New 50155S from Manitex

Manitex has taken the first orders for its new 50155S crane. On reach, the new crane breaks the 200 foot (61 m) barrier with a powered boom and single piece jib, the company said. Developed for the power line construction market and other high reach applications, the 50155S will reduce operating costs through reduced and simpler set-up time, the company said.

The 50155S has the existing Manitex 50 US ton (45 tonne) platform and adds a 155 foot (47.2 m), five section proportional boom to reach a powered boom tip height of 164 feet (50 m). Lifting capacity at this height is 8,500 pounds (3,863 kg).

Configured with a 39 foot (11.9 m) single piece jib, the crane lifts 4,500 pounds of (2,045 kg) at a tip height of 202 feet (61.5m). Alternatively, a rotating man basket can be attached to the main boom or to the jib.

The 155 foot (47.2m) boom sets the standard as the greatest powered-boom reach available on a commercially available chassis, the company said.

"We have been working with our end users for over a year, and they reiterated the benefit of being able to exceed a 200 foot (61m) tip height without the need of a two-piece jib," said Randy Robertson, director of sales. "We believe this solution will provide significant value to the market."

One of the initial units has been ordered by Truck Utilities out of St. Paul, Minnesota for use by MJ Electric LLC. The truck has a creative axle configuration to make it legal for travel on roads with 7 ton per axle limitations.

Rush Crane Systems in San Antonio, Texas also ordered one of the first units. Thhat unit has an extended lower frame to eliminate the need for a front stabilizer. Both configurations are expected to ship by the end of the third quarter and be available for viewing at ICUEE in Louisville, Kentucky, 6 to 8 October 2009.

Scott Rolston, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Manitex International, Inc, said, "The investment in rebuilding the North American power distribution network is expected to be substantial, and major projects are already commencing or are in planning. To serve this market, height and lift with speed of operation are critical. Manitex has again demonstrated its ability to expand the capability of cranes mounted on a commercially available chassis, therefore, providing the potential for superior returns to users of our equipment."