XCMG has released a new Australia-ready all-terrain crane, the XCA60_AU. XCMG’s ANZ Crane Manager, Stephen Broomfield, discusses how the model promises to thrive in Australian conditions and the competitive advantages it offers to prospective buyers.
The 60-tonne all-terrain market is one of the most competitive in Australia.
As one of the most competitive markets, manufacturers are looking for any point of difference they can acquire over each other.
For XCMG and Stephen Broomfield, the message is simple: the delivery of reliable, high-quality machinery to crane yards at prices that won’t make business owners’ eyes water for the next 10 years.
“At the end of the day, a crane is a crane,” he says. “They’re large investments that require financial borrowing and, in today’s markets with soaring interest rates, coupled with lengthy lead times, buyers are waiting longer for cranes that are taking 150 per cent of previous times to pay off.”
And, in a positive turn of events for crane hire companies looking for a roadable, reliable, robust taxi crane, XCMG has developed a new crane to counteract current market trends: the XCA60_AU.
As part of a series of cranes released from the manufacturer specifically designed to thrive in Australia’s climate – which recently has seen machines operate comfortably in the Pilbara, Stephen says the crane is set to soar Down Under.
“XCMG’s never made a crane in this kind of area: it’s the first 60-tonne all-terrain crane we’ve manufactured, and we’re confident in the crane’s capabilities,” he said. “We know that anyone who drives and operates this machine will see the quality that we know the XCA60_AU possesses.”
The three-axle, 60-tonne all-terrain crane possesses a maximum hook height of 64.1m and a maximum operating radius of 40m. As a taxi crane, accessibility is at the forefront of the crane’s design with the machine measuring in at 12m long, 2.8m wide and 3.9m tall. The six-section, U-shaped boom possesses a single-cylinder pinning telescoping system and, on its own, can reach heights of 10.7m through to 50m.
With the fixed lattice jib fitted on, the crane receives an extra 9.2m-to-16m in height that can be offset at angles of 0, 15, or 30 degrees. The crane can be optionally fitted with a 2.5m independent jib head and a 46-tonne hook block.
On the counterweight front, the XCA60_AU can hold a maximum of 13 tonnes of counterweight that is available in six different combinations: 2.4 tonnes, 3 tonnes, 7.5 tonnes, 7.9 tonnes and 13 tonnes.
When it comes to roading the crane under the 12 tonne per axle load limit, the crane can be configured in two different modes. The first configuration includes the auxiliary sheave, jib bracket, 2.4 tonnes of counterweight and the 30.5 tonne hook block.
Image: XCMG
The second reflects the first, however can carry the auxiliary winch in tandem with a lighter hook block measuring in at 13.5 tonnes in capacity.
As mentioned before, the XCA60_AU possesses a lifting capacity of 60 tonnes, which the crane can lift at 2.1m in radius; at the crane’s maximum telescopic extension of 50m.
At an operating radius of 36m, the crane can lift 900kg with the full complement of counterweight attached.
On the technology front, XCMG has installed a Load Moment Indicator that audibly and visually warns the operator when they are close to overloading the machine.
Operations are automatically stopped before overloading occurs, while overload memory function and fault diagnosis are available as standard.
XCMG has taken further steps to enhance the safety of its machines, installing hydraulic balance, two way and relief valves, a lowering limiter for preventing the wire rope from over releasing, and an anti-two block at the boom head to prevent the wire rope from over-winding.
What’s more, XCMG has installed a new steel cab on the XCA60_AU that is capable of being tilted by 20 degrees.
Featuring a spacious interior, operator comfort has been kept forefront in the cabin’s ergonomic design, with the seats being made of leather and breathable mesh as well as a human machine interactive control panel and a 12-inch display.
Powered by a Mercedes Benz engine, the crane is not only ADR/03 compliant; XCMG has taken steps to ensure the crane presents a long-term asset that operates at a high level for a sustained period of time by manufacturing the crane to be ADR/04 compliant, meeting EUROMOT 5 regulations in the process.
“We’re injecting high performing machinery into the Australian crane market that is environmentally sustainable,” Stephen said.
“Furthermore, the lead times are significantly shorter due to the rapid automated manufacturing capabilities in Xuzhou, while prices offer the chance to have the crane paid off within a much shorter time frame than the 5-7 years currently being seen with our competitors.”
Ably supported in the west of Australia by Ronco and in the east by D&D Diesel, XCMG has invested in both its support networks as well as the quality of its machinery in the Australian market which, for Stephen, is typified by the arrival of the XCA60_AU.
“The crane represents exactly what XCMG is striving to do globally,” he says. “We are committed to selling European- standard cranes at cost-effective prices with immediate delivery.”
2.4 tonnes of counterweight plus its 30.5-tonne hook block.
Image: XCMG