The lifting segment of the construction industry suffered through another bad year in 2003, with sales in the U.S. projected to be off by 7% from 2002. This was on top of a 14.9% drop in 2002. Lifting equipment was one of only two product categories to show expected decreases in U.S. sales in the Association of Equipment Manufacturers' (AEM) 2003-2004 Outlook for Construction Equipment Business, an annual survey of the U.S.-based trade group. The only other category to see sales decline in the U.S. was concrete and aggregate equipment, also down 7%. The numbers are third-quarter estimates of the year's performance. Everyone surveyed is optimistic about sales in 2004 but, of course, optimism is cheap, and reality is often surprising.
U.S. sales were even more disappointing than sales of lifting equipment in Canada (down 4.5%) and the rest of the world (down 2.7%). And sales of lifting equipment (aerial work platforms; boom truck cranes; all-terrain, hydraulic-truck and rough-terrain cranes; lattice-boom cranes; rough-terrain fork lifts; hydraulic crawler cranes; tower cranes; and telescopic handlers) is expected to continue to be sluggish in the rest of the world in 2004.
For anyone still in the market to invest in equipment to lift material or personnel, here are some of the latest products.
Bigger and better
Grove unveiled its newest rough-terrain crane at the Manitowoc Crane Group Product Expo in September at the Shady Grove, Pa., plant. The RT800E exemplifies the continuing progression of the "E" series designation within the Grove rough-terrain lineup, according to the company. The new model uses the same cab and control setup found on other E-series rough-terrain cranes, so operators can quickly feel comfortable and productive switching from one E model to another.
The RT800E replaces the RT875C and RT875BXL and offers a higher lift capacity, a longer boom, a lower overall height and a standard counterweight removal system. The boom is a 38-142-ft, five-section, sequenced, synchronized, full-power Megaform boom. With the standard boom, the maximum tip height is 150 ft. A standard 31-56-ft offsettable lattice swingaway extension offsets 0°, 20° or 40° and stows alongside the base boom section. With the swingaway installed, the maximum tip height is 205 ft.
Two 16-ft lattice extension inserts also are available and provide a maximum tip height of 236 ft.
The graphic display in the cab shows load moment and anti-two block system with an audio-visual warning and control lever lockout. These systems provide electronic display of boom angle, length, radius, tip height, relative load moment, maximum permissible load, load indications and warning of impending two-block condition.
A Work Area Definition System also is standard and allows the operator to define safe working areas. If the crane approaches the preset limits, audio-visual warnings aid the operator in avoiding jobsite obstructions.
Max lifting
Max-Trax gauge widening allows the 348 HYLAB 5 lattice boom crawler crane the flexibility to adjust to various job conditions to provide optimum lift capacities. The 348 HYLAB 5 is a new entry into the 275-300-ton class from Link-Belt Construction Equipment Co., Lexington, Ky. At 300 ton, the new machine is positioned in the market to outperform and exceed the lift capacities in the 275-280-ton crane class, according to Link-Belt. In many cases its lift chart pushes the lift capacities of bigger 300-ton cranes because of Max-Trax. Link-Belt's patent on Max-Trax is pending.
The 348 H5 features a large, tilting cab, a new SML-10 load moment indicator, slab-type counterweights, big-engine horsepower and a remote hydraulic oil cooler.
The counterweight removal system on the 348 H5 can lower the entire slab-type upper counterweight in a single package and set it on the ground with no blocking required. Full counterweight is made up of 13 slab sections, each of which is designed to transport with various boom sections to minimize loads. Self-assembly is achieved by using a single hydraulic cylinder mounted in the live mast. In situations where transport weight is especially sensitive, the counterweight removal system itself can self-detach, reducing the main unit transport weight as low as 91,500 lb.
The 348 H5 has the same narrow gauge--19 ft 2 in.--as other 275-ton machines when retracted, but with the patent-pending Max-Trax system, the crane can be assembled in the extended wide mode to a track gauge of 22 ft to increase the lifting platform.
The 348 HYLAB 5 cab features a totally new, wider cab with 20° tilt, air conditioning and a full complement of easy-to-use gauges and controls, such as backlit gauges, adjustable armrest-mounted single-axis controls and low-effort hydraulic pedals with minimal pedal range of motion.
Extended capacity
The Iowa Mold Tooling Co. Inc., Garner, Iowa, has added two truck-mounted articulating cranes to their line of material-handling systems: the 52/380 series (Circle 917) and the 72/516 series. These additions nearly double the rated capacities of the company's machines. The new cranes are designed for two to eight hydraulic extensions. With eight hydraulic extensions, both models have a horizontal reach of 67.6 ft and a vertical reach of 77 ft. They have maximum lifting capacities of 26,000 lb (52/380) and 35,500 lb (72/516). The cranes can be equipped with an optional hydraulic jib.
Bigger service
Maintainer Corp. of Iowa Inc., Sheldon, Iowa, has introduced a 12,000-lb-class service body crane that provides extra reach. The new model 6220/24 crane with 12,000-lb lift capacity comes with fully hydraulic extension to either 20 or 24 ft. The crane's features include proportional controls, a worm-gear winch with a high-torque motor, 615° of rotation, a live swivel hook and short or tall tower configurations.
Engine option
The newly designed Caterpillar Tier II-compliant diesel engines are now an option on many of the telescoping boom lifts from JLG Industries Inc., Hagerstown, Md. The Cat Model 3024C, 50.9-hp engine is available on boom lifts with 40-46-ft platform height. The Model 3044C, 63.3-hp engine is being phased in on boom lifts with platform heights 60 ft and up.
Pro-Fit is a series of five electric-powered scissor lifts from JLG including what the company claims is the world's first machine with a 30-in. width and a 26-ft platform height. The Pro-Fit machines feature an electric drive system that uses two independent electric motors for the drive wheels. An improved control station permits one-handed control of both the proportional drive and lift functions.
Primary lift
An innovative lift structure enhances the operator productivity of the new Z-80/60 articulating boom lift from Genie Industries, Redmond, Wash. The design allows the operator to ascend and descend from ground to 80 ft with a single function of the primary boom. The lower riser need not be lowered to bring the platform to the ground, saving the operator time. The Z-80/60 has a maximum working height of 86 ft, outreach of 60 ft and up-and-over clearance of 29 ft. Drive options include combinations of two-wheel or four-wheel drive and two-wheel or four-wheel steer.
Renewed lift
After pausing production for a while, Manlift, now under Manitowoc's management, has decided to reintroduce the T40 telescopic straight-boom aerial work platform. The T40 extends to a 40-ft platform height. It features standard four-wheel drive and 60-hp dual-fuel or diesel power. Horizontal reach is 34 ft. The 36- x 94-in. platform has a swing gate, inside hand rails and 180° platform rotator. Platform capacity is 500 lb. The overall length of the T40 is 25 ft 2 in. with an outside turning radius of 15 ft. The proportional controls are adjustable for individual preference.
Stellar service
The Model 4420 telescopic service crane from Stellar Industries Inc., Garner, Iowa, is available in either a 12-volt electric/hydraulic or full hydraulic configuration. The crane can lift a maximum of 4,000 lb at 4 ft. It uses a planetary winch system with a 25-ft/min single-line winch speed and a maximum horizontal reach of 20 ft. The boom is hexagonal in cross-section to eliminate flex and side-to-side movement.
Climbing the walls
The Max Climber 2000P Passenger Hoist is designed to provide an easier and safer method of lifting construction personnel. It features 5-ft, 95-lb galvanized mast sections and is easily installed with four bolts. The Max Climber 2000P from Beta Max Inc., Melbourne, Fla., is space-efficient and comes with a fully enclosed passenger cabin, ground enclosure and safety features making the hoist ideal for all personnel lifting requirements. The system has an overall base footprint of 6.5 x 7.5 ft and features interlocking floor landing gates for maximum worker safety. The lift can be easily installed when using the drop-down installation platform built into the cabin.
