EQUIPMENT
52
HIAB
international
construction
october 2013
Hiab’s new X-series loader cranes boast new
safety features and almost double the
extension speed of their predecessors.
Laura Hatton
reports.
H
iab, part of
Cargotec,
launched a new
generation of loader cranes
in Berlin, Germany, as
part of the celebrations to
mark its 70th birthday.
The new X Series
comprises four new models, the
X-CLX 178, the X-DUO 178, the
X-HIDUO 188 and the X-HIPRO
192, and a key feature is the fast
boom extension system. In fact
Hiab says its new cranes are almost
twice as fast as the predecessor, the
XS 166. The company also says
the X Series has increased lifting
capacity and improved precision
handling compared to previous
models.
The cranes are described as mid-
range models, with lifting capacities
ranging from 146 kNm to178
kNm and a maximum outreach of
19.4 m.
Hiab president Axel Leijonhufvud
said, “This new generation is a
big jump for us. It is not just an
upgraded version. The whole crane
is new, from cylinders to steel
structures. Also, we have taken so
much customer input into it – we
have spent so much time with
them.
“We have not been very visible
over the past few years, but we are
trying to take things forward. This
is not the only big release we will
make, there will be more.”
Leif Törnblom, Hiab product
manager for mid-range cranes,
said, “Our customers work in very
different sectors, with different
demands on the cranes. However,
regardless of the sector, crane
operators want speed, precision
and lifting capacity. We
have therefore focused on
improving these factors
even more.”
Other improvements
include a safer and more
user-friendly stabiliser
system, which features
a new sensor and joystick-type
remote. Hiab has also reduced the
number of bolts needed to mount
the cranes to a truck chassis.
“I would say that what we are
trying to do here is help
our customers make
more money. The new
cranes are faster, safer,
and they are more
precise. That is the
key for us. We spent
a lot of time with the
interface of the crane
to make it easier to use.
The control systems, the
joysticks etc are more
logical so it is
simple
to use and therefore safer,” said Mr
Leijonhufvud.
And the launch of the new cranes
is part of a wider initiative by Hiab
to be more visible to its customers
as senior vice president and global
head of sales and markets, Carl
Gustaf Göransson said, “Our nature
is to be low profile, but we need to
step up to get people to understand
that this new generation of cranes
are a big difference. It’s not just a
different colour or a label, this
is a new crane series.”
He concluded, “What
we plan to do is push
our brand and make us
visible. The product
offering of the X
Series is a part of this.
We will also focus
on our distribution as
well.”
iC
Speed kings
New safer and more
precise control
systems are part of
the X-Series design.
Hiab president Axel
