Market for self-erectors shows potential

Self-erecting tower cranes eliminate the need for excess equipment on a jobsite and can often replace more traditional methods of material handling, saving time and money. As the popularity of self-erecting tower cranes increases in North America, the design of these machines are evolving with new features and benefits.

“The market for self-erecting tower cranes shows a huge growth potential as it is still more or less a niche product in most parts of North America,” said Christoph Brandenburg, sales manager North America, Liebherr USA. “But more and more companies are thinking out-of-the-box and looking for lifting concepts outside of mobile cranes, telescopic forklifts, etc.”

A smaller footprint than mobile cranes allow self-erectors to fit on more compact jobsites and be utilized for more intricate projects.

“Up and over reach enables the cranes to be placed right next to buildings and eliminates the problems with being ‘boom bound,’” said Angelo Cosmo, senior marketing manager, Terex. “Once erected, self-erecting cranes perform all of the project hoisting from one position, eliminating the need for forklift access paths.”

Self-erectors also offer a number of advantages when compared to mobile or truck cranes and the utilization of conventional tower cranes.

“The power requirements are low and can be handled by a generator if there is not power at the jobsite,” said Stephen Jehle, president, P&J Arcomet. “Their load charts are similar to that of small tower cranes, but without the need of a costly mobile crane for erection and dismantling. Taking into consideration setup and maintenance costs, self-erecting cranes are ideally suited for industrial and residential construction, prefab assembly and many other types of projects that are traditionally the domain of mobile cranes or small city class tower cranes.”

Horizontal load movements also do not require luffing of the boom, Jehle added. Instead, the trolley travels along the boom, allowing for higher displacement speeds. Additionally, single-origin large area coverage can improve jobsite safety and simplify lift plan cycles.

“Self-erectors also provide many of the advantages that traditional tower cranes have in combination with the flexibility afforded by alternate lifting solutions,” said Brandenburg. “The ability to adapt to site-specific limitations that might require special consideration (both in and out of operation), as well as the additional safety, environmentally friendly operation because of zero emission and independence are only some of the benefits afforded by self-erecting cranes on modern jobsites.”

ACT surveyed some of the major self-erector manufacturers for info on their latest models that are breaking the mold of conventional construction equipment.

Liebherr 125 K

Due to the growing demand for high capacity self-erector cranes in North America, Liebherr is topping off its K Crane Series with the largest fast-erecting crane now available in the market, the Liebherr 125 K, according to the company. With the slogan “maximum possibilities,” the 125 K allows users to achieve a new level of performance, according to Liebherr.

The 125 K features a radius up to 180 feet, 1 inch; a load moment of 125 tons; a maximum lifting capacity of 17,640 pounds; a compact slewing radius of 13 feet, 1 inch; and a maximum height under hook, with a raised jib, of 225 feet, 1 inch.

The K 125’s design and technical attributes make the crane ideal for civil engineering work including bridges, infrastructure projects and hydroelectric plants. It is also a choice tool for commercial construction using prefabricated concrete elements for industrial and production buildings. The crane can also show its strengths in home building, which requires a powerful yet flexible crane. The 125 K is the perfect crane for handling high lifting capacities with short construction periods at low costs, the company said.

The 125 K also includes features such as Micromove, Speed2Lift and a remote control system with display. Liebherr can also supply a wide range of options such as Load-Plus and LED construction site lamps. The crane is also available with an operator’s cabin.

Hup M 28-22

The Hup M 28-22 is the third model from the Manitowoc Potain Hup self-erecting crane range and the first to prioritize mobility, the company said. The model made its North American debut at ConExpo 2020, complete with an all-new integrated transport axle designed for the local market. The double-steering axle gives the model better jobsite accessibility and enables it to travel at speeds of up to 50 mph. It provides compactness, measuring just 38 feet when folded. It is the most compact crane in its category, enabling it to easily move from site to site and to be maneuvered into narrow, restricted spaces at the jobsite. The crane has a 92-foot jib and features 16 configurations, which is unique to this category of crane, and this enables it to be adapted for a range of applications.

Terex CSE 32

With its new CSE 32, Terex is introducing the first model of a new generation of self-erecting tower cranes. The CSE 32 features a jib length of 105 feet, maximum capacity of 4.85 tons, maximum tip load of 1.16 tons and a hoist speed up to 184 feet/min. The hook height can vary between 70.5 to 88.6 feet and has a swing radius of 7.38 feet. The new crane design, motors and electronic control improve performances and usability, the company said. The CSE 32 is a fully-electronically controlled crane, equipped with an intuitive user interface and new Terex Power Plus (TPP) function. It boosts operating capacity by an extra 10 percent when needed and is ready for the T-Link Telematic platform. It gives users the freedom to be in control of their fleet data anytime and from anywhere, as long as internet is available. The CSE 32 is available in both CE and UL versions and is compliant with EN14439-REV.1 safety standard. The Terex self-erecting CSE 32 will be available for purchase starting third quarter of 2020.

Arcomet A50 Eco

The Belgian crane company Arcomet also presented its A50 Eco crane in the U.S. for the first time at ConExpo 2020. P&J Arcomet serves as the exclusive partner for the Arcomet self-erector line in the U.S. and Canada.

The A50 Eco is the largest self-erector on the market with a higher lifting capacity than any other model in the company’s range. Its key features include its 164-foot-long jib and seven different hook heights of up to 118.11 feet. The A50 Eco’s lifting capacity tops at 8.82 tons. At the tip of the 164-foot jib, the crane can handle loads of up to 1.6 tons. Arcomet equips the A50 Eco with frequency-controlled motors that offer highest precision at low energy consumption. Transport is made simple using the high-speed axle and gooseneck adaptor for tractor trailer operation.