New all terrains showcased at ConExpo 2020

Over the past 10 years, all terrain cranes (ATs) have become a “must have” in the fleets of crane operating companies in North America. These sophisticated cranes offer mobility, diverse lifting configurations and a deep list of features and benefits on the jobsite. The AT OEMs showcased a wide range of these machines at ConExpo in March in Las Vegas.

Kentucky wonder

The only true North American made all terrain crane, Link-Belt’s 175-ton 175|AT, got its official launch in Nevada. Link-Belt’s newest 5-axle AT features the patent-pending SmartFly system as well as a 197-foot main boom that is six-sections of pin and latch telescopic boom that ride on Link-Belt’s greaseless wear pads.

“We’ve done our homework – things like no wing counterweights, options on hydraulic versus manual fly – we set out to provide our customers a comprehensive list of options in this tonnage class,” said Brian Smoot, product manager, telescopic truck and AT cranes for Link-Belt.

The Link-Belt SmartFly system on the 175|AT is a 55-foot on-board fly that features a choice of four manual offset positions or variable hydraulic offset range from zero to 45 degrees. The 175|AT also features an integrated 10-foot fly that is ideal for applications where two load lines are necessary for lifting one load. Three additional 18-foot lattice boom extensions bring the maximum tip height to 315 feet.

The SmartFly system was designed for easy erection and stowage and an efficient one-person operation. With a 15 liter, 580 hp Cummins QSX15 engine, the chassis also features all-wheel ABS disc brakes, engine and powertrain braking, and speed dependent all-wheel steering.

Virtual launch

Manitowoc virtually launched its new 450-ton GMK6400-1 at ConExpo. Stepping inside the virtual reality (VR) booth, visitors got an interactive look at the new GMK6400-1. The VR technology enabled the smallest details on the crane to be brought to life and let the user view the machine from multiple angles in quick succession.

The GMK6400-1 sets new standards in the competitive 450 to 500-ton class, according to Andreas Cremer, vice president of product management for ATs for Manitowoc. He said the crane follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, the GMK6400, but includes additional reach, enabling it to take on jobs that usually require a seven or eight-axle crane.

“We have upgraded this crane to use all of the latest technological advances, including our Crane Control System (CCS) and MAXbase variable outrigger system, which increases capacities on the main boom,” Cremer said. “On top of that, its easy and fast setup enables it to handle more work in a day.”

The capacity-enhancing MegaWingLift attachment is available as an option for the GMK6400-1, and the self-rigging addition can be set up and ready in less than 20 minutes, without the need for an assist crane. This attachment increases lifting capacities up to 70 percent, the company said.

The GMK6400-1 has a maximum capacity of 450 tons and a main boom of 197 feet. When fitted with its full complement of jib, it can achieve a maximum tip height of 448 feet. The crane has a compact overall package with a length of 57.5 feet and boom overhang of 5.9 feet. It also has the MAXbase outrigger option, for better flexibility in on-site positioning.

As with the GMK6400, the new unit has a single engine with an improved hydraulic system. The new engine conforms to the latest requirements for both Tier 4 Emissions standards and EUROMOT 5.

Nothing more on four

Liebherr introduced its new LTM 1120-4.1 at ConExpo. Liebherr said the crane is the most powerful 4-axle all-terrain crane ever built and that the new 135-ton machine performs as well as 5-axle cranes. The crane has a 217-foot telescopic boom. First deliveries are set for the fall of 2020.

The LTM 1120-4.1 can extend its telescopic boom to up to 217 feet, an additional 10 percent. Its lifting capacity of 19,800 pounds on the 217-foot telescopic boom makes it ideal for erecting tower cranes and radio masts. Lattice extensions enable the crane to achieve hook heights of up to 308 feet and radii of up to 210 feet. For this, a 23-foot lattice boom extension is installed as well as a 35 to 62-foot double folding jib, which, as an option, can also be hydraulically adjusted between 0 and 40 degrees.

The ZF-TraXon gearbox is used to transmit the power to the crane’s axles. ECOmode for crane operations is now standard on Liebherr mobile cranes with a load-sensing control system – the crane controller calculates the perfect engine speed for the working speed selected using the control lever to avoid unnecessarily high engine speeds. That also saves fuel and makes the engine quieter.

A big splash

The Demag AC 220-5 made a big splash in the 242-ton capacity class, the company said. With a main boom of 255 feet, the Demag AC 220-5 can reach up to 324 feet with the optional main boom extension.

The crane’s IC-1 Plus control system calculates the crane’s lifting capacity for every boom position as a function of the superstructure’s slewing angle. This means that the lifting capacity for a specific radius is no longer limited to the lowest value for a pre-calculated 360 degree lifting capacity. This advantage is particularly useful when it comes to lifts requiring an asymmetrical outrigger setup.

The AC 220-5 is powered by state-of-the-art Scania DC13 diesel engines with an output of 331 to 405 kW that comply with EU Stage V / Tier 4f (405 kW) or EU Stage III A / Tier 3 (331 kW) regulations. The power delivered by these engines is safely and reliably brought to the road by fully automatic ZF TraXon transmissions with 12 forward gears and two reverse gears via three or four driven axles.

Same superstructure

Also at ConExpo, Tadano showed its ATF-100-4.1 and ATF-120-5.1 on four and five axles, respectively. With the same superstructure, both cranes feature two engines, the AML-F crane control system, the Lift Adjuster and the unique jib HTLJ – telescopable even under load.

The ATF-100-4.1 features a lifting radius that exceeds that of comparable 110-ton capacity cranes by 26.2 feet. The centerpiece of both cranes is the 196.85-foot main boom. With it, the ATF-100-4.1 achieves lifting capacities that are ahead in the competitive environment – by up to 100 percent for individual radiuses, Tadano said.

The ATF-120-5.1 offers radiuses between 62.5 feet and 183.73 feet. A further quality is the crane’s high load-bearing capacity on the road. With a 13.23-ton axle load, 10.14-ton counterweight plus additional equipment may be taken along in addition to the 58.7-foot jib with integrated heavy-duty jib.

The agile and compact ATF-100-4.1 scores particularly well on narrow roadways and confined construction sites. With the ATF-120-5.1, users can do something that is not possible with any other five-axle crane – travel on public roads with an axle load below 11.02 tons, or 52.91 tons total weight. With 26.46 tons of counterweight, both cranes measure 9.02 feet, Tadano said

The ATF-100-4.1 with full 33.51-ton ballast has a tail swing radius of only 12.46 feet. With a maximum 39.02-ton counterweight, the ATF-120-5.1 has a tail swing radius of only 13.12 feet.

The jibs of both cranes, 12.39 to 104.65 feet, and counterweights can be used on either of the two cranes. With a hydraulic folding device, a single person can fold the jib transported next to the main boom and pin it via a crank handle from the ground.