With the new Australian Design Rules (ADR) compliance regulations now in effect, Terex Franna has taken the opportunity to incorporate new technology across the entire Franna range including the AT22-2, MAC25-5 and AT40-2. Each model in the line-up has received significant upgrades designed to minimise environmental impact and improve operational efficiency.
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news from Australasia’s lifting industry.
- Don’t miss a lift and subscribe to our monthly magazine.
- Download our latest digital magazine to catch up on the biggest news and developments in the crane industry.
The upgrades start with the new Mercedes-Benz OM936 Engine Stage V and Tier 4 Final compliant engine for cleaner emissions, ensuring seamless compliance with evolving environmental regulations.
Although this is new technology for Franna, it is technology that has been powering European all terrains and other special purpose vehicles for many years. Whilst the technology has been implemented as a result of regulatory compliance requirements, Franna has taken opportunity to improve performance, the OM936 is a proven 7.7 litre engine versus the outgoing OM906’s 6.4 litre displacement, power and torque are up across the range, up to 230kW and 1300Nm respectively. The OM936 boasts a well-established track record, having undergone over a decade of refinements to achieve exceptional reliability.
Franna’s dedicated engineering team collaborated directly with the German manufacturer, MTU, in conjunction with Penske Power Systems, the authorised distributor of Mercedes Benz engines in Australia, to ensure seamless integration of the OM936 into the range. This collaboration included extensive emission reduction technologies, a power increase and fine tuning of the gearbox providing optimal performance within the demanding environment of pick and carry cranes.
A highly efficient and low-emission off-highway product, the OM936 meets specific mobile crane requirements for the stringent Australian Design Rule (ADR) regulation in addition to the EPA Tier 4f requirements, the stringent US engine emission regulation. The OM936 provides Franna with a significant advantage aligning with their export strategy. By the time this article is read, Franna will be shipping the AT24-2 US (the AT22-2 being 24USt) to the USA.
The OM936 engine is also fully compatible with HVO diesel fuels, enabling a reduction in carbon emissions by up to 85%.
In addition, the OM936 is fitted with a ‘Jacobs’ style exhaust brake, giving effectively double the retardation over the existing OM906 engine. Franna selected the engine exhaust brake option rather than a transmission retarder
as it has the advantage of providing additional retardation through every gear of the transmission selection.
“The innovative design of the OM936 engine cooling system has been engineered to achieve a Limiting Ambient Temperature close to 50 degrees Celsius. This optimisation was accomplished by incorporating an additional extraction fan into the cooling pack, ensuring the engine maintains optimal performance even in the most demanding environmental conditions.
Limiting Ambient Temperature refers to the highest ambient temperature at which the vehicle’s cooling system can effectively manage the engine’s heat output while allowing the engine to continuously operate at full power. Achieving a high Limiting Ambient Temperature is crucial for ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the engine, particularly in regions with extreme heat.
During the design phase, extensive cooling performance testing was carried out using a dyno cart to simulate real-world conditions. The dyno cart, equipped with a water brake dynamometer capable of a maximum retardation of 450 kW, was towed behind the cranes. This setup allowed the testing team to impose a variable load on the engine, enabling it to operate at full power even on flat terrain.
The rigorous testing process validated the cooling system’s capability, ensuring that the OM936 engine can deliver consistent performance under full load, even in ambient temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius. This breakthrough not only enhances the engine’s durability and reliability but also positions it as a leading choice for operators working in challenging environments where high temperatures are a critical factor.”
a dyno cart to simulate real- world conditions.
Image: Terex Franna
Bridging the gap with a range of enhancements
The Series upgrade goes beyond just the new OM936 engine. Franna has implemented a series of additional enhancements across all models, designed to streamline customers’ lifting operations enhancing useability, productivity and safety.
All Franna models have been upgraded to ensure they are compliant with current ADR compliance standards, including headlights, visibility, noise levels, ABS and emission standards, along with a suite of safety features.
Safety remains an unwavering priority for Franna. The Series upgrade elevates safety standards by incorporating Franna’s patent pending Safety Radar as a standard feature.
The Safety Radar system adds an additional layer of protection and awareness over our patented Dynamic LMI system enabling the operator to plan their next move by viewing a colour contoured visual representation of the rated capacity for the entire working area of the crane. The operator can see the rated capacity of the crane before they move the load, hence well before any traditional rated capacity alarms or motion cuts.
Franna’s online Lift Planner (https:// www.frannaliftplanner.com.au) has also been upgraded to include all current models – AT22, MAC25 and AT40. This allows precise rated capacity and front axle load calculations to be performed for various crane configurations and unlevel ground conditions.
The rear body of all the models has been reworked to improve serviceability of the cranes. ABS brakes, additional access features, battery isolators and larger capacity batteries have been upgraded as standard.
Image: Terex Franna
Future proofing Franna
Franna’s Engineering team is working on a number of developments designed to further enhance the safety and sustainability of the range.
In collaboration with the mining industry, Franna is committed to meeting all safety and operational requirements. To enhance safety features, it is exploring the integration of wet brake systems as an optional addition to our cranes. Wet brakes, composed of multiple discs enclosed in an oil-filled housing, provide effective, emissions-free emergency braking, offering an additional layer of safety in critical working environments such as underground mining.
Simultaneously, Franna is actively investigating the feasibility of developing a zero-emissions mobile crane. This initiative is driven by the need to support the stringent legislative requirements, such as the 5% annual emission reduction mandate imposed on mines, refineries, and other industrial operations.
To ensure that our zero-emissions mobile crane meets the practical demands of these industries, Franna is working closely with fleet owners to define a comprehensive set of functional and performance requirements. As part of this process, we have equipped a fleet of mobile cranes with advanced data acquisition systems to collect real-world utilisation data across various vocational applications. This extensive dataset, which includes over 30 parameters such as power demand, fuel consumption, and lifting performance, is being analysed.
The insights gained from this data are instrumental in the development of a zero-emissions mobile crane that is not only compliant with regulatory standards but also robust enough to operate in the demanding environments of mining and beyond.