There's a New Boom in Town

Every lifting and handling situation is unique. Crane operators rely on performance-engineered technologies to overcome high wire capacity hoisting challenges when accessing and hoisting heavy loads at different angles and heights. 

 

The indispensability of more easily transportable and maneuverable truck-mounted cranes in the utility and construction segments continues to rise. Market analysis, according to Grandview Research, confirms that continued urbanization and infrastructure development projects are resulting in increased demand for mobile crane equipment worldwide. 

 

In North America, government investment in infrastructures, combined with healthy growth in building construction projects, has contributed to the need for versatile mobile equipment. 

Top selling points for leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), include adequate hoisting power, stability-enhancing ground penetration and high reach capabilities. All facilitate ease of operation and improved returns on time and effort invested in confined spaces and other unique clearance lifting environments. 

 

Manufacturers, such as Manitex and Braden (a PACCAR Winch brand) are aligned in their systems-thinking perspectives when developing durable equipment and components to meet the dynamic array of hoisting needs in today’s market. 

 

They recognize the diverse technology required to effectively build machines that are designed to safely lift and handle heavy loads at terrific heights. 

 

Operators looking to get the most out of every layer of cable generally strive for better hoist motion control and more efficient movement, through a versatile range of working radii and lift heights. 

Manitex’s TC850 series machine is a confidence booster for multiple trades, from sign installers to steel erectors. Introduced at ConExpo 2023, the TC85159 has an 85-ton base rating at 10 ft radius and includes a 159 ft, full power, proportionally extended boom in five sections. 

 

The TC85159 also features non-equal swing out and out-and-down style outrigger positioning, with impressive ground penetration affording quick set ups in tight spaces and on uneven terrain. The 360-degree area of operation eliminates the necessity for a front/fifth outrigger. 

 

Outfitted with a BRADEN PD21C hydraulic planetary hoist, the TC85159 is the largest crane mounted on a commercial carrier and offered for sale in North America. BRADEN PD Series hoists feature an impressive range of capabilities including a power drum design, with a sealed, high-efficiency gear system located inside the drum barrel allowing for continuous duty performance and maximum installation versatility. 

 

Outstanding reliability and fail-safe load handling are facilitated via the PD Series’ dynamic and multi-disc static brake systems, as well as an overrunning clutch for fall-back protection. The patented BRADEN brake valve enables smooth operation and precise control while raising or lowering a load. 

 

A new boom design on the TC85159 provides for excellent relative stiffness in long-reach applications, an attractive feature for utility and construction equipment operators, and other high-duty cycle applications where production is key. 

 

Safety and labor-savings benefits are already being realized with this innovative mobile crane solution which, with a commercial chassis, can be compared to traditional truck cranes.

 

Manitex’s customers are involved in everything from oil and gas and mining to utilities, telecom, road and bridge work, vertical construction of all types, HVAC systems, erection of lighting, signs, roadside billboards, and more. 

 

For projects that require heavy precision lifting, the performance-enhancing capabilities of high-capacity truck-mounted crane solutions are more often being viewed as essential. 

 

A mobile crane offering extended reach and precision hoisting power helps expedite tasks by minimizing the need for repositioning and setup, enhancing project productivity. 

 

Deployment of the right mobile crane solution can improve safety and limit equipment idle time, subsequently boosting the level of safety, as well as faster project completion times for better profitability.

 

The TC85159 was designed with a hydraulic variable displacement piston pump motor for smoother operation and compatibility with multiple gear configurations. This unit is complete with aluminum work platforms for easy maintenance, boom line rollers, an optional auxiliary hoist, high-torque swing gear drive system, and self-removable counterweight system. 

 

Randy Robertson, sales and marketing director with Manitex, said the TC85159 is their answer to calls for enhanced visibility and maneuverability in multiple utility and construction fields.

The TC85159 is specified for a ¾" (19 mm) diameter load line with the BRADEN PD21C hoist in this configuration. A grooved drum on PD Series hoists for Manitex offers improved spooling and increased rope life. Negative draft angle machine flanges help prevent the cable from spooling incorrectly. Additionally, a hoist drum rotation indicator provides for increased operator confidence.

 

Different industries often have fluctuating demands and project scopes. High reach capabilities allow vehicle-mounted crane operators to adapt to various project requirements, accommodating changes in job site conditions, load sizes and accessibility needs. 

 

Grandview Research’s analysis suggests that companies working in multiple industry verticals are expected to drive growth in the boom truck equipment segment. The ability to move easily between jobs and leverage the use of cranes on multiple worksites represents a tremendous value in the field. 

 

Robertson discussed competitive advantages in truck-mounted crane technologies, including differentiators in line with the expectations of major operators moving into 2024. 

 

He said capabilities for full crane deployment and wireless operation, without assistance and avoiding the hard costs of using an additional spotter, were developed on the TC85159 – available via optional 4-function radio remotes. Operators can now utilize nearby buildings or structures, thereby taking advantage of proper elevations and vantage points for seamless visibility and control. “An operator can work where he is not in a blind lift situation,” Robertson explained.

 

Standard remote crane hoist control capabilities allow a single person at the front bumper to deploy and stow the hook from a secure distance. At the same time, fatigue associated with repeatedly having to climb in and out of the machine can be reduced. 

 

“It’s a cyclical market, and there are a lot of aging utilities and infrastructure,” Robertson said. “The key is that we are helping carry efforts in the industries forward — to help crane operators be more prepared and efficient when they are at the controls.”