VIDEO: Intermat 2009 Cranes & Lifting Review

Despite the economic concerns and some notable absentees, April's Intermat 2009 exhibition in Paris turned out to be a positive and worthwhile experience for most of its exhibitors. IC rounds up news from the show.

Starting off our pictorial review of the 2009 Intermat construction equipment exhibition is Spanish tower crane manufacturer Jaso which launched a new 10 tonne capacity tower crane.

The J150.10 is the second model in a new series of three. It can lift 1.6 tonnes at 65 m and has a unique design in that it is a flat top and cat head cross. Rather than the conventional two ties, this model only has one.

Another feature is that all the upper components, including trolley and winch are contained in one unit for easy assembly. The crane's smaller brother, the J120.10 was launched in 2008, while the bigger J420 will be introduced later this year. It will have a 20 tonne capacity and lift 4 tonnes at 80 m.

Crawler cranes

Largest crane at the show was Liebherr's imposing 600 tonne capacity LR 1600/2 lattice boom crawler in the colours of Usabiaga, Spain.

Largest new crane was the 400 tonne capacity Kobelco SL4500 lattice boom crawler from Japan. A handover ceremony saw the crane presented to Weldex, the UK's largest crawler crane rental company.

Another new crawler crane was from Sennebogen in Germany. Erich Sennebogen says his company's new 90 tonne capacity heavy duty model 690 lattice boom crawler is the first of a new generation of machines built on a completely new concept.

From China Sany will launch new 650 and 100 tonne capacity crawler cranes by the end of the year. The 650 tonne SCC6500WE will initially be aimed at the Chinese market but exports may follow in the next three years.

Zhu Wenkui, Sany Science and Technology international sales director, said the model was designed primarily for the erection of 3 MW wind turbines. It offers a maximum main boom of 84 m, plus a 12 m fixed jib. It has a 7 m retractable chassis, while the engine passes Euro Stage III emission standards.

In contrast, the 100 tonne capacity Sany heavy duty SCC1000HD crawler will be aimed at export markets across the world immediately, ranging from Europe to South East Asia.

Also from China, Zoomlion is launching a new dealership network across Europe. The Chinese manufacturer's UK dealer Crowland is at the centre of the plans and has already become the only service centre in Europe to offer a comprehensive stock of spare parts, according to Crowland.

Peter Isitt, Crowland managing director, said it set up a fruitful partnership with the manufacturer to ensure imports met European standards. More active dealers offering such service will follow on the continent.

William Chen, Zoomlion overseas marketing manager, said there had already been some 40 units sold of the 70 tonne capacity QUY 70 crawler crane across Europe.

Zoomlion and XCMG crane dealer Crane China was showing at the exhibition. The four-year-old company is one of the top ten exporters of construction machinery manufactured in China, says its business director Ken Lee.

In 2008 Crane China exported 300 truck and crawler cranes mainly to the Middle East and Africa, with about 10% going to Asian countries. Lee said the company would now concentrate on setting up an after sales team for European customers.

Back in Europe, GGR in the UK has launched the world's first Zone 1 air-powered mini-crane for hazardous offshore and petrochemical environments, as well as underground controlled sectors. The AL Series will initially comprise three models: the AL529, AL629 and AL660, with a further three in development.

Capacities are 2.9 tonnes at 1.4 m, 2.9 tonnes at 2.5 m and 6 tonnes at 3 m, respectively. The series is classified to operate in hazardous Zone 1 and 2 environments and meets the requirements of the EU ATEX 95 Equipment Directive.

Another mini-crane specialist, Maeda Mini Cranes showed its 6 tonne capacity LC1385B crawler crane for the first time in Europe. Suitable for small-scale construction and industrial applications, for example, moving robotic machinery, the model has a 16.26m boom and an optional fly jib offsetable from 0-60 degrees.

A front blade comes as standard.Other features include 2 tonne pick and carry duty, programmable moment limiter, rear view camera and a tilt sensor and alarm. Also on display was the new MC174 CRM mini crane.

It replaces the 995 kg capacity MC104 CER petrol version, while the 104 electric version remains in the range. The machine's slim width of 590 mm, coupled with a 1.72 tonne lifting capacity makes it unequalled in the market, says the company. Maximum working height is 5.5 m.

Wheeled mobiles

The new 350 tonne capacity Liebherr LTM 1350-6.1 all terrain was shown for the first time at Intermat.

Marchetti has launched a 60 tonne capacity truck crane upper that can be operated without the chassis. The Italian manufacturer says the MTK 60 is designed for markets as far afield as Brazil and Australia where the customer will supply the chassis.

Maximum boom length is 40 m, with the option of an additional 14.5 m swingaway jib. Features include remote controlled outriggers and an independent engine for the crane superstructure. Marcello Maestri, Marchetti export manager, said the upper is completely independent from the chassis, which makes the crane cheaper to transport and more flexible for the customer.

Martin van Riel from Netherlands-based crane rental company M.J. van Riel was congratulated on being the first customer of Manitowoc's new 45 tonne capacity Grove GCK3045 city crane. Riel said it was ideally suited for projects based inside buildings thanks to its compact design.

The rental firm has 82 cranes, mostly Grove all terrains, as well as a number of tower cranes. Pictured left to right are Eric Etchart, Manitowoc Cranes president; Martin van Riel of M.J. van Riel, Philippe Cohet, Manitowoc EMEA executive vice president and Frans Vanwinkel, Manitowoc vice president sales and marketing for EMEA.

New from Locatelli in Italy was the 50 tonne capacity Gril 8500TL rough terrain with five section synchronised 37 m boom (40 m tip height) and Cummins engine.

Luna showed its 40 tonne capacity GT40/32 truck mounted crane with 32 m telescopic boom. It is mounted on an MAN 6 x 4 TGA 33.440 truck. Two new cranes are in development for launch next year. One is the GTR-30/110 recovery tow truck with 30 tonne capacity telescopic crane for heavy recovery work.

The 40 tonne capacity truck mounted TMC 540 was a surprise launch from Manitowoc Grove. The GSK55 behind it is the telescopic boom upper from a 55 tonne capacity GMK3055 all terrain mounted on a specially built semi trailer hauled by any standard commercial tractor unit.

Palfinger showed a large knuckle boom crane in the colours of French rental house Mediaco.

More towers

Mantis presented the new 36.10 self-erecting tower crane. It lifts 4 tonnes. Replacing the 35.10 model, the new crane has been designed so that the ballast weight from the model can still be used, thereby providing a cost saving, said the customer. It also shares the same hoisting and trolley motors as well as other components.

The 36.10 can be set up with jib configurations of 36, 32, 28 and 14 m, giving maximum hook heights, with luffing jib, of 27 m or 22 m with horizontal jib.

Manitowoc Potain's new MDT 368 tops the MDT series of distinctive-looking flat top tower cranes.

The Gapo GA 16 is a new self-propelled machine for moving self-erecting tower cranes and industrial machines on site. It was designed by the Gavarini Group in Italy and offers remote or manual operation on rough terrain. The one-axle machine can pull or push up to 25 tonnes and lift up to 11 tonnes.

Gapo is the Manitowoc dealer for central Italy and has been working on the product for six years.

Marco Gavarini said the GA 16 was suited to rental firms and companies in the logistics sector. Transport companies wishing to move semi-trailers on their own site would also benefit, he added. The first unit had been sold the UK and company is now working on similar transporters for different machines.