This spring at Bauma, Manitowoc is unveiling two new Grove rough-terrain cranes: the RT550E and RT770E. The two cranes have new features that improve efficiency on the job site.
The 45-tonne (49.6-U.S. ton) capacity RT550E offers the highest capacity and the longest boom in its class at 39 m (128 ft.). At less than 12 m long (39.4 ft.), 2.55 m (8.4 ft.) wide and weighing under 29 tonnes (32 U.S. tons), the RT 550E is a compact crane that fits well within most European road regulations for heavy machinery.
The RT550E is designed to give maximum capacity in an innovative yet easy-to-use package, as Federico Lovera, EMEA product manager at Manitowoc, explained.
“We have used the latest technology to make life 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.”
The RT550E also features the new Crane Control System, which includes a boom optimization feature that automatically configures boom length to suit specific loads and radius. It is designed to optimize operation of the crane through a user-friendly interface, removing the need for operators to complete lengthy lift set up procedures.
The five-section boom has the ability to telescope partial loads from between any two boom positions. It can also be fitted with an 8 m (26.2 ft.) fixed swingaway boom attachment to extend its reach to 47 m (154.2 ft.). The hoist offers higher single line pull and increased speed, with line pull speeds that are up to 70% higher than on similar cranes in this class.
The 65-tonne (71.7-U.S. ton) capacity RT770E features a lengthy 42 m (138 ft.), five-section, full-power main boom on a compact 8 m (26.2 ft.) x 3.33 m (11 ft.) chassis. This gives customers extremely long reach and a five-section boom without having to upgrade to the bigger 70 to 80 tonnes (77 to 88 U.S. tons) crane class, where cranes are heavier on the road and take up more space on the jobsite. This enables the crane to fit into much tighter work spaces and eliminates the permitting needs that bigger and heavier cranes require for travel.
Lovera said the RT770E will especially appeal to customers in the Middle East and Africa.
“Crane users across Europe and Africa have long-desired a rough-terrain crane in the 65-tonne ((71.7-U.S. ton) class that has a longer boom,” he said. “With the RT770E, we have been able to extend the boom to 42 m (139 ft.) using a five-section, full-power design without having to add more size or weight to the crane’s chassis. This makes for a more maneuverable crane that has a higher lifting capacity and longer reach.”
The RT770E comes with a Cummins 6.7L engine, and has both four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. It can be fitted with a 10.1 m to 17.1 m (33- to 56-ft.) bi-fold swingaway that combines with the main boom to 59.1 m and extend working radius out to 44 m.
Paul Cutchall, rough-terrain crane product manager at Manitowoc, said new technology and an improved design have made the RT770E a much more efficient crane.
“Normally for customers to obtain this boom length on this size of rough-terrain crane they would need to install inserts, which would require an assist crane,” he said. “We’re using a single cylinder technology that eliminates the need for a hydraulic hose reel. It lightens the boom, and in turn, the entire crane. It has given us considerable freedom and flexibility in the crane’s design and its performance.”
Both cranes are available for order at bauma 2013.
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