Carry deck cranes tackle tasks industry-wide

Best put by Briette Baxter, product manager for Manitowoc Cranes, “Carry deck cranes are just really simple machines.” However, these small but mighty cranes tackle important tasks across a variety of industries. And one thing is for sure, size isn’t an indicator of ability. These cranes pack a powerful punch and gain access to lifts that many other machines cannot accomplish.

The market for carry deck cranes is indicative of their steady demand industry wide.

Baxter said Manitowoc, which produces the Shuttlelift and Yard Boss line of carry deck cranes, is starting to notice a stabilization in the market.

“We are seeing some increase in sales,” she said. “The rental market is definitely the top customer of our carry deck cranes. Right now the demand seems to be in the 15-ton and larger cranes.”

The same is true for Broderson Manufacturing Company, according to CEO Jeff Bust.

“We are seeing a good rebound to a positive cycle this year after two down cycle years,” Bust said.

With production starting this month, Manitowoc has launched the new Shuttlelift SCD15, which the company recently revealed at The Rental Show in Florida. The 15-ton capacity crane features a pivoting boom nose, allowing for more clearance and better access to confined areas. The Shuttlelift SCD15 has a standard, three-section 41-foot boom, but customers also have the option of a four-section, full-power 50-foot boom.

Justin Pilgrim, Manitowoc’s global product director for boom trucks and carry deck cranes, said that rental houses looking to expand their offerings for industrial applications will find the crane ideal.

Power options

Broderson has eight carry deck crane models in its product range, and all but one is offered with diesel, dual fuel or LPG engine options.

“The smallest Broderson industrial carry deck model is the IC-20 with a 2.5-ton rated load capacity,” said Bust. “The largest industrial carry deck model currently in production is the IC-400 with a 25-ton rated load capacity.

In December of 2017 Broderson will begin production deliveries of the IC-600 industrial carry deck crane that was introduced at ConExpo. The IC-600 is a 30-ton rated capacity crane. The IC-400 and IC-600 are only offered with diesel engines.

Broderson’s top markets include oil and gas, automotive, steel, mining, paper, chemical and power generating industrial applications as well as in general construction and infrastructure construction applications, in addition to performing routine maintenance in a variety of industrial applications.

In regards to best-selling units, according to Jack Garczynski, sales engineer at Bailey Specialty Cranes and Aerials, customers are just learning of the electric option in carry decks without sacrifice of performance. Customers are trying to reduce the emission indoors to become more environmentally friendly.

Garczynski added that carry deck cranes are ideal machines for indoor operations at food preparation companies, manufacturing plants and even hospitals. These cranes can also be found in refineries, warehouses, pre-cast concrete yards, in steel fabrication facilities, logistic yards, heavy equipment repair shops, chemical plants and military bases, to name a few.

“Bailey’s electric carry deck cranes are ideal for any indoor and clean room use,” he said. “They include the option to include hybrid propane back-up. Very quiet to operate, they boast over eight hours of heavy use on a single charge, and the crab steering allows for easier maneuvering in tight spaces.”

Batteries included

Bailey Crane’s BC-18 boasts an 18,000 pound capacity and a max tip height of 46 feet. With a rated load indicator, this crane actually produces zero emission. A high efficiency AC traction and pump motors, in addition to load-sensing hydraulics, add to the appeal of the 9-ton crane.

“Sales are steady and consistent,” said Mike Brooks Jr., product manager at JMG USA. “JMG USA is finding more interest and activity in the industrial maintenance sector than ever. Rentals are strong. JMG’s bestselling unit is the MC22.”

Often an added perk of the carry-deck cranes, the smaller footprint offers a much more “green” use of heavy machinery. However when it comes to what sets carry-deck cranes apart, there are a multitude of significant attributes. They can be used in confined work areas, are designed for interior use and have the control mechanisms and safeguards to protect sensitive infrastructure.

“They are compact enough to be maneuvered through the width of an average double door, yet powerful enough to lift thousand-pound machines like pumps and mixers, raise filter screens, move or replace motors, generators and more,” Brooks said.

JMG’s product line ranges in lifting capacity from 2 to 63 tons. They are available in fully electric models, eliminating exhaust fumes, noise and the risk of leaking. Most models are also available in non-marking, white treads. These cranes can be driven or operated via radio remote (some of the smaller models are only available in a radio-remote version). The JMGs’ Electronic Load Moment Indicator (LMI) delivers some of the industry’s most precise control and safety measures. It displays the weight of the load lifted, the maximum admitted load, tilting percentage, operating radius, angle, outreach and more. It also includes a series of warning indicators to alert an operator of abnormal status conditions.”

The number of industries that have come to appreciate a pick and carry crane’s versatility continues to grow, according to Brooks, because of their specific design for easy indoor use and precision control.

Clean operations

The the key benefits of the electric or battery powered models are that there are no fumes or exhaust, no potential for leaking, no noise and less dirt/oil/residue generation. There is also the overall lighter impact on the environment.

However, different cranes and engine types are suited for different projects.

A benefit of diesel-powered carry deck models is that they are not limited by the life of the charge as the battery or electric-powered models are. A battery powered model might have eight or so hours of life before recharging. One can just refuel and resume operations with a diesel-powered crane.

“The electric [engine] is kind of for the niche market,” said Manitowoc’s Baxter. “I know it’s more expensive and there’s usually a pretty big reason why they’re going to that, for environmental reasons they don’t have to worry about the exhaust. Environmentally they’re pretty friendly, but it is expensive to do that right now. The diesel engines are probably the most widely used and most familiar to the crane and construction equipment industries. Some of the advantages are the longevity of the engine, the resale value and the power you would get from the diesel engine.”

Baxter also added that because the SCD15 carry deck is less than 75 horsepower, it doesn’t need to be accompanied by diesel exhaust fluid. This makes it the perfect candidate for rental companies.

But with constant demand, what new machines can be expected to hit the market to diversify this line of machines?

According to Brooks, the newest JMG is the MC580, which is currently the largest pick-and-carry crane in the JMG family. It has a maximum lifting capacity of more than 63 tons, and has a reach of 47 feet (with extensions). This battery operated electric crane also includes the ability to control all movements via radio, which allows the surrounding spaces to be checked.

The advantages of the MC580 are its performance in relation to its size, the removable counterweights for transport and hydraulic boom extension of the axle that increase the capacities in the various configurations.