New 20 tonne Stafford tower crane

Type STL.257 luffing jib tower crane launched by Stafford Tower Cranes at the Bauma trade show. Photo: Stafford Tower Cranes

Brand new from Stafford Tower Cranes is the STL.257 20 tonne luffing jib tower crane. First sight of it in public will be at the Bauma trade show in Munich, Germany, 7 to 13 April.

A comprehensive list of requirements for the new model were made regarding design, technical innovations and engineering quality. “The list of our own requirements was a real test for our design and engineering team to achieve,” commented Mike Posener, STC marketing and new business development director.

As standard the STL.257 has a 60 metre boom. Erected on 40 metres of tower sections, the underhook height is 57.8 metres and the tip load is 3.3 tonnes. The tip load can be increased to 4.0 tonnes in certain configurations. Rear swing radius 7.5 metres.

Hoist motors are available as 70 or 110 kW, the larger of which can reach a 250 metres per minute maximum hoisting speed.

Also offered is the STL.757 which lifts 42 tonnes and has a 5.8 tonne tip load capacity.

Features in focus

Areas of focus for the new model include ease of assembly, strength in the main structure, multiple configurations and minimal rear swing radius. An optional power boost function was also requested which increases capacity by up to 10 per cent in particular configurations for a certain time.

Family-owned and run STC put knowledge and experience gained from its crane rental business into the design and manufacture of the new cranes. “Through the many years operating our rental business in the USA, we have first-hand experience of what works best in a crane and what customer service should be. Stafford Tower Cranes’ future planning is based on the next generation of the family,” said Patrick N Stafford, STC president.

“We wish to assure our customers, it is our intention to further develop tower cranes for a global market,” Stafford added.

Posener concluded, “All our cranes are made by us in our Portuguese facility, with R&D support from our Milano Design Hub and in-house engineering. We do not use any Asian parts or components in the manufacture of our cranes.”

See Stafford Tower Cranes at Bauma on stand FS.1103/5.