Due to the booming market for self-supporting racks in recent years, manufacturers have invested in upgrading and updating their product lines. Sotiris Kanaris reports.
Self-erecting cranes are known for their rapid erection and versatility in use. Their owners also appreciate being able to transport some of them as complete units on the road at speeds of up to 80 km/h.
Their compactness and maneuverability allow them to be used in a wide range of applications, from building small houses to infrastructure projects.
The European market is the main market for self-supporting manufacturers, and the needs of different countries are different. The general observation is that in the Nordic market, they tend to buy larger units compared to the southern European market.
It would be wrong to label self-supporting machines with pure European products, because there are a large number of equipment in operation around the world, and the North American market is the target market for many manufacturers.
Liebherr has a long history of producing this crane, because its first model, TK 10, was designed in 1949. Since then, the company's self-supporting cranes have been constantly evolving.
"Liebherr developed the K crane series in the early 1960s. Then we produced the first crawler fast-lifting crane in 1978. In the early 1990s, the SE series was designed: the first in the Liebherr series A hydraulic fast-lifting crane. Among the SE cranes, the H series was launched in 2001. The mobile version HM followed in 2002. The L1 series was designed in addition to the H series," Liebherr-Werk Biberach Marketing Director Hans-Martin Frech said.
Over the years, manufacturers have added features that facilitate transportation, installation, and capacity. "Features such as Micromove, fine positioning mode, lifting speed, pure two-descent operation or load plus function-through which you can increase the cutting-edge load by up to 20%-are useful features of our modern fast-erecting cranes."
The most popular Liebherr free-standing crane is 81 K.1, but there is also strong demand for 65 K.1 and 53 K. "In the past five years, we have sold about 2,500 such machines. These models are very popular because they are easy to install and safe, with customized performance and reliable technology. The working radius and lifting capacity are similar to that of a small top Slewing crane," Frech said.
One of the latest Liebherr self-supporting machines is 125 K, which the manufacturer says is the largest of its kind. The boom length of 125 K is 55m, the maximum carrying capacity is 8t, and the maximum hook height is 65m. "The 125 K has the performance of a small top slewing crane and all the advantages of a fast erection crane. The demand of the market has given us a clear signal that we need this machine," Frech said.
Liebherr recently launched the L1-32, which has a capacity of 4t, a maximum hook height of 21.3m, and a maximum radius of 30m. Due to its size, L1-32 cannot be transported full of ballast, but Liebherr has found an interesting solution: customers can use part of the ballast to erect a crane, which is what they can transport when they first arrive at the work site quantity. When reducing ballast, the maximum load and tip load are the same as those of a fully-ballasted crane; the only difference is that the maximum load can be reduced by one meter. Frech said that with this solution, customers will not waste time on the job site.
"In the following transportation, when the crane is fully ballasted, the customer will have all the functions provided by the crane," he added.
Another interesting development of Liebherr is the new LiTRAX high-speed axle system. It is suitable for modular use of various combinations. Liebherr self-supporting cranes of all sizes can be transported using semi-trailers or a combination of trucks and trailers.
"With only one axle, our customers can save money on leasing fleets. The modular system of the axle is very flexible, and customers can combine axles corresponding to the cranes being transported. Depending on the size of the crane, the new axle can be easily configured as ordinary Shaft or tandem shaft. For flexibility on the job site, you can raise the shaft by 30 cm,” explains Frech.
Eurogru, another German manufacturer, also has its own erection machine in its product portfolio, offering three series to the market, namely DS, E and SM.
The DS crane is designed as a trailer and towed as a whole, with ballast and accessories. The standard features are: galvanized structural elements, low transportation height, frequency conversion control slewing mechanism, small turning radius and remote control. These cranes can be transported at highway speeds up to 80 km/h.
Eurogru E series cranes are fully hydraulic, with small footprint, small transportation size, and better maneuverability on the construction site. The lifting capacity ranges from 1.6t to 4t, and the boom length ranges from 16m to 44.75m. The company exhibited E 34.10 on Bauma with a maximum height of 24m under the hook. It uses a new two-rope lifting system instead of four-rope, and can lift 4 tons.
Compared with similar E series cranes, SM cable-mounted cranes have a higher hook height and greater lifting capacity. They are available as telescopic or climbing tower systems. The hook height can reach 35m, and the maximum load capacity can reach 6t. At the Bauma booth, participants saw SM 35.10, which has a maximum lifting capacity of 4t, a maximum boom length of 35m, and a lifting capacity of 1t. It has a 3.8x3.8m shell and a radius of 2m, which can reach a maximum hook height of 29.3m.
For more than half a century, Potain of Manitowoc has been manufacturing self-erecting cranes. "In the 1950s, we had already started manufacturing telescopic cranes: the 205 in 1957 was the first of its kind. To date, the oldest product line is the Igo series launched in 2001; more specifically the Igo 15 And Igo 18," said Thibaut Le Besnerais, global product director for tower cranes.
Over the decades, new technologies have improved significantly, including security and speed of setup. “From the original, professionally designed crane with ropes and pulleys that was truly innovative in the 1950s, we have developed hydraulic technology and frequency changes in the 90s. Then, with the release of Igo, we introduced the help of crane setup and Integrated radio control of operations. With our latest product range, the Crane Control System (CCS) provides greater comfort, safety and productivity," Le Besnerais added.
The manufacturer currently has four different series of free-standing cranes: Hup, Igo, Igo M, Igo T. Depending on the location, the most popular models are Hup 40-30, Igo T 85 and Igo M 14. According to Le Besnerais, these models are popular because of their large size and they are the models with the most mobile assets in the portfolio.
A few months ago, Manitowoc shipped the 1,000th Igo T 85 from its manufacturing plant in Charlieu, France. This landmark free-standing crane was sold to a customer in the Benelux region. The Igo T 85 was launched in 2008 and an upgraded model was developed in 2011-Igo T 85 A-including a third additional mast section and a new slewing system, with a height of 38 m under the hook. The boom radius of IgoT 85 A is 45m, and the maximum lifting capacity is 6t.
On Bauma, Potain showed off the upcoming Hup M 28-22, which is said to have the best compactness in its class. The model is only 11.5m long when folded, can work in narrow and restricted workplaces, and is convenient for transportation from one site to another.
"Hup M 28-22 is also equipped with the most advanced dual steering axle transport equipment," Le Besnerais added. "Hup M 28-22 has a 28m boom with 16 configurations, which is unique to this type of self-supporting crane, making it easy to adapt to various job site applications." The crane has a maximum lifting capacity of 2.2t, It can lift 850kg at its 28m maximum arm end.
Historically, the strongest market for Potain automatic erection machines is Europe, more specifically France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. "We think the market will remain more or less stable in the next few years, and these European countries provide most of the demand," Le Besnerais said.
Despite the launch of new products, Potain continues to innovate. "Hup M is one of our key developments to gain mobility on the job site and adds more versatility to the Hup concept. We will focus on expanding this product in the near future," Le Besnerais concludes.
The Dutch company Montarent provides the Montalift self-propelled 4-WDS crane, which enables the owner to move the crane in the fully erected position. The mobile self-propelled landing gear provides maximum mobility on site through four-wheel drive and steering.
Richard Blokker, one of Montarent's owners, emphasized the compactness of the machine, as well as the small ballast radius and landing gear. He also said that it provides quick setup and positioning and is very economical by using 400 V-3 x 25A power supply.
“Our self-propelled landing gear prototype was developed in 1997 when we built the 13th Montalift 193 S 4-WD for the renovation project in Beverwijk, the Netherlands. In more than a year, this crane concept It was thoroughly tested in practice and provided us with feedback for further development," Blokker said.
Over the years, the company has added more power to the electromechanical four-wheel drive system, and by using inverter drives, acceleration and deceleration have become smoother. "When it moves a greater distance in the transport position, the second drive speed is increased. To get the maximum maneuverability on site, we added the four-wheel drive option," he added.
The latest model is the Montalift M21 4WDS developed in cooperation with Potain and launched in October 2016. The M21 4-WDS is a combination of the superstructure of the Igo MA 21 and Montarent's 4-WDS self-propelled landing gear.
With a turning radius of 2.13m and a landing gear length of 6.7m, it is a compact crane, ideal for small and narrow construction sites. The first export order for M21 4WDS came from Denmark, and the crane has been used in various construction work.
Blokker said: "Since March this year, our rental fleet has an M21 4WDS for the construction of prefabricated wooden houses. Recently we sold the first M21 4WDS in the UK to our dealer Ladybird. Ladybird was appointed as ours. The only distributor in the UK is a logical step because they have represented the Potain brand for many years and provide sales, leasing and service."
He added that through the cooperation with Manitowoc, Montarent has gained access to its sales network. "This has resulted in the export of 7 units of equipment to our US distributor Stephenson Equipment so far," Blokker said.
Montarent is currently in the process of developing new and larger models with arm lengths up to 32m.
The Spanish manufacturer Saez owns the H series of self-supporting cranes, which consist of five models with capacities ranging from 1.5 tons to 4 tons. Sales representative Juan Ballester said these models are designed to be installed quickly and easily. "Our automatic erection device can usually be fully erected in less than an hour. For road transportation, we are studying road axles to drive them at 80 km/h in Europe and 80 mph in North America. Driving at a fast speed," he said.
The most popular model is the 4t H 32 DR, but Ballester expects the upcoming model HT 45.14 to achieve greater commercial success.
The HT 45.14 telescopic self-standing type will have a 45m boom. This model uses double drop technology, the maximum load is 6 tons, and the tip can be lifted by 1.4 tons.
"This crane will be able to reach a hook height of 38m without lowering the load diagram, and can work in single-phase and three-phase. It will use a fully tested radio diagnostic system (using a SIM card) and our last two years The Schneider zoning system has been installed in flat-top cranes," Ballester said.
Saez is working hard to update its H 24, H 28 and H 32 models, replacing the old square stainless steel cabinets with new fiber cabinets. With the installation of PLCs and partition systems, electronic equipment will also change.
Ballester said that the strongest markets for Saez's self-erecting machines are France and Germany, but he expects that with the launch of the HT 45-14, the United States will become one of the largest markets. He also told Cranes Today that they are currently developing the hydraulic H 45.
The largest concentration of self-supporting manufacturers is Italy, a country with a reputation and tradition in tower crane production. Despite the decline in local demand, Italian manufacturers have been developing new products tailored to the international market in the past few years.
Terex's self-supporting tower cranes are manufactured in conjunction with other tower crane production lines at its factory in Fontanafreda.
The CBR series self-erecting machine consists of five models, with a lifting capacity of 1t to 4t, and a maximum boom length of 21m to 40m. The latest model is CBR 24, with a maximum lifting capacity of 2t, a maximum boom length of 24m, and a maximum lifting capacity of 0.75t.
Fabio Di Minico, head of Terex self-supporting technology, said that the most popular model is CBR 32, which has a maximum lifting weight of 4t and a maximum arm length of 32m. "This is a model that is very balanced in the middle and is very common in different markets."
In terms of the needs of self-erecting machine owners, he said: “First, cranes need to be reliable and easy to maintain. They need to reach the job site and quickly erect. At the same time, the need to increase hook height and capacity is a general trend. We look at new machines. The way is "no more, no less".
Terex plans to update its complete product line and will introduce new models to the market this year. "The new regulations [updated standard EN 14439] will affect the business, and the needs of customers are constantly changing. But what we know is that we should not compromise on our free-standing crane concept: simplicity, efficiency and reliability. No matter who asks us Buying here requires a good return on investment," Di Minico said.
He told Cranes Today that the new product will focus on maintenance and quick installation. The focus will also be on electronic crane controls, which have proven and reliable components.
"We are developing a new hydraulic series and this year we will see the first results, but we also hope to expand our product range to compete in the largest free-standing product area," Di Minico added.
He pointed out that the demand for large self-erecting cranes in Northern Europe is much higher than that in Southern Europe. Terex’s strongest markets are Germany, Belgium, France and Italy.
Italian crane manufacturer FB Gru has nine models of self-supporting cranes in its product portfolio, with a lifting capacity of 1-4t and a boom length range of 20-43m.
The latest model and the largest model in the series is the GA 143. It has a 43m jib, with a maximum load capacity of 4t using two ropes, and can reach a height of 24.4m.
General Manager Alessandro Buti said that these two ropes increase the speed of lifting. He also emphasized the size of this model: "When the crane is not upright, it is very compact. For transportation, you only need two trucks, one for the crane and one for ballast."
As for the reason behind the launch of GA 143, Butti said it was because customers and distributors have been requesting larger cranes.
"In Italy, people like small cranes, but in Germany, they usually need a 43m boom. Our target is the German market, and we think this is a market we can develop."
FB Gru has delivered cranes to other markets including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain and some countries in North Africa.
Cattaneo was founded in Maggo in 1954, specializing in the rapid assembly of hydraulic cranes. There are 12 crane models in its product portfolio, with lifting weights ranging from 1.2 tons to 4 tons, and boom lengths ranging from 15 to 41 meters.
The largest self-erecting machine in its series is the CM 90S4, which has a maximum lifting capacity of 5t, a tip load of 1t, and a maximum arm length of 41m.
At this year's Bauma, Cattaneo attended through its German distributor BKL. The cooperation between the two companies has produced many unique models of BKL, named after the BKL System Cattaneo brand.
One of the models is the new CM 415 launched at the exhibition. No additional climbing tower section is required. The self-supporting crane provides three hook heights of 23.8m, 28.5m and 31.5m. CM 415 has a maximum load capacity of 5t in two/four drop modes, and can still lift 1.25t under its 41m radius.
"Because our hydraulic self-supporting cranes will automatically lift at the maximum driving speed according to the load on the hook, the double drop technology can achieve a higher processing rate. In terms of power requirements, modern frequency converters mean that they work in all three The drive system is very economical, which helps to save electricity bills," BKL added.
The Italian manufacturer FMGru has two series of self-supporting machines, RBI and RBI-FA. The RBI series includes six models, with lifting weights ranging from 1.8t to 5t, and jibs ranging from 24m to 40m. The slewing mechanism and the hydraulic mechanism are assembled in the rotating frame.
FMGru stated that the hydraulic self-erecting is very fast and safe. "The steering shaft with the smallest radius of curvature enables the RBI crane to be positioned in a narrow space. With the help of the'self-ballasting device', the crane can load ballast by itself without other means," the company said.
The RBI-FA series includes four models with 25km/h and 80km/h axles, lifting capacity 1.8t-2.4t and 22-30m boom. On Bauma, the manufacturer showed the FM 622 RBI-FA, which has a maximum lifting capacity of 1.8t, a boom of 22m and a tip load of 600kg.
ENG Cranes is an Italian tower crane manufacturer located in Reggio Emilia and has its own series of self-supporting cranes. The GTA series includes five models, the lifting capacity ranges from 1.5t to 4t, and the jib length ranges from 22m to 36m. The largest model is the 4t GTA52 with a jib length of 36m and a maximum tip load of 1t. Its base is 4.3x4.3m, which can reach a height of 27m.
Gru Dalbe, a family-owned manufacturer of self-supporting cranes and tower cranes, was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Varese, Italy. Its current line of self-supporting bottom-slewing machines includes models with a boom of 15 to 45m and a maximum capacity between 1t and 5t.
The latest model DB 747 has a maximum lifting capacity of 5t, which can lift 1.1t at a maximum boom length of 45m. Director Corrado Dalla Benetta told Cranes Today that Belgium is one of the company's strongest markets and De Ceuster is their distributor.
De Ceuster has been cooperating with Gru Dalbe since 1988. This long-term cooperation has resulted in many of the Belgian dealers' ideas around the product being implemented by the manufacturer. An example is HS380 ECO, which is a 4t maximum lifting crane with a maximum boom length of 38m and can be powered by a 220V single-phase power supply.
De Ceuster told Cranes Today that they have specially designed some models for them, such as DB20 Stradale, which is a construction crane mounted on a high-speed axle that can be transported as a trailer behind a truck. The DB20 Stradale has a maximum lifting capacity of 1.6t and a maximum boom length of 23m.
In the past two years, many new free-standing models have been introduced into the global market. Most manufacturers choose to launch high-capacity models, and many manufacturers have actually developed the highest-capacity models to date. Some developed models, such as Liebherr K 125, can actually be compared with small top-slewing cranes.
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