Kings of the road

Potain self-erecting cranes are widely recognized as the best in the world. This comes from a long-standing culture of innovation and a finetuned Voice of the Customer program as part of The Manitowoc Way. One of the reasons for their enduring popularity is the ongoing innovation that continues to answer users’ needs and which in recent years has seen numerous advances in the field of mobility. 

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Hup cranes offer a variety of features and benefits, including unbeatable control technology and more configurations than any other crane on the market. But another feature that’s important for owners is their mobility, and that’s especially relevant for the Hup M 28-22 which began deliveries earlier in 2020. The Hup M 28-22 is the third model from the Hup self-erecting range and the first to prioritize mobility — symbolized by the ‘M’ in its name.

Remi Deporte, Manitowoc’s product manager for self-erecting cranes, explains why this unit is such a game changer.

“Potain has a solid history of developing mobile self-erecting cranes, most notably with our Igo M 14, which launched back in 2013,” he says. “Being a global leader means continually striving to do better, and with the Hup M 28-22 we’ve created our best-ever design. Our Voice of the Customer program played a major role in bringing this crane to life and ensures customers have the right crane for their market.”

Working closely with users in key markets, Manitowoc introduced three versions of the Hup M 28-22 between November 2019 and March 2020. There is one version with a 25 km/h (15 mph) chassis, which launched in France and has global appeal; a second, with an 80 km/h (50 mph) chassis which satisfies the German TÜV regulations so is usable on roads in that country and many others; and a third that suits North American transport conditions. The latest to launch was the North America version, which debuted at CONEXPO 2020 and also has a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).

All units have a new autonomous steering axle with 20° steering capabilities. This ensures the models give users unrivalled access on the jobsite, in addition to the excellent on-road mobility their design offers. There are also permanent ballasts making the cranes easier and faster to get to jobsites.

The 80 km/h high-speed version for Germany and other TÜV-focused markets is the most advanced, and is suitable for highway travel when towed behind a standard tractor trailer. The Hup M 28-22 sold in the U.S. and Canada has an integrated axle that is North America-compliant and allows transportation by fifth wheel over the road.

Once on the jobsite, the axle’s steering function makes it easier to maneuver the crane into position by wireless remote control. Both installation and steering are supported by Potain’s exclusive Smart Set-up software which can be operated by the remote control.

Maximum capacity for all units is 2.2 t (2.4 USt), while maximum jib length is 28 m (92 ft) and tip capacities of up to 0.85 t (0.9 USt) are available. The Potain Hup M 28-22 is the most compact self-erecting crane in its class, folding to just 11.6 m (38 ft) by 3.6 m (12 ft) during transport.

The right track

Alongside the Hup M 28-22, Manitowoc has developed another special Potain self-erecting crane with a focus on mobility. But unlike the Hup M 28-22, the Hup C 40-30 was not in the company’s product development plan and was created to answer specific customer needs.

Long-standing Manitowoc distributor Stirnimann approached the company with a request for a new product with all the features of a self-erecting crane but with additional mobility for rough ground. So immediately, Manitowoc’s Voice of the Customer program kicked into action and the result was the Potain Hup C 40-30.

This special self-erecting crane is equipped with crawler tracks and can move in both its folded and unfolded positions. It proved an immediate hit with the market; Stirnimann purchasing the first six units and then further sales to Germany and the U.S.

“The market for the Hup C 40-30 is more niche, however, for customers that need it, it’s invaluable,” said Remi Deporte. “It boasts a compact transport length of 13.5 m (44 ft) and a width of 2.55 m (8 ft). With its embedded power generator, it can also travel and erect autonomously.”

The Hup M 28-22 and Hup C 40-30 demonstrate how innovation from Manitowoc is delivering tangible benefits to owners and increasing their return on investment. Most excitingly, under The Manitowoc Way, that is set to continue long into the future.