Manitowoc show stoppers planned for CONEXPO 2014

There will be eight new cranes among the dozen or so planned to appear on the Manitowoc booth at CONEXPO 2014. The products on show include two show-stopping crawler cranes that are sure to be among the stars of next year’s event. The company is keeping full details of this new pair under wraps until the show, but expects their sheer size to pull visitors to the company’s booth as soon as they enter the showground.

Manitowoc will occupy its familiar position in the Gold Lot (stand number 2137), but this year has extended its space to 37,800 sq. ft (3,500 sq. m) to make room for the array of large machines it will present. Visitors will be able to explore a host of cranes from across the company’s Grove, Manitowoc, National Crane and Potain brands.
Larry Weyers, executive vice president for Manitowoc in The Americas, said next year’s CONEXPO will be extra special for the company.

“As a company we’re always really excited to participate in CONEXPO, but this next one is going to be especially memorable for us,” he said. “We’re taking a bigger booth than last time and bringing more cranes. But for us the equipment is just part of it. CONEXPO is our opportunity to show the industry our total commitment to our customers, from supplying the best cranes through to supporting those cranes over their working lives, and then on to helping with their next purchases. Many of our customers have been buying our cranes for decades and we’re proud of the strong relationships we have with them.”

Crawler cranes

Aside from the giant new crawler cranes at the show, there will be a third Manitowoc crawler crane, the 165 t (182 USt) capacity MLC165, which launched at bauma 2013 in Germany earlier this year. With three new cranes, all introduced within a 12-month period, Manitowoc will be reinforcing its position as the North America’s most trusted brand for crawler cranes.

Mobile cranes

From the Grove brand of mobile cranes there will be four cranes, including two that are making their North American debut. The RT770E and RT540 are new from Grove’s rough-terrain crane range. The 65 t (70 USt) RT770E offers unmatched boom reach of 42 m (138 ft), making it the new class leader in the popular 60 — 70 USt category. The RT540, meanwhile, is an updated version of the RT540E. It has the same 35 t (40 USt) capacity and 31 m (102 ft) boom, but features the updated CCS operating system that was introduced earlier this year and will be rolled out across Manitowoc’s entire brand platform.

From the GMK all-terrain crane range the company will show two of the most popular units of recent times, the GMK6300L and GMK6400, two six-axle units with capacities of 300 t (350 USt) and 400 t (450 USt) respectively. The GMK6300L offers a huge 80 m (262 ft) main boom, while the GMK6400 offers unparalleled lifting ability combined with a series of award-winning innovations.

Other mobile cranes on Manitowoc’s CONEXPO booth will be two new boom trucks from National Crane, including the NBT60, the largest ever built by the company. This 54.4 t (60 USt) capacity crane features a 39 m (128 ft) boom, the longest in its class. Even with the larger size of the NBT60, the crane will still be roadable without the need for additional permits in most parts of North America.

There will be one unit from the NBT15 series which actually comprises three individual models from 9.1 t (10 USt) to 16.3 t (18 USt) capacity. The three cranes, NBT 14, NBT15 and NBT16, offer a load of new technologies and some of the longest boom lengths and highest capacities for boom trucks in their class.
Rounding out the mobile crane contingent on Manitowoc’s booth is the CD5520 industrial crane, the largest in the range. The crane, from the Shuttlelift brand, offers an 18 t (20 USt) maximum capacity and a 16.6 m (54 ft 6 in) main boom. The crane’s design is totally new and will act as a template for future models from both the Shuttlelift and YardBoss brands.

Tower cranes

The Potain brand of tower cranes will be represented with a new luffing jib tower crane plus the world’s largest self-erecting crane. The MR 418 luffing jib crane is the first in a new line from the company. It’s ideal for working on power stations or super tall buildings, and can be fitted with the giant 201 kW (270 hp) 320 LVF 120 hoist.
The Igo T 130 self-erecting crane, meanwhile, has a 50 m (164 ft) jib which gives it huge coverage of small and medium sized job sites. It can also vary its working height, depending on project requirements. Manitowoc expects that the crane will strongly appeal to customers with experience of the older Potain HDT 80, one of the most popular self-erecting cranes ever to work in North America.

Other services

In addition to cranes, there will be a strong showing from the customer support division, Manitowoc Crane Care. Information on training, parts, service and support will be available, as well as details on the global network of EnCORE refurbishment centers, which is continuing to expand worldwide.

Those wanting details on crane financing will also find plenty of information on the company’s stand, available through Manitowoc Finance.