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Manitowoc has introduced its Potain MDT 809 at bauma 2019, the largest topless crane ever built by the company. With an excellent lift capacity and reach, the new crane also boasts an advanced design that provides reduced operating costs and easier assembly for owners.
“The launch of the MDT 809 is one of the most significant Potain tower crane launches of recent times,” said Thibaut Le Besnerais, Manitowoc’s global product director for tower cranes. “Over the past 10 years we’ve seen consistent growth in demand for topless cranes, with customers benefiting from their fast assembly and compact design, which makes it easier to get more cranes onto a job site to complete work quicker.
“Alongside this we’ve seen an increase in modular construction, with contractors needing to lift heavier loads. It’s clear to us that there is strong demand for bigger topless cranes. But we wanted to be sure that any new model we launch not only satisfied demand for greater capacity, but also preserved the easy transport, fast assembly and industry-leading performance our other topless cranes deliver. The MDT 809 provides all that and more.”
With its highly optimised assembly and disassembly, owners can install the crane on site in the shortest possible time and move it off site rapidly once work is completed. The crane offers up to 40 t of lift capacity and can accommodate up to 80 m of jib. For transport, the crane is especially compact, with everything but the slewing mechanism capable of travelling in a standard container.
According to Manitowoc, the whole crane transports in either 10 or 11 containers, depending on the winch option selected, which is four to five fewer containers than is typically required for a crane of this size. Smart design features to aid shipping include protective packaging for the jib sections; optimised space usage for containerisation and a cab that rotates for transport. The crane also has a new 8-m cross base that offers the performance characteristics of a 10 m chassis, but which requires only one container for transport.
The Potain MDT 809 is not only fast to transport, but also fast to assemble once on site: typically, around twice as fast as other 40 t cranes and also requiring less space, said Manitowoc. With its full complement of jib, the crane can be assembled at a 50 m working height in less than three days. The 8-m cross base is not only easier to transport but also faster to set up than the 10 m alternative, added the company.
There are dedicated slinging points on the crane to aid on-site assembly and jib sections can be assembled either on the ground or in the air, depending on site conditions and available space. The rotating cab and easy-connect points for the counterjib further simplify erection. Options for assembling the jib range from the 30 m minimum up to the 80 m maximum in 5 m sections.
“We’ve designed the jib not only to be easier to assemble but also to make it easier to service,” said Mr Le Besnerais. “Overall the MDT 809 represents a new way of thinking in terms of high-capacity topless cranes. It is ideal for large construction sites yet also offers an ability to be assembled on projects where space is constrained. We’re already seeing strong interest from the construction, industrial and shipyard sectors.”
From the range of regular frequency-controlled hoists, options for the crane span from the 100LVF to the 270LVF. An optional 150HPL is also offered, from the High Performance Lifting range, for the ultimate in speed and strength. These winch options give the crane a maximum available capacity of 25 t, 32 t or 40 t. Tip loads of up to 9 t are available at the 80 m maximum. With the new reinforced K-mast system, freestanding heights of up to 80 m are possible.
Users can choose from a two-fall configuration on the trolley for faster duty-cycle lifting, or four-falls for heavy lifting. Inside the cab a simple push-button solution enables the operator to activate the cable-tensioning system automatically. This is particularly useful for long-running job sites, where tensioning is required more frequently. The Crane Control System (CCS) features too, with its customisable operator profiles; simpler commissioning; load curve P+ functionality and much more.
First mobile Potain Hup self-erecting crane
Potain has also previewed its first mobile Hup self-erecting crane, the Hup M 28-22. It is the third model from the Hup self-erecting crane range but the first to prioritise mobility. The crane is scheduled for launch in early 2020.
The new design of the Hup M 28-22 provides excellent compactness. The model is only 11.5 m long when folded, enabling work in narrow, restricted job sites, as well as making it easy to transport from site to site. It also features the most advanced transport equipment with double steering axles.
“The new Hup M 28-22 optimises mobility, productivity and versatility for our customers,” said Jean-Pierre Zaffiro, global product director for Potain self-erecting cranes at Manitowoc. “This combination will increase return on investment for many lifters.”
The Hup M 28-22 has a 28 m jib and features 16 configurations, which is unique to this category of self-erecting cranes, enabling it to be easily adapted for a range of jobsite applications. The crane has a maximum capacity of 2.2 t and can lift 850 kg at its 28 m jib end.
Versatility is delivered with the crane’s raised jib that offers four positions: horizontal, 10°, 20°and even 30°. These functions give the crane a height under hook range between 20 m and 31 m. Folding or extending the jib is a swift and straightforward operation, with the Hup M 28-22 offering convenient configurations for both short and long jib lengths.
Operator productivity on the Hup M 28-22 is maximised through Manitowoc’s remote control unit. The remote system features a large, coloured screen with easy to use navigation and optimised ergonomics for operator comfort. Its Smart Set Up software delivers on-screen, information on automatic folding and unfolding of the crane from the crane’s remote.
Like the other Hup models in the range, this new model also benefits from Manitowoc’s Drive Control functionality: three selectable profiles for operators that vary the working speed of the crane to suit the application. On the top of that, the micro-speed function delivers slow and high precision hoisting.
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