Rough Terrain Cranes

Neither a global pandemic nor a slowed economy has kept one Southern California contractor off its desired growth curve. Dewolfe Crane Service's work with Orange County Transit and Caltrans has kept it steadily busy thru the first two quarters of 2020 and has even fueled the need to add one crane to its fleet.

Link-Belt Cranes, distributor Mardian Equipment and Dielco Crane Service Inc. of Las Vegas, announced the purchase of four new cranes at ConExpo 2020 — one new 100-ton (90-t) 100|RT rough terrain crane, and two 100-ton (90-t) HTC-86100 telescopic truck cranes.

As construction jobs require heavier picks within spaces that get more constrained every day, Nebraska Crane was on the lookout for a strong, high-capacity crane, but compact enough to easily maneuver in all kinds of job sites. A big fan of Grove cranes — 95 percent of its rough-terrain fleet is Grove — the Kearney, Neb.-based rental company decided to purchase Grove's longest-reaching, highest-capacity rough-terrain crane: the GRT9165.

Rough-terrain crane buyers are on the hunt for bigger machines, in the 100-ton and 120-ton classes specifically. Crane manufacturers serving the North American market heard their customers loud and clear, and took advantage of ConExpo 2020 to unveil new models.

With a capacity of 160 ton, the Tadano GR-1600-XL rough terrain crane has one of the highest lifting capacities in its class, according to the manufacturer. The combination of a 305 ft. tip height with superior maneuverability provides versatility in the field.

In North America, many rough terrain cranes are used in confined spaces such as refineries where operating and maintaining cranes can be challenging. Tadano's GR-1000XLL-4 is designed with these environments in mind. Tadano's latest GR rough terrain crane facilitates more efficient workflows and delivers improved performance with an engine that meets the latest emission standards, while providing increased work safety and comfort, according to the manufacturer.

With an upgraded maximum lift capacity of 80 tons (73 t) and a long boom of 154.2 ft. (47 m), the Tadano GR-800XL-4 is one of the most versatile and well-balanced rough terrain cranes in the industry, according to the manufacturer. Equipped with the new generation AML-E2 crane control system, the GR-800XL-4 has a gross vehicle weight of 99,800 lbs.

Tadano debuted the GR-150XL-3, a new compact rough terrain crane for the North American market, at ConExpo-Con/AGG. With a 78.7 ft. boom, the longest boom in this class, a tailswing of just 4.1 ft. and asymmetric outriggers, the GR-150XL-3 is ideal for tight workspaces where mobility cannot be compromised, according to the manufacturer.

The Australian government has deployed a Grove RT540E rough-terrain crane to work at Davis station, one of the four research stations in the Australian Antarctic Program. The RT540E joins five other Grove rough-terrain cranes at the site and is used to load and unload cargo for resupply at the stations, as well as construct and maintain the station's infrastructure.

The Terex rough terrain TRT 80US is an 80 ton max capacity crane with a main boom length of 138 ft. (42.1 m) ft. It is the first model featuring TEOS, the new Terex Operating System that will increase job efficiency. TRT 80US's compact design eases transportability, improves maneuverability in crowded job sites and confined spaces or while performing indoor lifts, according to the manufacturer.