Grove has sold 10 of its all-terrain cranes to UK-based lifting solutions and equipment company, Southern Cranes.
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Announced via a press release, Manitowoc revealed the company had purchased a mix of three and five-axle units comprising of the Grove GMK 5150XL, the GMK5250XL-1, and GMK3060L-1. Southern Cranes was the first company in the UK to receive the GMK5250XL-1 and, having been so convinced of the crane’s performance, decided to invest further, according to Kevin Prince, Director of Southern Cranes.
“Our GMK5250XL-1 has been an excellent performer, and it’s perfect for tower crane erection,” he said. “The operator loves it and refuses to work with anything else. Adding another 250-tonne machine will open up new opportunities for us.
“Elsewhere, we are in the process of replacing our older 90 t machines and want to explore bigger options; the GMK5150XL is a great fit,” he continued. “We’re looking forward to receiving the GMK3060L-1 cranes, too; we know the GMK3060 well, but with the new model, we get a much longer boom in a compact footprint – it’s only 200mm wider and 600mm longer than the footprint of an equivalent 40-tonne crane.”
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According to Manitowoc, the cranes were ordered with full spec and a large array of extras, such as the optional MAXBase variable outrigger positioning function.
The 150-tonne capacity GMK5150XL features a seven-section, 68.7m boom. Its load charts in taxi configuration are best-in-class, ensuring easy roadability and transport savings for owners. Taxi configurations start from just one tonne of counterweight – and, for configurations of 12-tonne per axle, the GMK5150XL can carry up to 10.2 tonnes of counterweight. There is also a configuration of 16.5-tonne per axle that, according to the manufacturer, is relevant for the UK and makes it possible to drive the crane with 30.9 tonnes of counterweight.
The 250-tonne capacity GMK5250XL-1 possesses a 78.5m main boom, making it the longest in its class and includes twin-lock boom pinning, translating to better strength charts because of its design that removes cylinder weight from the crane. The long boom and high capacities are balanced against a small footprint and high manoeuvrability. The crane’s single-engine design utilises fuel-saver technology that, according to Manitowoc, can lower costs by up to 30 per cent compared to previous Grove five-axle cranes.
The 60-tonne capacity GMK3060L-1 is equipped with a 48m long, seven-section boom. Its compact carrier impresses with a vehicle width of only 2.55m and a carrier length of 8.77m. Due to its compact dimensions and small slewing radius, it is particularly well-suited to work in urban jobsites.
Located in the south of the UK, Southern Cranes is a provider of lifting solutions and material handling equipment, featuring a fleet containing roto telehandlers, track carriers, spider cranes, mobile cranes, and access equipment.