Looking up september 2013 by Felix Abad

SEPTEMBER 2013 ENGLISH

VOLUME 12 ISSUE 3

A MANITOWOC CRANES MAGAZINE

Potain in Paris NEWS REPORT

PRODUCT FOCUS

JOB SITE REPORT

EnCORE in Brazil

New Grove cranes

Potain in China

The Igo T 130 With 24 self-erecting crane models ranging from 1,300 kg – 8,000 kg (1.4 USt – 8.8 USt), we’ve got a crane to handle any jobsite. The 8.8 USt capacity Igo T 130 self-erecting crane features: • Variable height lattice mast • Multiple jib configurations for obstacle avoidance • SmartCom, Power Control and Top Zone for improved performance • Ultra View cab for maximum operator visibility and comfort

LEADERS IN LIFTING 2 | LOOKING UP | SEPTEMBER 2013

For more information, visit www.manitowoccranes.com

WELCOME

Comment One characteristic of Manitowoc cranes As the market began to decline for has been popping up over and over again new cranes following the world economic in 2013: quality. Whether it be cranes collapse a few years ago, Indian dealer that withstand extreme TIL found that customers environmental conditions, were turning their attention cranes that last for decades, to buying used Manitowoc cranes that are great cranes. One customer buying candidates for refurbishment from TIL, Amrit Crane Service, or cranes that sell briskly on even says it’s used machines the used market, customers from Grove perform better say Manitowoc, Grove, Potain than new models from other and National Cranes are the manufacturers (page 22). best built cranes around. While some cranes may take This month we learn about a beating, such as a GMK6250L a Potain 428G tower crane that was badly damaged by that has been working in sea water (page 19), they still Ben Shaw India for more than 30 years have much life in them. This Editor-In-Chief (page 6). The crane is still particular crane was completely running strong even though it’s never refurbished by Manitowoc Crane Care’s needed a major repair or refurbishment. new EnCORE facility in Brazil and put As we speak, it’s helping construct a right to work on Manitowoc’s own Passo 40-story building in downtown Mumbai. Fundo factory! We’ll also take a look at a pair of But there’s no better testament to Manitowoc crawler cranes withstanding Manitowoc quality than the customers that subzero temperatures, high winds and purchase its cranes time and time again. In heavy snowfall to construct turbines this issue you’ll hear from a company that for a major wind farm on Ice Mountain purchased 30 cranes at once from across in the Allegheny Mountains of the U.S. the product lineup, another company that And we’re told the Grove GMK6300Ls has more than 200 Potain tower cranes in working in Australia’s mining industry its fleet and another that has been buying (both stories are on page 7) are enduring Manitowoc crawler cranes for decades. searing heat. We can’t say it any better than they can.

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

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

Job Site Report........................Manitowoc crawler cranes at a shipyard

Job Site Report............................. Potain propels Xiamen city skyward

News Report......................... Grove prepares for the World Cup in Brazil

Contributing Editors: Amanda Barbarossa Carole Bolomier John Bittner Chris Bratthauar Ronan Cloud Punitha Govindasamy Damian Joseph Cristelle Lacourt Stephen To Jean-Pierre Zaffiro

News Report....................................... THHE buys Manitowoc 16000s

Customer Profile............................International contractor Bouygues

On the cover:

E-mail: lookingup@manitowoc.com

Product Focus.......................................New Grove RT and AT cranes

News Report....................Italian Potain dealer adds Grove mobile crane

Crane Care.............................................EnCORE gets going in Brazil

Show News....................................................... A regional roundup

Used Cranes..................................................... A report from India

Job Site Report............................................. Two GMKs in Germany

Bouygues' Potain cranes are as familiar a Parisian landmark as the Beaugrenelle shopping mall, where these units can be seen working. We talk to the contracting giant’s manager of equipment and purchasing. Page 14.

IN THIS ISSUE

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®.

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:

September 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013 | LOOKING UP | 3

NEWS

EnCORE discussed at Asian conference Customer service executives representing manufacturing companies from around the world gathered in Shanghai, China, earlier this year for the World CSO Summit 2013. Jack Lee, vice president of Manitowoc Crane Care in Asia-Pacific, was among the presenters and spoke about Manitowoc’s EnCORE rebuild and refurbishment services. Lee’s presentation focused on EnCORE’s service options for the aftermarket, total cost of

crane ownership and crane life cycle management. He explained why EnCORE in Asia has great potential. “The future outlook of EnCORE in Asia is very promising given the large, installed aging-crane population,” Lee said. “Working with our EnCORE partners in Asia and explaining the fast solutions that the EnCORE process can provide has been beneficial. Manitowoc is well known for its durability and reliability. EnCORE can extend the lives of

these workhorse cranes by many years.” The two-day conference focused on the development of aftermarket and customer service for the heavy equipment, medical device, yacht, aircraft and consumer electronic service sectors. More than 70 percent of the attendees were from China, Europe or the U.S. Most were chief service officers, directors of service and customer support, CEOs and vice presidents of strategy.

Jack Lee, vice president of Manitowoc Crane Care in Asia-Pacific.

Potain on Russian TV

Rebuilding after Sandy

Anatomy Monster, a new show on Russian TV that explores the world of machines, and is featuring a Potain tower crane in its very first episode. Anatomy Monster explores the crane in detail, showcasing its assembly, transport, delivery and erection on a job site. Jean-Claude Doucene, Manitowoc’s commercial director for Russia and CIS countries, said the show entertains crane experts and novices alike. “It is very exciting that Manitowoc’s Potain tower cranes were chosen for the show,” Doucene said. “The Anatomy Monster team did an excellent job portraying the tower cranes in a technical but easy to understand manner.” The show’s crew spent a week filming the tower cranes at Manitowoc’s Moulins factory in France. Two more days were

Albert Marine Construction, based out of Waretown, N.J., used an 80 t (85 USt) Manitowoc 8500-1 crawler crane to help with the rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Sandy pounded the eastern U.S. The company rebuilt the well-known Lavallette Boardwalk, which stretches a mile along the New Jersey shore. Bob and Vicki Albert, owners of the company, A camera man from the show Anatomy Monster films Potain tower cranes. spent at the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where several Potain tower cranes are helping build structures. The Potain episode aired on March 16 on Russia television and can also be seen on YouTube. The show is currently being translated for English audiences.

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A Manitowoc 8500-1 helps rebuild a boardwalk on the New Jersey shore.

chose the crane for the job because of its compact footprint and maneuverability, which gave them confidence in the crane and made it easier to navigate near the ocean water that was just 9 m (30 ft) from the job site. The compact crane, compared with larger models, is also less susceptible to strong sea winds. For the Lavallette Boardwalk job, the Manitowoc 8500-1 lifted a 7.2 t (8 USt) diesel hammer with a piling lead attached to its boom. The crane drove 1,200 wooden pilings deep into the sand, each measuring 7.6 m (25 ft) in length. The pilings make up the foundation of the new boardwalk. “The hydraulic system on the crane made it simple to adjust the width of its tracks, greatly increasing stability,” Bob Albert said. “We cannot be more pleased with the crane’s performance.”

NEWS

GMK6300L at work in Brazil

ALL Erection purchases 30 cranes

Brazilian lifting company Codequip, headquartered in Recife, sent a Grove GMK6300L to help construct what will be Brazil’s largest glass factory and storage site in the city of Goiana. “This type of complex construction involves great heights, heavy loads and tight working quarters. It requires a highlycompact and versatile crane,” said Carlos Frederico de Freitas, commercial and operations director at Codequip.

ALL Erection & Crane Rental has been steadily expanding its fleet of Grove and Manitowoc cranes. The Ohio, U.S.based company has purchased 30 new cranes to add to its 34-branch fleet. Included in the deal are 10 Manitowoc 2250 crawler cranes, 10 Grove RT650E rough-terrain cranes and 10 RT540E rough-terrain cranes. “We choose Manitowoc because it builds great cranes,” Michael L. Liptak, president of ALL, explained. “Manitowoc Crane Care professionals are also a huge plus. They understand and loves crane, and provide excellent and timely support.” Liptak said crane use is at the highest level he’s seen in years. He points to booming power and energy projects, and to road and bridge work. The surge, Liptak said, is fueling demand for

A Grove GMK6300L helps construct Brazil’s largest glass factory.

“The GMK6300L offered us precisely that, with a long boom and heavy-lift capacity.” The 300 t (350 USt) capacity GMK6300L is using 80 m (262 ft) of boom and 92 t (101 USt) of counterweight for the project. It is lifting 40 m (131 ft) long columns and beams, each weighing up to 70 t (77 USt), to heights that exceed 100 m (328 ft). Freitas said the company has been so impressed with the crane’s performance, that Codequip now prefers Grove cranes. “We have a large fleet of equipment that includes various brands, but the Grove GMK6300L really stands out,” Freitas explained. “We plan to add even more Grove cranes to our fleet this year because we are extremely satisfied with the product quality and the exceptional Manitowoc Crane Care service.”

ALL Erection & Crane Rental celebrates its crane purchases with members of the Manitowoc management team. mid-range crawler cranes like the Manitowoc 2250, which is a mainstay in ALL’s fleet. Five luffing jibs were also purchased in the deal to extend the reach of the crawlers for extra-tall lifts. The two Grove models purchased will fill customers’ demand for smaller, but versatile cranes. A majority of the new cranes will be sent to the company’s headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, to meet spiking demand.

Mineral mining in Senegal A Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane is constructing one of the largest mineral sand mines in the world in the sand dunes of Senegal, Africa. The $570 million Grande Côte Mineral Sands Project, north of Dakar, has the crawler installing the dredge, surge bin and pontoons that will make up the mineral processing plant at the mine. The Manitowoc 2250 is fitted with a MAX-ER

capacity-enhancing attachment for heavy lifts. Each pontoon weighs 120 t (132 USt) and measures 29 m long (95 ft), 5 m wide (16 ft) and 4.5 m (15 ft) high. The surge bin is a 225 t (248 USt) unit that has already been installed. The lift was completed in three sections, with the largest weighing 87 t (96 USt) and measuring 22 m (72 ft) in radius. “The crane is integral to the construction, so we

needed a powerful machine to rely on – and our Manitowoc 2250 is worth its weight in gold,” said Jason Eade, lifting services superintendent at the site. “We have been planning these lifts for two years, and it’s great to finally see the crane perform so well. It is working perfectly in demanding conditions, and the project is progressing exactly as planned.”

A Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane at a Senegalese mine.

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NEWS

Fit for a family

A new partnership

With so much attention paid to the world’s biggest companies, supersized projects and headlinegrabbing crane orders, it’s easy to forget that smaller companies need quality cranes, too. Take Unverfehrt Farm Supply, based in Centralia, Ill., U.S. This family business started in 1961 and has continued to grow for three generations. It depends on a small fleet of National Crane boom trucks and Grove cranes for its lifting work, all of which it purchases from Oklahoma City, Okla.-based Manitowoc dealer KirbySmith Machinery. Erecting grain bins and elevators on farms is Unverfehrt’s bread and butter, and the company uses two Grove TMS9000Es for big lifts and a fleet of National Crane boom trucks that range from 28 t (30 USt) to 40 t (45 USt) for smaller

Manitowoc and Orlaco signed a five-year strategic agreement for Orlaco to provide and develop aftermarket camera systems for Manitowoc’s full line of crane brands. Orlaco, based in the Netherlands, has been Manitowoc’s primary supplier of camera technology since 2004. The two companies have now formalized the relationship, and the contract was signed by both parties at bauma 2013. Jan van der Beek, managing director of Orlaco commented: “Through our partnership with Manitowoc, we want to make life easier for the operator,” he said. “Our skills as a leading innovator in camera systems and Manitowoc’s vast experience in crane manufacturing will help us

Unverfehrt team outside the company's headquarters in Centralia, Ill. projects. For Unverfehrt, getting from project to project quickly is key. “Mobility was a big factor in our decision to buy these cranes,” said Larry Unverfehrt, who helps manage sales for the company. “Both the National and Grove cranes allow us to drive from project to project, which saves time and is more efficient than moving a larger crane in pieces and taking hours or days to set it up. With these cranes, we can pull on the site and be ready to pick in minutes.”

develop the world’s leading crane cameras.” As cameras become more commonplace, the number of Manitowoc’s cranes fitted with cameras at the factory is growing. At the top end of the scale, Manitowoc’s largest crane, the 31000 crawler crane, has 12 cameras fitted to the base machine.

Twan Pelders and Jan van Beek from Orlaco with Bob Hund from Manitowoc Crane Care.

Tower Mark stocks up on crawler cranes Construction equipment sales and rental company Tower Mark purchased 30 new Manitowoc crawler cranes to add to its Hong Kong-based fleet. The cranes are a combination of Manitowoc 8500-1, 11000-1 and 12000-1 crawler cranes, which Mark Simpson, director of Tower Mark, said where chosen for both quality and strong regional support. “We are impressed by Manitowoc's evolving functionality, reliability and innovative design,” said Simpson. “We are also very pleased with the level of Manitowoc Crane Care service and spare parts

support that we get locally and from the regional head office in Singapore.” The new cranes in Tower Mark’s fleet will

work on various construction projects, which often include rail and bridge building jobs. Typically, the cranes spend

A Manitowoc 11000-1 lifts at a job site in Hong Kong.

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four to six months on a project. One new crawler crane, for example, is working on a high-speed rail terminus for trains traveling to China. Another is working on a train station for the Shatin to Central Rail Link project. No matter the job, Simpson is confident the cranes will be well taken care of thanks to Manitowoc’s training program: “We are grateful for the comprehensive and effective training programs provided by Manitowoc Crane Care and their importance in training our service team.”

NEWS

Building bridges in India A three-year, $32 million bridge project in India features two Potain MCi 85 A tower cranes at the job site. The cranes are working 12 hours a day, performing general lifting duties and pouring concrete. The cranes belong to M/s S.P. Singla Constructions, the main contractor for the project. The first crane was erected in May 2012 and the second in June 2012. They currently stand at a

height of 72 m (236 ft) and 63 m (206 ft) respectively. Both will climb to 110 m (360 ft) before the end of the project, scheduled for completion by September 2014. Basohli Bridge will span 592 m (1,942 ft) across the Ravi River with pylon heights reaching 88 m (288 ft) to support a two-lane road that will connect Himachal Pradesh and Punjab with Jammu and Kashmir. The bridge is expected to boost the

region's socio-economic status, while increasing tourism and commercial mining opportunities in the region. “We have total confidence in our Potain cranes, given their reach, capacity and proven capabilities,” said Devinder Rana of Singla Constructions. “As such, we have put considerable focus on completing the project on time and within budget, and the cranes are helping us make that a reality.”

Two Potain MCi 85 A tower cranes work on Basohli Bridge in India.

Confronting frosty conditions

Mining in Australia

Two Manitowoc crawler cranes were instrumental in erecting wind turbines at the Sandy Ridge Wind Farm in Tyrone, Pa., U.S., despite frigid winter temperatures, powerful winds and snowstorms. The job was a rigorous test of the two cranes’ quality. The cranes performed well and the project was a success. Lomma Crane & Rigging, a Newark, N.J.based industrial rental company, used a Manitowoc 18000 crawler crane and a Manitowoc 2250 crawler crane on the project. In all, it erected 25 Gamesa G87 wind turbines at the wind farm that tower up to 330 ft (101 m). Some of the equipment weighed more than 99 USt (89 t). “Despite challenging conditions, our Manitowoc cranes operated smoothly the entire time,” said Steve Burkholder, Lomma’s

Seven new Grove GMK6300L all-terrain cranes are spreading out across Western Australia, participating in the country’s mining boom. WATM Crane Sales and Services, the Grove dealer in the region, ordered the 300 t (350 USt) cranes, which have become very popular for mining work. “Companies are looking for higher capacity machines that can lift large components, significantly reducing build times,” said Anthony Lazenby, managing director of WATM. “The GMK6300L is ideal. It offers immense capacity and long reach with a very fast set up, plus it can travel 24/7, making it an extremely versatile and easy-to-use crane.” Most of the new cranes are heading to Pilbara in the north of

A Manitowoc 18000 crawler crane at the Sandy Ridge Wind Farm in Tyrone, Pa. heavy lift manager at its Pittsburgh, Pa., location. The 660 USt (600 t) Manitowoc 18000 was responsible for the construction of the turbines, while the 300 USt (272 t) Manitowoc 2250 lifted the turbines’ tower sections, nacelles, rotors and blades. The Sandy Ridge Wind Farm sits atop Ice Mountain, in the Allegheny Mountain range.

Western Australia, where they are expected to work for more than 10 years in the harsh mining environment, and will contend with searing heat and an almost constant workload. WATM is confident the cranes will adeptly handle the work, leading to even more GMK6300Ls in the country.

Grove GMK6300L and Grove GMK7450 all-terrain cranes perform a tandem lift at a mining job site in Australia.

SEPTEMBER 2013 | LOOKING UP | 7

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JOB SITE REPORT

Building ships and breaking records

Two Manitowoc 16000 crawler cranes helped surpass a U.S. Navy shipyard lift record. Damian Joseph reports.

his past December, Bath Iron Works broke its own heaviest lift record using two Manitowoc 16000 crawler cranes. The lift was nearly 907 t (1,000 USt) — more than double the weight previously lifted by the shipyard. BIW is a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation and based in Bath, Maine. The company has been building warships for the U.S. Navy for 128 years. The lift was part of a project to construct the Navy’s nextgeneration DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer warship. Along with two of the company’s 300 t (330 USt) capacity gantry cranes, the two Manitowoc crawlers lifted a 900 t (992 USt) deckhouse off of a barge and set it on the hull of the ship. The deckhouse contained the ship’s bridge, command center and battle room. The two Manitowoc 16000s were set up to lift at their full capacity, requiring the use of MAX-ER attachments, boosting their capacities to 400 t (440 USt). For this lift, both cranes were rigged with 48 m (157 ft) booms. The deckhouse was lifted from a barge to 27 m (89 ft) in the air and held in place for three hours. Twelve nylon straps held the deckhouse while the barge which weighed 12,000 t (13,228 USt), was moved out from underneath and the ship, and floated into place underneath. Finally, the

Two Manitowoc 16000 crawler cranes lift a record-breaking 900 t (992 USt) ship deckhouse off a barge.

cranes lowered the 47 m (155 ft) long by 18 m (60 ft) tall deckhouse onto the ship’s hull. The completed vessel weighed nearly 13,000 t (14,330 USt). Overseeing the lift, which included renting the cranes to BIW and supplying their operators, was Woolwich, Maine-based contractor Reed & Reed. The company chose the Manitowoc 16000s, the largest capacity cranes in Reed & Reed’s fleet, because the lift required two matching cranes for uniformity and simplicity. “The Reed & Reed team provided outstanding support and guidance throughout the entire process of planning and executing the lift,” said Dennis Masse, area manager of service trades at Bath Iron Works. Manchester, Conn.-based Shawmut Equipment sold both cranes to Reed & Reed and acted as liaison between Bath Iron Works and Manitowoc, providing important logistical information for the project. In all, the lift took 18 months of planning among Bath Iron Works, Reed & Reed, Manitowoc and Shawmut Equipment. Manitowoc provided a full-time factory representative to the job site that instructed the crew on proper transport, assembly procedures, testing and lifting for the project. “Shawmut has been a tremendous resource for us,” said Mark Buckbee, director of the bridge and marine division at Reed & Reed. “We’ve just begun doing business with them over the last five to six years and we purchased the 16000s from them. They’ve been very responsive and

helpful in getting us the right machines and communicating with Manitowoc for information we might need before picks.” Planning work involved a variety of details, for example, the pier beneath the 16000s on the lift had to be reinforced with steel bridge girders to support the heavy load. Also, the work of shipfitters, welders, carpenters, riggers, engineers, facility personnel, the crane operators and representatives from the Navy had to be coordinated and incorporated into the master plan. “This type of construction and lift has never been done before at Bath Iron Works,” Buckbee said. “As you can understand, putting a $250-million deckhouse onto a $1-billion warship takes a lot of planning and outfitting beforehand. The Navy had a huge investment in this lift.” After the success of the first lift and completion of the build, two more DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers are under construction and due at Bath Iron Works in the next year. Bath Iron Works’s 5,200 employees, Reed & Reed, Shawmut Equipment and Manitowoc all look forward to more record-breaking lifts. “Manitowoc's reputation is well established,” said Greg Bridgman, senior facilities heavy lift and transport engineer at Bath Iron Works. “Everyone was impressed with the capabilities of the equipment, and the performance of the two cranes was flawless from start to finish.” 

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JOB SITE REPORT

Potain helps propel Xiamen city skyward On Xiamen Island, a rapidly developing Southern Chinese city, the only direction to build is up. Stephen To reports.

iamen, China, is one of the most important cities in the Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone, an area that includes the cities of Zhangzhou, Quanzhou and Fuzhou, along the Fujian province. As a small Island in Southeastern China, there is limited space for urban area expansion. Therefore, the city’s rapid growth has been upward rather than outward. Potain tower cranes have become the number one tool for building Xiamen’s city in the sky. At least 300 Potains can be seen dotting the skyline at any one time. The average height of high-rise buildings in Xiamen has exceeded 200 m (656 ft) since 2006. The tallest building currently under construction is the Strait Exchange Center, located at the east side of Xiamen Island. The 230 m (754 ft) tall building will be combined with the International Exhibition Center. Several Potain models are working on the complex that will feature a stateof-the-art conference center, luxury hotel and concert hall. Another high-rise project that will use Potain tower cranes will be the AVIC Zijin Building which will reach a breathtaking 265 m (869 ft). This upscale urban complex will be one of the biggest construction projects in Xiamen. The project is due to begin in the second half of 2013. The largest rental company in the

Construction Machinery of Today magazine of China contributed to the reporting of this article.

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city is Xiamen Zhong Huan Jian. It has more than 200 Potain tower cranes in its rental fleet. Some of its cranes were involved in the construction of the Strait Exchange Center and AVIC Zijin Building, including the Potain MC 200, MC320K16, MC 480 and the MCT 370. Xiamen Yuda Commerce and Trade Company is the Potain dealer for Xiamen and also a tower crane rental company. It has 10 largecapacity Potain tower cranes, including the MC 200 and the MC 480, in its fleet. Xiamen has four tower crane rental companies and each of them uses Potain. Chen Weifeng, general manager of Xiamen Yuda, explained why so many construction companies are choosing Potain. “Potain tower cranes always complete projects smoothly,” he said. “They are very high quality. Companies that see the machines at work always want to buy one for themselves. Potain is easily the number one brand in Xiamen and the most sought after crane in the region.” Currently, Xiamen Yuda uses the majority of its Potain tower cranes for high-rise construction. The most commonly used model is the MC 120, often for residential construction. There are an estimated 260 to 270 MC 120s currently being used in Xiamen.

“Potain seems to have been built specifically for the needs of construction companies here on Xiamen Island,” Weifeng said. “Along with the cranes’ quality construction and long reach, they are known to be very stable and able to withstand the strong sea winds here.” Xiamen Island endures a lot of sea wind. Potain cranes have incredible wind-resistance thanks to their use of high strength steel combined with an advanced structural design. The national standard for wind resistance in China requires that cranes must withstand force six winds while operating and force eight winds while static. Potain exceeds the national limits by some distance for both operating and out of service periods. Yet another feature that makes Potain so desirable on Xiamen Island is the cranes’ ability to withstand the Island’s salty air. The salty wind is very corrosive to steel, but Potain uses a unique paint-spraying technology that protects against rust. Also, Potain cranes are built with L-shaped steel sections, which further enhances rust prevention. “Potain tower cranes have many loyal fans here in Xiamen,” Weifeng said. “Exceptional quality, high efficiency and the fact these machines save users money are only some of the advantages Potain offers. Potain tower cranes are the most profitable for crane owners in China.” 

A Potain tower crane makes a skyscraping lift in Xiamen, China. Some 300 Potain cranes are working in the city at any one time.

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NEWS REPORT

Grove at the World Cup A pair of Grove cranes working in Brazil is helping ensure the tournament is ready for kickoff. Chris Bratthauar reports.

wo Grove cranes, an RT765E-2 rough-terrain crane and a GMK6220L all-terrain crane, are helping construct a massive soccer stadium in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup. The two cranes are assisting in the stadium pre-assembly, unloading construction materials weighing as much as 34 t (37 USt) and lifting them to heights of 33 m (108 ft) in limited space and windy conditions. The World Cup is a high-profile event, and it’s no surprise Grove cranes are at the center of the action. The stadium, Arena Corinthians, is located on the east side of São Paulo. It will host some of the tournament’s games, including the opening game, before becoming the new home of Brazilian soccer team Corinthians. São Paulo-based LOCAR supplied the cranes to Brazilian contracting giant Odebrecht, the company in charge of the stadium’s construction. Leanderson Dias, equipment supervisor at LOCAR, said the two

Grove cranes are working on a tight schedule, but handling the cramped working quarters and windy conditions with ease. Dias said the two cranes had more than enough capacity to handle the project’s lifts, and that their reach was key to ensuring success. The 60 t (65 USt) capacity Grove RT765E-2 brings 33.5 m (110 ft) of boom to the job site. The GMK6220L has a sixsection, full power 72 m (236 ft) boom and is rated at 220 t (250 USt). Both cranes have navigated the busy site well due to their agile handling and mobility. “Odebrecht reports that both the Grove RT765E-2 and the GMK6220L are doing an excellent job on the project,” Dias said. “They are durable, versatile machines and are playing a significant role in streamlining the construction process.” For the World Cup games, Arena Corinthians will seat 65,000 fans. After the tournament is over, the capacity will be reduced to 48,000 people. The stadium will have a spacious plaza at ground level and an underground field. The roof of the stadium will feature photovoltaic cells that generate energy for the building. The project began in May 2011 and is due to finish at the end of this year. Odebrecht Group was founded in 1944 by Norberto Odebrecht. Since An aerial view of the Arena Corinthians, where many games of the then, the company 2014 World Cup will be played in Brazil.

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A Grove rough-terrain crane lifts construction material at the Arena Corinthians in Brazil. has grown to provide engineering and construction services throughout South America, the United States, Angola, Portugal and the Middle East. The 69-year-old company operates in 24 countries on three continents. LOCAR, which supplied the cranes to Odebrecht, is one of Latin America’s biggest transportation and crane rental companies. It specializes in cargo lifting and special transportation, serving a wide base of customers in industries ranging from petrochemical, mining and hydroelectric power to steel works and manufacturing. Since 1988, LOCAR has been offering its services throughout much of South America. 

NEWS REPORT

Expanding business borders TH Heavy Engineering credits new Manitowoc 16000 crawler cranes for expanding its global capabilities. Punitha Govindasamy reports.

H Heavy Engineering Berhad (THHE), a Malaysian engineering and marine contractor, has expanded its global reach in the oil and gas industry with the purchase of two Manitowoc 16000 crawler cranes. The cranes will be used to build offshore oil platforms, assist with the fabrication and load out of components that make up the platforms. The Manitowoc 16000s are based at THHE’s Pulau Indah Fabrication Yard in Selangor, Malaysia. The rigs and infrastructure the cranes are helping to build will be delivered to major oil companies for use in offshore exploration. The company has been in business since 2002 and focuses on heavy engineering, the construction and maintenance of onshore plants, marine options and support services. Encik Nor Badli Mohamad Alias, managing director and chief executive officer of THHE, said the cranes were purchased to enhance the company’s capabilities as a major fabricator of offshore modules and to further establish it as a significant player in the oil and gas industry, both locally and regionally. “We are proud to own such quality cranes as these Manitowoc 16000s,” Alias said. “We are now able to efficiently perform a wider range of heavy-lift projects in more places than ever. Manitowoc cranes are reliable, durable and versatile, and using them will enable us to cut about half a million dollars annually from our operating costs – a nice boost to our bottom line.” The cranes were purchased through the UES Group of Companies, Manitowoc's dealer in Malaysia, a Malaysian conglomerate that specializes in heavy equipment rental and supply. It has been in

operation since 2000. Alias pointed to Manitowoc’s EPIC system as one of the reasons the company purchased the cranes. EPIC uses CAN-bus technology to offer smooth and precise control. With EPIC, the cranes can boom, hoist and swing at the same time – something that THHE was searching for that most other crawler cranes can’t offer. Chang Bar Kuei, managing director of UES, said these cranes were an excellent choice for THHE, as the features, including the 96 m (315 ft) boom and 400 t (440 USt) capacity, are particularly useful. “THHE will be well served with the two Manitowoc 16000s,” Chang said. “Manitowoc is known for its quality

and durability. Its cranes are cuttingedge and well worth the investment.” The 16000s, along with a Grove RT650E the company purchased earlier this year, were given the names Al Firdaus, Al Adn and An Na’im, which mean strength, success and humility in Islam. “No other cranes can match the Manitowoc brand,” Alias said. “The cranes offer important features that, as managing director and CEO, will help me sleep well at night because I know that our lifting operations are handled with reliability and productivity in mind.” 

Encik Nor Badli Mohamad Alias, managing director and chief executive officer of THHE, with the company’s new Manitowoc 16000.

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CUSTOMER PROFILE

Powered by Potain French construction giant Bouygues runs hundreds of Potain cranes. Ben Shaw talked to Béric Scalabre about the company's fleet.

here are few bigger names in the construction world than Bouygues. The French contracting giant is one of the largest construction firms in the world and cemented its place as a major force in the industry in 1972, when it completed the Parc des Princes, one of France’s best-known stadiums. Over the years it has grown its construction activities and completed hundreds of notable projects worldwide, including the Hassan II Mosque in Morocco; the Channel Tunnel, linking the UK and France; and the Sydney CityRail airport link in Australia. Featured on most of the company’s projects are Potain tower cranes, which it runs from facilities across the world. Although an international construction giant, the majority of the company’s work is still in France, and there it operates about 400 Potain cranes. In charge of acquiring and managing the company’s tower crane fleet is Béric Scalabre, central manager of equipment and of purchasing. He has 35 years of experience with the firm, 10 of those as director, having worked his way up through the company ranks after starting out as a site manager on a housing project in the north of Paris. He says the company primarily looks at quality, security and safety when making crane purchases. Even though the company operates worldwide, Scalabre says shipping cranes internationally is The familiar sight of Potain cranes belonging to French contractor Bouygues on a Parisian job site. These cranes are working at the new Beaugrenelle development close to the Eiffel Tower.

Béric Scalabre, central manager of equipment and purchasing at Bouygues, says the ergonomics of tower cranes is an increasing priority for his company. not something it does unless absolutely necessary. “Especially in markets where it’s hard to get cranes we generally have several based in our facilities to handle projects we’re working on,” he says. “We look closely at the ergonomics of cranes, and we’re prioritizing the welfare of our riggers and operators. We like the new UltraView cab on Potain cranes and also the details such as the rigging points on the mast sections to make them easier to erect. We’re long-term buyers of Potain cranes, so we know the company well, and we’re pleased to see the quality improve over the past five years.” Understandably, Bouygues has a fleet of cranes that incorporates virtually the whole of the Potain product line. From the traditional top-slewing line, Scalabre picks out the 25 t (27.5 USt) MD 560 B as one of the company’s favorites.

“It’s easy to sell on the used market or to re-use on another project,” he says of the crane. “Also, the MD 560 B provides better access to the cab and mechanisms, both for the operator and service personnel.” Otherwise the company has also heavily invested in the topless range of Potain MDT cranes, and Scalabre picks out the MDT 308 crane as a particular favorite. “The MDT range offers a lower overall working height due to the elimination of the triangular cathead configuration seen on traditional tower cranes,” Scalabre says. “The position of the hoist behind the cab provides better access, and CraneSTAR telematic tools make crane maintenance a breeze.” Scalabre notes that the company is using more topless cranes because of their design and image. “Due to the crane’s excellent design and good image, we are using more and more topless cranes,” he says. “You can have more overflying on site with topless cranes and get a higher density of machines on the job site.” Bouygues’ experience on construction sites, plus its huge Potain fleet, make the company an important partner for Manitowoc, and the two companies work very closely together. In fact, Scalabre is a prominent member of a customer committee that has regular meetings with Potain to discuss issues related to tower cranes and the construction industry. “We need to look to the future and make sure we are working with partners that can meet our needs,” he adds. “Innovation is important in any relationship and our partnership with Potain continues to develop.” 

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PRODUCT FOCUS

New Groves with new technology The new RT550E and GMK3060 cranes are innovative additions to the Grove lineup. Damian Joseph reports.

wo new Grove cranes launched with much fanfare at bauma 2013 in Munich, Germany: the RT550E rough-terrain crane and the GMK3060 all-terrain crane. Both cranes have begun to make their way to customers and initial reports on their performance are solidly positive.

RT550E rough-terrain crane The RT550E is a compact crane, designed to fit well within most road regulations for heavy machinery. It measures less than 12 m (39.4 ft) in length and 2.55 m (8.4 ft) in width, weighing under 29 t (32 USt). With a

The new Grove RT550E rough-terrain crane.

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45 t (50 USt) capacity and 39 m (128 ft) boom, the new RT crane offers the most lifting power and has the longest boom in its class. The new technology for the RT550E combines a large lift capacity in an easy-to-use package, said Federico Lovera, EMEA product manager at Manitowoc. “We have used the latest technology to make work easier for the operator and make lifts more efficient,” he said. “The crane’s strength and size make it a very versatile machine that is perfectly suited to general construction and

installation work throughout Europe and in markets around the world.” One of the RT550E’s most important features is the new Crane Control System. The program optimizes operation of the crane through a user-friendly interface and eliminates the need for operators to complete lengthy lift setup procedures. Among the capabilities of CSS are a boom optimization feature that automatically configures boom length to suit specific loads and radii, and a function that regulates the speed of the crane’s movements depending on the operation.

PRODUCT FOCUS

The RT550E’s five-section boom can telescope partial loads from between any two boom positions and can be fitted with an 8 m (26 ft) fixed swingaway boom attachment to extend its reach to 47 m (154 ft). The hoist offers single line pull and increased speed, with line pull speeds that are up to 70 percent higher than similar cranes in this class. “The new CCS is very easy for customers to understand and to use,” Lovera said. “Also, the updated cab for the RT550E has very good visibility and is more ergonomic and comfortable than most cranes of this size.”

GMK3060 all-terrain crane

The latest Grove all-terrain crane, the GMK3060, serves as an upgrade to the popular GMK3055. Several enhancements and new technologies make it a worthy successor. The crane offers improved capacity across the entire load chart, thanks to an

additional 2 t (2.2 USt) of counterweight. The lift capacity is a hefty 60 t (66 USt). The GMK3060 features a powerful, six-section, 43 m (141 ft) MEGAFORM boom on a three-axle carrier, making it versatile and ideal for a variety of general lifting and contractor duties in tight locations. The boom features TWIN-LOCK technology, which makes for a lighter boom design and lifts heavier loads. Like the RT550E, the GMK3060 has an updated carrier cab and will feature boom optimization through the new CCS. CCS on the GMK3060 further standardizes the new control system for the next generation of Grove cranes (eventually CCS will be available for all new Manitowoc, Potain and Grove cranes). The CCS hardware is a uniform set of displays, joysticks, control units and a jog dial across the crane lineups. The use of standard parts will make maintenance

The new Grove GMK3060 all-terrain crane. easier and improve fleet management for Manitowoc customers. Software is also shared across Manitowoc product lines and the system is directly attuned to Manitowoc Crane Care service software. Both the GMK3060 and the RT550E will be compatible with CraneSTAR, Manitowoc’s crane asset management system that boosts profitability by remotely monitoring critical crane data. Andreas Cremer, all-terrain cranes product manager at Manitowoc, said CCS offers one of the most userfriendly interfaces on the market. “This control system makes our cranes easier to use and more efficient,” he said. “We expect the new GMK3060 and RT550E to be very popular among rental companies and contractors, and both will surely help Manitowoc customers gain more from their cranes.” 

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NEWS REPORT

Gaining efficiency Fissologru purchased its first Grove GMK4100L to help erect its fleet of Potain tower cranes. Carole Bolomier reports.

issologru, the Potain dealer for Northwest Italy, recently replaced its older, outdated mobile crane with the company’s first Grove — a GMK4100L. It plans to use the all-terrain crane to erect and dismantle tower cranes working in the region, and when it’s not busy with that work, the company will send it out to local construction jobs as a rental crane. Potain tower cranes from the Fissologru fleet can be found all over the Northwest of Italy, most commonly working for real estate contractors, building new homes. With the GMK4100L, Fissologru is better poised to set up and disassemble tower cranes for its customers. The crane can do the work faster and with less ancillary equipment, saving the company time and money. Where before, several cranes would perform the set up and disassembly, now Fissologru only needs its new Grove GMK4100L. This added boost in efficiency will bolster the company’s bottom line. Davide Camperi, area sales manager for Manitowoc Cranes in Italy, explained that Fissologru was eager to take delivery of the Grove GMK4100L specifically to improve the company’s efficiency of operations. “The GMK4100L is a compact crane that is easily maneuvered in tight spaces, but still has a lengthy reach and large capacity, so it’s ideal for tower crane assembly and disassembly, particularly for the size of tower cranes used in the north of Italy,” he said. “Fissologru is a busy company, performing these set ups and teardowns across the region – this purchase will save it not only a

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good deal of time and money due to the increase in speed, but it will also cut down on the amount of cranes needed on the job site.” The GMK4100L’s 60 m (197 ft) boom length is 10 m (38 ft) longer than the crane the company replaced. Also, the 100 t (110 USt) capacity GMK4100L’s compact, four-axle carrier allows more mobility and maneuverability than the company’s previous crane – a key feature considering Italy’s typically narrow and busy city streets. The purchase also brought the company in line with the latest European environmental engine regulations, thanks to its Euro Stage III B engine. Camperi said Fissologru’s purchase of the new Grove is a natural extension of its relationship with Manitowoc, and the company’s

desire to own quality cranes, whether they are tower cranes, mobile cranes or other. Headquartered in Bernezzo, Italy, Fissologru has worked with Manitowoc as a Potain dealer for 15 years. It rents and sells its fleet of more than 200 Potain tower cranes to the Northwestern Italian provinces of Cuneo, Asti, Torino and Aosta, and, of course, supports all of them with solid Manitowoc Crane Care customer service. The company keeps a mobile crane on its books too, to help with erecting its fleet of Potain tower cranes. “Fissologru’s purchase of the Grove GMK4100L reaffirms the strong partnership between our two companies,” he explained. “This is a relationship that will last for decades to come.” 

Fissologru’s custom-painted GMK4100L, which the company uses for tower crane assembly and construction work.

CRANE CARE

EnCORE gets going in Brazil Manitowoc’s new EnCORE facility in Passo Fundo, Brazil, has opened and is already hard at work on crane refurbishments. Amanda Barbarossa reports.

t’s hardly been a year since Manitowoc’s first factory in Brazil opened its doors. Already a major producer of Grove cranes in the region, the Passo Fundo facility also offers EnCORE services to customers throughout Latin America. Earlier this year, EnCORE completed its first project: the total refurbishment of a Grove GMK6250L that fell into the Port of Rio de Janeiro. The crane belonged to São Paulobased LOCAR, one of Latin America’s biggest transportation and crane rental companies. LOCAR used the 220 t (250 USt) GMK6250L mainly for heavy-duty construction work around the region. The all-terrain crane had been badly damaged by salty sea water, but still showed signs of life. Its basic frame was still intact, and EnCORE representatives were sure it could lift again. LOCAR chose to rebuild the crane through Manitowoc’s EnCORE service rather than purchase a new one, which saved the company more than money. Rodrigo Steffanini, senior manager at EnCORE, said not only was the refurbishment 40 percent less costly than buying a new crane, LOCAR was able to retain ownership of a crane that is an integral part of its fleet. “LOCAR chose to stay with the GMK6250L because of its strong load charts in comparison with its competitors,” Steffanini explained. “LOCAR already owns eight GMK6250Ls and is familiar with its exceptional capabilities.” Manitowoc’s EnCORE team in Brazil disassembled and washed the GMK6250L before rebuilding it with new parts. It performed structural repairs and replaced all the electrical components of the crane. It was then

repainted, load tested and delivered to LOCAR in only nine months. The newly rebuilt crane came with a full manufacturer’s warranty for parts and service. Ironically, the newly-rebuilt GMK6250L went right to work on the very factory that handled its refurbishment: Manitowoc’s Passo Fundo factory. Eisenmann, a Böblingen, Germany-based supply company, was contracted by Manitowoc to

install a paint booth inside the Passo Fundo factory. Eisenmann used the GMK6250L to move heavy components inside the factory, including the exhausts of the paint booth. “This was a momentous project for us at the Passo Fundo EnCORE facility,” Steffanini said. “The crane was EnCORE Brazil’s first complete rebuild. It was a speedy and successful repair, and we were able to witness the rewards of our efforts.” 

Before

After Manitowoc’s EnCORE service refurbished this GMK6250L for Brazilian company LOCAR, which cost the company 40 percent less than purchasing a new one.

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SHOW NEWS

Cranes on all continents June was a busy month for Manitowoc with product at four trade shows in four countries. Cristelle Lacourt reports.

The Potain MCT 178 launched with fireworks at the Komatek show in Turkey.

hile most of the attention for exhibitions this year was reserved for bauma 2013, there were several other regional shows. June, in particular, was a key month, with four trade shows taking place, including three in the first week.

CTT

The largest of the four shows was CTT 2013, an established Russian event that attracts large visitor numbers. This year, Manitowoc’s dealers showcased three cranes. Universal Spetstechnika, Grove’s Russian dealer since 2011, displayed the new 400 t (450 USt) capacity Grove GMK6400 all-terrain crane and a 35 t (40 USt) Grove RT540E rough-terrain crane. The third crane, a 5 t (5.5 USt) Potain MCi 85 B tower crane, was

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displayed by Kramax, which rents and sells Potain tower cranes in Russia. The construction industry in CIS markets is growing, and so too is the need for a strong dealer network that can support the entire region, said Jean-Claude Doucene, Manitowoc’s commercial director for Russia and CIS countries. “Russia is one of the most important markets in the world right now – and it continues to grow,” he said. “Meeting our customers’ needs across the vast CIS region is crucial to our success, so we work hard to support our dealers and strengthen our position.” Manitowoc cranes are working on a number of developments in Russia, including two projects in Moscow where 26 Potain tower cranes are erected.

Komatek

Farther south, the Komatek 2013 show in Ankara, Turkey, took place just before CTT. There were even fireworks to celebrate the launch of the Potain MCT 178 tower crane at the show. The 8 t (8.8 USt) capacity crane offers improved transport, fast assembly and an impressive load chart, making it ideal for the growing number of highrise projects underway in Turkey. There were two MCT 178s at Komatek, displayed by Tekno Insaat Makinalari, the local Potain dealer. The company ordered 25 of the cranes for its rental fleet with an additional three sold to Turkish contractors. “The MCT 178 meets the needs of many large-scale projects in Turkey,” said Sinan Türeyen, group director of Tekno. “Our customers have already praised its design for easy erection and

SHOW NEWS

transport. We are delighted with its early success and expect its popularity to grow.” Also at the show was a Grove GMK6300L all-terrain crane on the stand of local dealer Karun. Ersan Öztuna, who co-founded Karun with Murat Molva in 1989, said Grove’s reputation for innovation and quality has helped Karun secure a marketleading position in Turkey. “There is high demand for cranes that can handle a variety of work efficiently, so features that make cranes easier to use and quick to set up are a priority,” he said. “Grove is highly regarded in Turkey, and we enjoy a substantial market share.” The majority of Grove cranes sold in Turkey are all-terrain cranes in the 100 t to 300 t (110 USt to 350 USt) capacity class, and 90 percent are sold to rental companies. Some large projects breaking ground in 2014 include the new Istanbul airport, a third bridge over the Bosphorus Strait, and several highway and high-speed rail projects.

Celebrating the purchase of a GMK6300L crane by Baba Kurtarma at Komatek in Turkey. Left to right are: Murat Molva, Karun; Orkun Öztuna, Karun; Veli Cavli, Baba Kurtarma; Ersan Öztuna, Karun.

At the handover of the GMK6300L at Vertikal Days in the UK. Left to right are: Kim Dandrige, Manitowoc; Barry Fry, Manitowoc; Lawrence Whyte Jr., Whyte Cranes; Lawrence Whyte, Whyte Cranes; Steve Barnett, Manitowoc.

Algiers International Fair

Over in Africa, at the same time as Komatek and CTT, Manitowoc was exhibiting Grove cranes at the Algiers International Fair 2013. In previous years, Manitowoc was represented independently at AIF, but this year the company brought its three dealers together to present as a single entity. Working closely with dealers is part of Manitowoc’s strategy to capitalize on Algeria’s growing potential, said Carlos Pimenta, Manitowoc area manager for Algeria. “We see a lot of opportunity in Algeria,” he said. “We have established a strong presence, and our dealers provide responsive Manitowoc Crane Care support.” Manitowoc has three dealers in Algeria: 2AB and VIBA Sarl, for Potain tower cranes; and EURL MGP, the dealer for Grove mobile cranes and Manitowoc crawler cranes. Manitowoc displayed a Grove RT765E-2 roughterrain crane and a Grove TMS760E truck-mounted crane.

Vertikal Days

Towards the end of June, Manitowoc exhibited its products to UK crane

The Grove GMK6400 on show at the CTT 2013 show in Russia.

users at the Vertikal Days exhibition in Merseyside, northern England. Scottish crane rental company Whyte Cranes took delivery of a Grove GMK6300L at the show, while a GMK4100L belonging to ABA Crane Hire was also shown. The GMK6300L features the longest boom in its class and was a major factor when considering the purchase, as Lawrence Whyte, owner of the family-run business, explained. “We are very excited about this crane and its capabilities. We will take on more work and complete even more demanding lifts,” he said. “An

80 m (262 ft) boom on six axles is truly impressive, plus the crane can travel on UK roads with very little limitations.”

Looking ahead

Even with a busy first half of the year out of the way, there are still more shows to come. Preparations are well advanced for JDL and Batimat coming up in France, and Matexpo in Belgium. And that’s not to forget the major presence Manitowoc is planning at CONEXPO 2014 in Las Vegas. The busy exhibition schedule looks set to continue. 

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USED CRANES

Finding a second life When sales of new cranes in India slowed following the financial crisis, one Manitowoc dealer discovered that used cranes were an excellent option. Punitha Govindasamy reports.

t’s no secret that the global financial crisis put a hefty dent in crane sales. Still, the need for quality cranes to complete ongoing projects was strong. The Grove and Manitowoc dealer TIL found that used cranes offered customers Manitowoc quality, at an affordable price. Kolkata-based TIL began to offer more used Grove cranes to its customers as high-quality, costeffective alternatives to brand new models. The company quickly saw results; used models began to sell quickly. The approach introduced customers to Grove quality and convinced customers to purchase new models. Amrit Crane Service even placed an order for a new GMK6300L, due for delivery later this year, based on its positive experiences of running used Grove cranes. Amrit Crane Service is a rental company based in Gujarat. It first purchased a used 220 t (250 USt) capacity GMK6220L from TIL in 2011. Soon after, the company ordered two more used cranes from TIL — two 50 t (55 USt) capacity GMK3050s. The cranes went to work almost immediately and provided general lifting services at construction projects across the region. Amrit’s fleet has since expanded to include five used Grove cranes. The purchase of the used Grove cranes gave Amrit a first-hand look at the quality and agility of the Grove brand. As the cranes begin completing projects, Amrit was able

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to compare their on-the-job performance to previously owned models. Amrit found that the Grove cranes offered a significant improvement in the company’s lifting capabilities and gave the company a sense of comfort, in that the Grove cranes would perform well no matter the job. Amrit gained a new sense of confidence through the performance and reliability of the used Grove cranes and decided to invest in the new 300 t (350 USt) capacity GMK6300L. Amrit founder and owner Narinder Singh explained: “I am a loyal customer of Grove cranes and will continue to buy them,” he said. “I’m so impressed with the performance of the used Grove cranes that I am confident sending them to any job to perform efficient and reliable work. I look forward to adding the new crane to our growing business.” All used cranes supplied by TIL are fully certified and inspected before delivery. Most of the used cranes being sold in India were owned by contractors who purchased them for specific projects, and since finished. After learning the tricks of the trade at a small crane rental and transport firm in Mumbai, Narinder Singh founded Amrit Crane Service in 1995. The company has grown from a single 20 t (22 USt) capacity crane to a fleet of 45 cranes and a major player in Gujarat’s crane rental industry. The company's Grove GMK6300L will be the largest in the company's fleet. 

One of Amrit’s used Grove cranes performs a lift at an industrial plant in Gujarat.

JOB SITE REPORT

Lifting the gamut A duo of Grove all-terrain cranes are helping install pre-fabricated components. Carole Bolomier reports.

rove all-terrain cranes are busy in Germany, working around the city of Cologne to install large components for B.F.M., a contractor that specializes in pre-fabricated concrete structures. On the jobs are a 110 t (130 USt) capacity GMK 5110-1 and a 100 t (110 USt) GMK4100L. The cranes are being used on

commercial and residential projects and are delivering smooth and precise lifts, often under tight deadline. Klaus Pahnke, B.F.M. owner, said he invested in the two Groves because of their excellent agility and precise load movement. “The Grove cranes tick every box — from the way they travel to how

A GMK5110-1 at the headquarters of Deutsche Telekom in Germany.

they pick loads,” he says. “They are excellent off-road and quick to set up once on site. ” One of the most recent projects for the GMK5110-1 was at Deutsche Telekom’s headquarters to place a series of pillars. Each pillar measured 16 m (52.5 ft) long and weighed over 14 t (15.4 USt), a load the GMK5110-1 can handle out to a 20 m (66 ft) radius. The crane’s speed and smooth movements allowed B.F.M. to place 15 pillars a day. “I have operated many cranes over the years, and I have to say the GMK5110-1 made the Deutsche Telekom job so much easier,” says Willi Esser, the crane operator. “It was a pleasure to use, and I couldn’t believe how smooth it was.” The GMK4100L, meanwhile, was recently used to install a decorative concrete façade at a residential project. The four-axle crane was parked on the street and lifted materials to the front and rear of the home. The crane’s precise load control was crucial at this job site as each 3 m (9.9 ft) tall section that made up the façade weighed up to 5.5 t (6.1 USt) and had to be placed within a tolerance of just 1 mm (0.1 cm). Another major challenge at the job site was lifting to the rear of the house, where there was no visibility from the cab. However, this proved no problem for the GMK4100L as it is fitted with a remote control, which allowed the operator to position himself in the optimum location for placing the sections. “You can imagine just how precise and careful we had to be,” says Volker Bode, the crane operator on the GMK4100L. “But the remote control removed all of the worry.” 

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Built to perform Grove mobile telescopic cranes Grove all-terrain, rough-terrain and truck cranes are long-lasting and hard-working. High performance features help execute even the most challenging lifting jobs with strength, precision and control. Our cranes offer the versatility to tackle any project, with capacities ranging from 8t to 450t.

Grove cranes range in capacity

from 8t to 450t

Contact your dealer or visit www.manitowoc.com/cranesdealer