New tower cranes making 2023 debut

Tower crane development requires research, due diligence and more research. Manufacturers must assess what’s on the market and what’s in demand and then determine what is needed in their product line-ups to remain competitive.

And then there’s the question of technology. What are the most sought-after safety features and operational benefits that can be incorporated into a new tower crane model to add value to the owner? Geographies also play a role in tower crane development. Typically, the tower cranes built for the European market have differing features than those built for the North American market. And then there are the geography issues within the major markets.

The Power Plus features gives the Terex CTT 292-12 a 10 percent power boost when needed.

It has been a banner year for tower crane development, with several OEMs offering new and improved products. Most of the latest tower cranes on the market were rolled out between Bauma in late 2022 and ConExpo in March 2023.

Terex debuts new flat top

The new Terex CTT 292-12 flat top tower crane boasts many strong credentials, such as its 12 metric ton maximum capacity and jib length of 70 meters, Terex said.

“This particular model is an addition to the 200/300-meter ton class,” Terex said. “The CTT 292-12 is proving to be competitive with its impressive lifting capacity throughout the jib, with 5-meter jib steps from 25 to 70 meters and each jib section equipped with safety lines and railings, it is pushing the boundaries for safety in setup and for operators.”

Terex said this model was designed to put the operator first with its fully customizable settings and electronics that allow for safe and precise operations. “These electronics provide instant operating data for operators, this alongside the S-pace cabin known for its comfort and visibility,” Terex said.

Wide glass panels, protected by side bars, ensure excellent visibility. Multifunction joysticks and the 7-inch touch screen color display provide simplified crane control and monitoring. The CTT 292-12 can be erected by a 1.95, 2.1 and 2.3 tower mast. The Terex Power Match feature lowers energy consumption.

The Wolff 8076 Compact US was designed for heavy lifting on commercial high-rise construction.

The crane is also ready for the Terex T-Link telematics platform, which offers remote control crane fleet data via the web. The crane also boasts Terex T-Torque, an inverter technology with torque control applied to the slewing motors that gives the operator improved control over crane movements. It allows the operator to customize gear speed, acceleration and counter-maneuver based on operating conditions, such as load type, crane configuration (jib and tower) or wind speed.

Wolffkran goes compact

With an impressive load capacity of 40 metric tons, the WOLFF 8076 Compact has an 80-meter jib and can lift 8.4 tons at the tip. Wolffkran says it’s a pure two-part line trolley crane. The new model is stronger than Wolffkran’s largest cross crane, the company said.

The WOLFF 8076 Compact has a tower connection for the 2.90 by 2.90-meter TV 29 tower element, which, combined with the next largest WOLFF tower element TV 33, enables free-standing tower heights of up to 100 meters.

Equipped with a 132-kW hoist winch HW 40132 FU, working speeds of up to 95 meters per minute are possible. The WOLFF 8076 Compact lifts the maximum load of 40 tons at 17 meters per minute. The jib can be extended between 30 and 80 meters in five-meter increments. Depending on the selected jib length, the counter-jib can be shortened from 30.3 meters to 22.3 meters. With a 55-meter jib and a shortened counter-jib, it can lift up to 16.6 tons at the tip.

After ENG’s experience producing derricks to disassemble tall internal climbing cranes, the company developed its hydraulic luffer ETH series, which has no counter jib.

The standard equipment includes electronic overload protection with WOLFF Boost, anti-collision interface, fine driving modes, automatic performance optimization for the trolley and hoist as well as the WOLFF Link remote maintenance system with real-time display of the crane display.

Innovations from ENG

Unlike traditional luffers, ENG said it’s new ETH Hydraulic Luffer has a space-saving design that takes up minimal room on a construction site, allowing for more efficient operations in tight spaces.

ENG said its experience producing derricks to disassemble internal climbing cranes led them to develop a hydraulic luffer version based on the same crane to be used on tight construction sites. The unique feature for the ETH is that it doesn’t have a counter jib. The new ETH Series features four different versions ranging from 8 to 16 tons of maximum load and jib lengths of up to 56 meters.

ENG also introduced the EDL series in 2023. It can work both as a traditional crane and as a luffer. In FLAT mode, it operates as a typical tower crane, but it can switch to a luffer mode with a command executed by the operator.

The double counterweight solution is also innovative. The two counterweights are designed to work in tandem, ensuring that the crane remains stable even during windy conditions. The newest crane is the EDL 230, which features 16 tons of maximum capacity and 60 meters of jib.

ENG’s EDL 230 features 16 tons of maximum capacity and 60 meters of jib.

LC’s latest luffer

Linden Comansa has introduced the brand new LCL-560 36 luffing jib crane with an enhanced lifting capacity of 36 metric tons.

To obtain the necessary high performance in material handling for high rise buildings, the new LCL-560 uses modern frequency-controlled drives rated at 110 kW for the hoist movement and 80 kW for luffing movement.

“With the Comansa frequency control, not only the maximum speed with any permissible load is possible, but also ultra-low speeds in the positioning mode,” the company said. “In this mode the frequency-controlled system can drive thru the zero point, without applying the brake. For more efficiency of the system and a comfortable feel of the load, the control lever will automatically adapt its full control range to the given loads.”

Comansa has designed a system that allows the luffing rope pre-installed on the sheave blocks.

For high-rise buildings, the drum of Comansa’s new 110 kW hoist winch has a standard cable capacity of 610 meters. The maximum load of this crane is 18 metric tons in single line and 36 metric tons in double line. Used in single line pull with a maximum capacity of 18 metric tons, the crane will be able to reach construction heights of 550 meters.

Comansa has designed a system that allows the luffing rope pre-installed on the sheave blocks. The crane is delivered from the factory with all the reeving from the luffing mechanism mounted on the pulley blocks.

“The great advantage is the fast installation of the luffing rope, as everything arrives at the jobsite already pre-mounted,” the company said.

Top slewing models

Late last year, Potain launched the MR 229, the first luffing jib crane to feature Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS). CCS maximizes lifting performance, increases flexibility, improves ergonomics for the crane operator and decreases commissioning times. The system also allows quick and easy activation of Potain Plus from the cab via joystick control, which maximizes load curves for cranes while optimizing lift speeds, delivering unbeatable productivity, Potain said.

The Potain MR 229 is the first luffing jib crane to feature Manitowoc’s Crane Control System.

The Potain MR 229 is also equipped with the new Potain CONNECT telematics system, which offers remote diagnostics, advanced analytics and fleet management to boost uptime and machine utilization.

The MR 229 crane can lift up to 15.4 tons and has a maximum jib length of 180 feet. It also offers a choice of hoists, including the 110 HPL 35, from the High-Performance Lifting range, which can reach speeds up to 679 feet per minute.

The speed limiter gives increased precision by recalibrating controls so bigger joystick movements deliver restricted responses from the mechanisms, making it a great feature for operations requiring high accuracy. The speed limiter can be adjusted in increments of 25 percent.

The Potain MDT 159 is one of the first models equipped with the new Potain CONNECT telematics system.

Manitowoc has expanded its Potain MDT City crane line with the MDT 159 topless tower crane. This crane, with a capacity of 6.6 tons, fills the gap between the MDT 139 and MDT 189 models. With a maximum jib of 201.1 feet, it is suited for small to medium-sized building projects of up to 10 floors and has been specifically designed for use on tight urban jobsites.

The topless concept reduces the clearance needed for other cranes passing overhead or underneath. Just three containers are needed to transport the crane’s full upper section, making it easier to move it on and off the jobsite.

The MDT 159 features two new trolley systems, one with permanent four falls and one with an automatic reeving system. The DMP trolley is simple, economic and easy to maintain. The permanent double reeving means no adjustment to the ropes is needed onsite and the crane’s maximum capacity of 6.6 tons is permanently available. The DMP trolley offers a 1.6-foot greater height under hook compared to the SM/DM Quick Lock alternative. The chief advantage of the SM/DM Quick Lock trolley is its ability to automatically change reeving at the flick of a switch.

Before the end of 2023, Jaso will unveil the J638PA, a new luffer crane that was specifically designed for the U.S. and Canada markets, among others.

Jaso low top

The Jaso J390 low top crane is a revolutionary heavy lift solution that features a modular design and was designed to combine power, efficiency and safety, Jaso said. The J390 low top crane has a maximum load capacity of 24 metric tons.

The J390 offers a tip load of 3.8 metric tons and boom lengths ranging from 30 to 75 meters. The boom length can be adjusted in 5-meter increments.

With a maximum 19.9-meter swing radius, this crane excels in tight spaces where maneuverability is crucial. A 15.3-meter radius option is provided for boom lengths up to 45 meters.

Before the end of 2023, Jaso will unveil the J638PA, a new luffer crane that was specifically designed for the U.S., Canada and Eastern Territories (Asia and Oceania), featuring exceptional freestanding heights, streamlined for international transport (everything fits within high cube containers) and boasting impressive load charts and tip load capabilities, Jaso said.

A prototype of the 195 HC-LH 6/12 was revealed at Bauma 2022 and first models should start shipping early in 2024.

Liebherr’s latest

The Liebherr 195 HC-LH 6/12 can hoist up to 2,550 kilograms at the jib head at its maximum radius. The hydraulic luffing jib crane achieves these values when combined with the climbable 16 EC tower system with dimensions of 1.6 by 1.6 meters. The crane has a very small footprint and can be transported easily to the jobsite.

In addition, the hydraulic luffing jib crane was designed to be easy to erect. The very small out-of-operation setting and the facility to control it using the popular Litronic assistance systems such as Micromove, the operating-range limiting system and level luffing are state of the art, Liebherr said.