Tadano America Offers Non-Symmetrical Outriggers <br>to North American Market

Enlarge Image The TR800XXL-4 is the largest rough terrain crane in the six-unit series. To see a demonstration of the non-symmetrical outrigger control, go to Non-Symmetrical Outrigger Video.

July 21, 2005 • The ability to set up a crane in confined spaces is often frustrating to contractors. Addressing this issue, most crane manufacturers have offered multiple outrigger positions with accompanying load charts since the 1990s.

Three positions are usually available, including fully retracted, mid-extension, and full extension. This requires all outriggers to be symmetrically positioned and reduces the load chart for 360° of operation.

Non-symmetrical outrigger control, offered exclusively by Tadano, takes this concept a giant step further by allowing each outrigger to be independently positioned in one of four pre-set locations. This technology, which is powered by the company's Automatic Moment Limiter (AML) control system, has been available outside North America for more than 15 years, but has only recently been introduced here on Series-4 rough-terrain crane models from Tadano America, Houston.

 

Operators of cranes with symmetrical outriggers must program the system to correspond to the outrigger position — not so with Tadano's non-symmetrical outriggers. Using outrigger length detectors, the AML monitors the position of each outrigger and determines separate lift capacities for each quadrant based on the set-up. In addition, a swing sensor relays the boom's position to the AML as a safeguard to prevent overload in any given quadrant. Within 20° of a critical capacity area, the AML automatically begins slowing the swing function to a controlled stop, preventing the load from being swung into an unsafe position.

 

“The non-symmetrical outrigger feature allows greater utilization and more efficient use of cranes by allowing the crane to work to its full potential in a given sector,” says Ron Dogotch, vice president and general manager of Tadano North America. “Applications in highly congested areas, such as road construction, metropolitan areas, and petrochemical plants, will benefit the most from this feature. In road construction, for example, cranes must often be positioned to allow continuous traffic flow. The ability to set the crane up with outriggers extended on only one side might enable one traffic lane to remain open,” he explains.

 

Tadano America, Houston, currently offers five models in this RT crane series with a sixth unit • the 15-ton capacity TR150XL-4 • scheduled for introduction this fall. The largest unit is the 80-ton TR800XXL-4. For more information, go to www.tadanoamerica.com.