corners, New Jersey, a Manitowoc 888 from Yonkers Construction in Yonkers, New York, and a Manitowoc 888 from George Harms Construction in Howell, New Jersey. Hoffman is also expecting a Manitowoc 4600 and another 4100 in the next few months.

Hoffman’s EnCORE facility completely disassembles each crane, right down to its frame, and rebuilds them with remanufactured components that are Manitowoc Crane Care- approved and meet all requirements of the U.S. government’s Occupational Safety and Health administration. All systems on the crawler cranes are updated and the engines are replaced.

So far, Hoffman Equipment has refurbished mainly Manitowoc 888 and 777 cranes, plus a number of Manitowoc 4100 cranes. Customers sending cranes for refurbishment are generally based in the northeast,

between Maine and Virginia.

Tim Watters, president of Hoffman Equipment, said cranes sent for refurbishment range from 10 to 25 years old and are loved by their owners.

“Manitowoc cranes are quality machines, which we’ve seen in the units we’ve delivered through the years,” he said. “When they reach the end of their operating life span, and now with the changing emissions laws for engines, customers are faced with the decision of whether to buy new or update their crane. With EnCORE, customers are finding they can save significant money by repowering and refurbishing their loyal and hardworking cranes.”

Hoffman has invested heavily in tooling for its workshop and training for its mechanics to ensure it qualifies as a Manitowoc-approved EnCORE partner. When the company first began refurbishing cranes, it took an average of seven to nine months. Now that time is halved, with the company finishing cranes in an average of three to five months.

Hoffman Equipment is headquartered in Piscataway, New Jersey, and has five locations in New York and New Jersey. The company has been renting, selling and repairing construction equipment within the United States and internationally for the past 40 years. 

Hoffman Equipment’s EnCORE team stands in front of a newly repaired Manitowoc 888 for Yonkers Construction Company located in New York.

JUNE 2013 | LOOKING UP | 25

JOB SITE REPORT

Debut lift for 18000 in Siberia A Manitowoc 18000 had a tough first assignment on a refinery in Siberia.

Ronan Cloud reports.

Some of the construction crew in front of the Manitowoc 18000 at the Achinsk refinery in Siberia.

A

Manitowoc 18000 crawler crane demonstrated its strength, reliability and durability following a 4,000 km (2,500 mile) road trip across Russia to install two coker units on an oil refinery in southern Siberia. The 18000 crawler drew onlookers to see it lifting the coker units, each of which weighed 300 t (330 USt) and measured 33.5 m long by 8 m wide (110 ft by 26 ft). The first coker was installed in around three hours, while placing the second took just two hours.

The 18000 is well equipped to

26 | LOOKING UP | JUNE 2013

handle these kinds of challenging lifts.

It is one of Manitowoc’s largest cranes, boasting a 600 t (660 USt) capacity and up to 97.5 m (320 ft) of main boom. Capacity can be increased to 750 t (827 USt) with the MAX-ER attachment, which also enables the crane to boost its reach, extending up to almost 160 m (525 ft) when working with the luffing jib. The MAX-ER offers owners a costeffective way to increase the 18000’s base capacity, while simultaneously eliminating the time and expense of transporting and setting up a larger

capacity crane.

This first coker lift was a momentous occasion for the 18000’s owners, SV Trans, a specialized Russian transport and installation company. SV Trans received the 18000 crawler in October 2012, and it’s one of the largest Manitowoc cranes operating in Russia. The company was rightly proud to see the crane performing its first lift. In addition to its own representatives, there were more than 50 people from various other companies associated with the project on hand to witness

JOB SITE REPORT

the landmark lift.

Egorov Roman Valerievich, heavy equipment engineer at SV Trans, explained that the company purchased the crane because of the growing demand for advanced heavy industry infrastructure in Russia.

“Russia’s construction industry is modernizing, and projects require the most powerful and innovative machines available,” he explained.

“We chose the 18000 as it combines immense strength with simple assembly and transportation. The refinery job was a major step for us and showed that we can install even the biggest loads. Having demonstrated the capabilities of the crane, we now have a busy schedule for it.”

Besides its impressive muscle, the 18000’s other capabilities were tested for this project, starting with its ease of transport. Moving the giant lifter from the SV Trans’s head office near Moscow to the site of the refinery in Achinsk proved surprisingly easy, given the crane’s enormous size. With careful route planning and permit applications, the convoy of 30 trucks completed the five-day journey without incident.

Once the crane arrived on site, it faced snow and sub-zero temperatures, but again was more than up to the task. The lift work was performed in temperatures dropping down to -20° C (-4° F), but inside the heated and insulated cab of the 18000, the freezing temperatures had no impact on the operator.

The Achinsk refinery in Krasnoyarsk, where the lifts took place, is operated by Rosneft, Russia’s leading petrochemical company. The lifts were part of a major redevelopment at the refinery to expand its capacity and ensure it meets the government’s latest environmental standards.

SV Trans’ fleet of specialized transport equipment and cranes are used all over Russia. The 18000 is the largest of three crawler cranes in its fleet. The machine completed the job at the refinery in a mere two weeks — a time frame that is particularly impressive considering it includes the erection and dismantling of the crane. 

The Manitowoc 18000 lifting one of the coker units.

JUNE 2013 | LOOKING UP | 27

F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 3

D I G I TA L E D I T I O N

A MANITOWOC CRANES MAGAZINE

Igo T 130 at work Come see us at Outdoor area North, Booth N1018/5

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Looking Up Digital Edition 12.1 – February 2013

Looking Up: digital edition Beginning in 2013, each issue of Looking Up is now available digitally, to read online. The electronic version of the magazine includes all the same writing, but adds more video and photography to enhance your reading enjoyment. Check out the latest issue at:

www.manitowoccranes.com/lookingup