Lifting Equipment Companies Receive Recognition for Innovation

November 2, 2005 • The Leadership in Lifting Equipment and Access Platforms (LLEAP) Awards, presented by Lift and Access magazine, pay homage to innovative products introduced between April 1, 2004, and March 31, 2005. Judged by a group of 11 experts in the crane, aerial lift, and material handling fields, including national and independent rental companies, wholesale re-rental, sales, safety, and consulting, as well as the Lift and Access editorial staff, 30 products in six categories were scored based on their innovation, influence, and benefits. These categories include aerial work platforms; material handlers; cranes; optional equipment, attachments, or accessories; safety features or operating systems; and a catchall miscellaneous section.

Twelve products received recognition as Best Overall, First Place, or Runner Up in their respective categories. In determining the Best Overall Winner, the Tadano America AML with Non-Symmetrical Outriggers is clearly an innovative feature • not only does it provide excellent operator benefits, but it also is a safety feature in a league of its own. But when it came to scoring, another product seemed to be just as suited for the title. Wire Rope Corp. of America presented its stunning XLT4 wire rope, which only missed the title by half a point. Unfortunately, only one can be named Best Overall, and the highest score wins, but the XLT4 certainly deserves an honorable mention.

 

A summary of the winners follows. Twelve out of 30 products were recognized by Lift and Access. For complete LLEAP coverage, request a copy of the November 2005 LLEAP Awards issue presented by Lift and Access magazine from Editor Katie Parrish at kparrish@liftandaccess.com.

 

 

Best Overall and First Place • Safety Features or Operating Systems

Tadano America AML with Non-Symmetrical Outriggers

 

Enlarge Image Tadano America AML

For many operators, the ability to set up a crane in confined spaces is often a frustrating experience. To address this issue, most crane manufacturers began offering multiple position outriggers with accompanying load charts in the 1990s. Fully retracted, mid-extension, and full extension positions are typically available, requiring all outriggers to be symmetrically positioned and also reducing the load chart for 360° operation.

 

Taking the multi-position outrigger concept forward is Tadano America, Houston, with its non-symmetrical outrigger control, which allows each outrigger to be independently positioned in one of four pre-set locations. Dozens of outrigger configurations are possible. Sensors detect outrigger positions, the degree of rotation of the superstructure, and the boom's elevation and extension.

 

Powered by the company's new Automatic Moment Limiter (AML) control system, the non-symmetrical outriggers are available in North America on Series-4 rough-terrain crane models from Tadano. These machines include five different RT models — the sixth model, the TR-150XL-4, is scheduled for introduction this fall.

 

First Place • Aerial Lifts

Genie Z-135/70 Articulating Boom Lift

 

Enlarge Image Genie Z-135

Featuring a 135-foot platform height, a maximum horizontal reach of 59'2" with the riser extended (69'9" with the riser retracted), and a 75'6" up-and-over clearance with the riser extended (32'6" with it retracted), the Z-135/70 articulating boom is the tallest machine Genie could build that can be legally transported on a standard single-drop trailer. With that in mind, the gross vehicle weight is 44,900 pounds, and its overall stowed length and width are 42'5" and 8'1", respectively. When the boom is in a stowed position, the height is 10'1" with the leading edge of the pivot assembly offering 51 inches of clearance — plenty of room for clearing a drop-deck trailer or climbing an incline.

 

One feature that sets the Z-135/70 apart from its “megasize” competitors is the patented X-Chassis expanding axle design. Competitive models and Genie's other 80-foot-plus units incorporate extending axles that use a sliding box within a box telescoping design. However, for this unit, Genie developed a system that independently mounts each axle on vertical king pins.

 

First Place • Material Handlers

Manitou Twisco SLT 415 Telescopic Handler

 

Enlarge Image Manitou Twisco SLT 415

The Manitou Twisco SLT 415 takes the cake when it comes to being compact. The name “Twisco” is a combination of the word “twist” for the machine's movement and tele“sco”pic function.

 

Featuring an overall height of 75 inches and an overall width of 66 inches, the Twisco squeezes in tight spaces that other machines can't. Lift capacity at a 24-inch load center is 2,800 pounds, maximum lift height is 13 feet, and maximum forward reach is 7'10”. Maximum below grade reach is 24 inches.

 

The Twisco's three-wheel configuration, rear-wheel steering, and small 88-inch inside turning radius makes this a highly maneuverable machine. Three drive wheels, 10-inch ground clearance, and differential lock help in rough-terrain applications. Adding to its mobility is its 5,250-pound gross vehicle weight, which allows for easy transportability with only a pickup truck and trailer.

First Place (Tie) • Cranes

 

As the votes were tallied, in some instances the totals ended up being closer than we expected. In the crane section, for example, the Potain Igo MA13 self-erecting crane and the Liebherr LTM 1200-5.1 all-terrain crane tied for first place. And the closest scoring product behind the Liebherr and Potain cranes was only two-tenths of a point less.

Liebherr LTM 1200-5.1 All-Terrain Crane

 

Enlarge Image Liebherr LTM 1200-5.1 AT crane

The LTM 1200-5.1 all-terrain crane features one of the longest telescopic booms in the five-axle class, and its 220-ton maximum lifting capacity helps round out the Liebherr mobile crane product line.

 

It features a 236-foot, seven-section boom that extends automatically to the required length using the TELEMATIK single-cylinder telescoping system. An optional 23-foot-long lattice jib section can be added to the telescopic boom to increase the base point for the 40- to 72-foot bi-parted swing-away jib. The jib also can be extended up to 118 feet with two 23-foot lattice jib extensions.

 

Powering the crane's superstructure is a 197-hp Liebherr four-cylinder turbocharged inline engine that satisfies the latest exhaust emission regulations. The hydraulic system has five axial-piston variable-displacement pumps with servo-control and capacity control, and up to four work movements can be carried out simultaneous.

 

Up to 79 tons of counterweight is available for the LTM 1200-5.1. At 9.8 feet wide, the 13-ton base slab is narrower than the width of the vehicle. Four additional 11-ton slabs extend the counterweight to 57 tons with a counterweight width of 12.3 feet.

 

Potain Igo MA13 Self-Erecting Crane

 

Enlarge Image Potain Igo MA13

The Potain Igo MA13 is the smaller of two machines in the highly transportable MA. Featuring a maximum capacity of 2 tons, maximum hook reach of 66 feet, and maximum hook height of 68 feet, the MA13's appealing attributes include its compact size, ease of erection and operation, and it's configured for rapid transport from jobsite to jobsite.

 

The MA13's compact footprint and short rear slewing radius allows the crane to be placed close to structures; in really tight situations, the jib can be folded back to reduce the radius to 34'5". Overall outrigger width is a compact 11'10"x11'10", and the superstructure and counterweight rotates within this dimension, making the MA13 ideal for tight jobsites in urban settings.

 

Weighing in at 23,000 pounds, the MA13 can be towed using a standard pintle hook hitch arrangement with a minimum 1,000-pound tongue capacity up to 50 mph. Once the machine is on the job, the crane self erects in about 45 minutes using a Hetronic wireless handheld remote control unit, which features a pair of omni-direction joysticks and a set of function selector switches. The counterweight, jib, and mast section are self-contained on the unit during transport

and are deployed hydraulically.

 

First Place • Optional Equipment, Attachments & Accessories

JLG Workstation in the Sky^® Accessory Packages

 

Enlarge Image JLG Workstation in the Sky

JLG Industries' Workstation in the Sky^® accessory packages were designed for all JLG Pro-Fit™ electric scissor lifts to add benefits for electricians, plumbers, and plant maintenance workers but can be used by any operator who needs to work overhead on maintenance, retrofits, or new construction in factories, schools, warehouses or other facilities.

 

Central to the Workstation in the Sky package is the removable workstation that fits over the rails of the Pro-Fit scissor lifts and includes a stowable 8"x20" hardwood workbench for cutting materials, wiring light fixtures, or boxes. Molded pockets provide storage for connectors, hangars, or other loose materials to keep fasteners accessible and the deck free of debris and clear for bending conduit.

 

First Place • Miscellaneous

Wire Rope Corp. of America XLT4 Wire Rope

 

Enlarge Image XLT4 wire rope

The XLT4 wire rope from Wire Rope Corp. of America was conceived as an alternative to multi-layer, multi-strand rotation-resistant wire rope and underwent a number of design challenges to achieve near-zero torque under load. The XLT4's low-torque is a result of the rope's four-strand single-layer design and a balance between rope lay and strand lay — in essence, all four strands are on the outside of the rope, and there are no layers of strands creating opposing torque.

 

The first thing to note about the rope's unique design is it does not classify as a rotation-resistant wire rope. A rotation-resistant rope uses the opposite lay direction of outer and inner strands to reduce torque in the rope, and the opposite lay direction of the strand layers produces a different contact pattern between the strand layers found in a standard rope.

 

Without the layers of ropes, the XLT4 does not fit the ASME B30.5 5-0.2.2 definition of rotation-resistant rope. Therefore, the XLT4 may be used with a swivel and operated in hoisting applications falling under ASME B30.5 at design factors as low as 3.5:1 on mobile cranes. Rotation-resistant ropes used in the same application are required to have a more restrictive design factor of 5:1.

 

In addition to the XLT4's design, PowerSteel Technology packs more high-tensile steel wire into the rope's diameter, giving the XLT4 one of the highest strength-to-diameter ratios ever achieved. The rope's greater lifting capacity may allow the crane to lift using fewer parts of line, which results in a boost in speed, efficiency, and productivity. Crane operators also will notice that the XLT4's single layer of larger strands not only makes it much easier to see rope movement during placement of loads, but it aids visual inspections as well.

 

Runners Up

Note: No runner up was named in the Crane category because two products tied for first place.

 

Aerial Lifts: ReachMaster Falcon FS121T Specialty Aerial Lift

Material Handlers: Carelift ZB32032 Zoom Boom Telescopic Handler

Optional Equipment, Attachments & Accessories: Pettibone's GPS System, GlobalTRACS produced by Qualcomm

Safety Features or Operating Systems: Tadano Lift Adjuster

Miscellaneous: Fairfield Electric Scissor Lift Drive produced for JLG Industries

 

Judges

In addition to Publisher Guy Ramsey, Editorial Director Tracy Bennett, and Editor Katie Parrish, the following industry professionals judged the 2005 LLEAP Awards:

 

Shaun Flanagan, president, Horizon Advisory Services and Pacific Equipment Logistics

Kris Hansel, vice president of Product Support, and the NationsRent Fleet Department, NationsRent

Jim Mango, president, Six & Mango Equipment, LLP

Kevin Parr, district manager, New England • High Reach, United Rentals, Inc.

Jerry L. Reinhart, industry consultant, Skyworks Equipment Rental

Matt Rocca, president and chief executive officer, Gar Equipment Corp.

Steve Shaughnessy, operational director, Powered Access Equipment, Ashtead Plant Hire Co.

Jeff Stachowiak, director of access safety & training, Sunbelt Rentals, Inc.

Jack Swan, vice president and general manager, All Erection & Crane Rental Corp.

Woody Weld, owner, Acme Lift

Larry Zaback, chief operating officer, Coast Crane Co.