ALL TERRAIN CRANES
INTERNATIONAL AND SPECIALIZED TRANSPORT
■
JULY 2013
16
Working on sites often means difficult, constricted conditions and it is often not possible to
equally extend all the outrigger supports. To overcome this issue, Liebherr has developed a
system which enables individual crane supports to be extended to any spread length. This
results in safe operation of the crane. The process is part of the Liebherr LICCON control
system, and is called the Variable Supporting Base. The system works by measuring the
extension length and support force of every support; the control system then calculates the
maximum lifting capacities for the situation.
“The system means that for the first time it is possible to work safely with any support
base,” says a spokesperson from Liebherr. “Furthermore, accidents caused by incorrect
operation can be avoided both during the setup process and when handling loads.”
The Variable Supporting Base ensures higher lifting capacities and a larger working
range, even with a maximum support base, the company says. The largest increases are
made in the operating ranges directly above the supports. The Variable Supporting Base
system also makes improvements over the 360 degrees lifting capacity tables for hoisting to
the front and rear.
“When the crane is used with part ballast the increase in lifting capacity and the extension
of the radius is even more pronounced with the new system than with full ballast. This
means less ballast transport is needed for many crane jobs,” a company spokesperson adds.
VARIABLE SUPPORTING BASE
provides sufficient power for crane work.
This ensures the economy of the new
concept in terms of fuel consumption.”
Aside from its mechanical layout, the
LTM 1300-6.2 has a 78 metre telescopic
boom and the ECOmode system, which
enables the pump drive to be disconnected
automatically when the engine is idling (for
more information on Ecomode, see
IC
June
2013, page 31).
A single engine concept from
Manitowoc is adopted in the Grove
GMK6400. Astrid Hager-Guthrie,
Manitowoc global product director, all
terrain cranes, explains, “Our latest all
terrain crane model with the single engine
concept is the six-axle GMK6400. It is a
400 tonne machine with a 60 m main boom
and a 79 m luffing jib.” The GMK6400,
shown production ready at Bauma 2013,
has the MegaWingLift capacity enhancing
attachment. It’s a boom suspension device
which can increase load chart capacity from
38 tonnes at 60 m by almost 70 % to
64 tonnes at the same height.
Another feature on the crane is the
hybrid drive, MegaDrive, a system of
normal driven axles on axles 1 and 2 and
the addition of hydrostatic drive on axles
4 and 5. The hydrostatic drive is activated
at speeds of 20 km/h or lower and allows
precise manoeuvring and exact placement
in areas with difficult surfaces, a company
spokesperson says. Above 20 km/h the
conventional mechanically driven axles
take over.
Worldwide operation
Terex has also recently introduced another
single engine all terrain to the market,
the Explorer 5800. The all terrain falls
in the middle category of all terrains
(230 tonnes capacity class) and, according
to the manufacturer, because of its one
engine design, it addresses a number
of problems. The Explorer 5800 is also
compliant with many traffic regulations
worldwide. It is a prototype and
undergoing testing, ready for delivery in
the first quarter of 2014. The 1,000 tonne
capacity class Terex AC 1000 is also a one
engine crane.
Crane manufacturer Tadano Faun
continues to follow the two engine
principle, using Mercedes Benz BlueTec
engines. Recently introduced with
this design is the ATF 180G-5. The all
terrain has a capacity of 180 tonnes and
a maximum boom length of 60 m, with
an additional extension of 37.2 m. Power
comes from a Mercedes Benz (Euromot
III B, EPA Tier 4i) 405 kW and a smaller
129 kW engine in the upper for crane
The Zoomlion
QAY260 all
terrain crane
A GMK6300L
and a Grove RT
on a downtown
Chicago site. The
GMK6300L is
erecting a Potain
tower crane
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