Manitowoc Cranes will be showcasing two models from its newly designed line of National Crane boom trucks at ConExpo — the NBT 55 and the NBT 30H.

Ruben Olivas, global product director of National Crane boom trucks, said the NBT 55 is the largest boom truck in the National Crane line.

“With a 55 ton capacity the new NBT 55 is the flagship product in the National Crane boom truck line,” he said. “It has one of the strongest charts on the market for this size class.”

The NBT 55 is available with two different booms: a 128 ft. (39 m), five-section boom and a 102 ft. (31 m), four-section boom.

One noteable feature on the NBT 55 is the cross beam front outrigger box, which allows the outrigger footprint to be shifted more toward the front of the crane. This eliminates the need for a front outrigger, which is standard on this design (although a front outrigger is still available).

The NBT 55 also comes with a removable counterweight. This is the first time a National Crane has been designed in this manner. It allows the operator to move the weight around on the machine to help comply with local roading regulations. Even with the counterweight removed, the NBT 55 has a very strong zero counterweight chart, according to the manufacturer.

This crane also features adjustable swing speeds. The operator can customize the controls to match job requirements. For example, for an operator that typically sets trusses, speed may be more of a priority than precise control. However, if he has a job with an extremely heavy load or a particularly long boom and jib configuration, precise controllability is paramount. With the NBT 55, the operator can de-rate the controls to give the required percent of flow and function speed, while maintaining the full range of motion on the joystick.

Improved accessibility to service points also was a priority on this new crane design. All hydraulic components are easily accessed at various points around the crane.

The other new National Crane boom truck on display is the NBT 30H. This is a redesigned version of the 30 ton capacity National Crane 1300H. Neither capacity nor boom/jib configurations were changed during the redesign, but there were several improvements on other systems of the boom truck, according to the manufacturer.

The hydraulic system has been completely standardized with the National Crane 900H, including the pump, main control valve, hoist and hydraulic reservoir.

The boom truck’s Easy Reach control and lever system was redesigned for compatibility with the CANbus LMI system. It also is now made of stainless steel to improve the corrosion resistance.

The LMI display has been improved for better graphics and more functionality, including on-board display of error codes and real-time display of outrigger position.

For more information, call 920/684-6621 or visit www.manitowac.com.

This story also appears on Crane Equipment Guide.

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