Self-Erecting Cranes Offer New Solution for Material Handling

Enlarge Image The largest of nine models, the Igo 50 is new to North America.

April 20, 2005 • Self-erecting cranes are currently among the fastest growing material-handling products in North America. Their small footprint, excellent reach, ease of set up, and transportability makes them a hit with rental companies, small contractors, and industrial sites. Self-erecting cranes have long been popular in Europe on residential jobs and smaller construction sites, and users in North America are employing the cranes on similar projects, as well as finding alternative applications for these versatile machines.

 

Lift and Access sat down with John Wheeler, Manitowoc Crane Group's Executive Vice President of the Americas during last month's ConExpo to discuss the market for self-erecting cranes and to take a look at two new Potain models.

 

John Wheeler

“Self-erecting cranes represent the strongest area of growth in the crane market in the next few years,” said Wheeler, “but the challenge is marketing the uses for self-erectors—the uses are so varied.”

 

Wheeler cited a few applications. The primary benefit to a landscape contractor, for example, is the ability to move material without tearing up the ground. In another application, a school renovation, the electric-powered self-erector was chosen because of its quiet operation. On this job, the crane was set up in the courtyard and worked while classes remained in session.

 

Wheeler predicts that in certain instances, self-erectors will be more advantageous than telehandlers, boom trucks, and even small rough-terrain cranes when handling materials on some jobsites — particularly those where space is a premium.

 

As with many new concepts, rental companies will play a key role in introducing the idea to small contractors, who will ultimately drive the market. SI Equipment Services, Concord, Calif., and Coast Crane Co., Seattle, Wash., are just two rental companies currently developing self-erecting crane fleets.

 

Rudy Wiens, a Coast Crane customer and owner of Fintry Contracting, Kelowna, British Columbia, realized he had a job that was “simply inaccessible by using a telehandler” and was otherwise blocked by a two-story parking garage. “I was looking at a hydraulic crane, because I didn't know how I was going to do the job, when someone told me about these self-erectors,” Wiens said. The Coast Crane office in Surrey, British Columbia, demonstrated the Potain HD40A to Wiens. “I said, ‘That's what I need',” he said. “I put this crane, much to everyone's dismay, right on top of the second parkade — and it worked marvelous.”

 

Among Manitowoc Crane Group's (MCG) newest models are the Potain Igo 50 and MA 21. The Igo 50 is new to North America, shown here for the first time at ConExpo. It is the largest of nine models in the Igo line-up, lifting a maximum 4.4 US tons and 1.2 US tons at the end of its 131-foot jib. Height under hook for the unit is 76 feet and its footprint is 14.7' x 14.7'. Its 15 LVF 10 Optima hoist offers speeds which vary with the load, reaching a top speed of 216.5 ft/min in two falls of line.

 

The new Igo MA 21, is the second unit in the mobile ‘MA' segment of the Igo range. These cranes are permanently mounted on a twin-axle for optimum transportation. The Igo MA 21 has a maximum lift capacity of 3,968 pounds and at its jib end of 85.3 feet it can handle a maximum of 1,543 pounds. Maximum under-hook-height is 63.3 feet and its footprint is 13.7' x 13.7'. Maximum line speed is 118 ft/min in two falls of line for a load of 1,543 pounds.

 

For more information on MCG's new Potain self-erecting cranes, go to www.manitowoccranegroup.com.