Manitowoc made a powerful impression at Vertikal Days 2025, bringing together cutting-edge technologies and a strong focus on customer support. Manitowoc also featured a variety of Grove all terrain and rough-terrain cranes during September’s GIS EXPO that have never been shown in Italy.
Headlining the booth at Vertikal Days, Europe’s largest lifting equipment event, was the Grove GMK5150XLe plug-in hybrid all terrain crane.
While the all terrain was launched at bauma 2025, Vertikal Days, held in Nottinghamshire in September, marked its United Kingdom debut.
The Grove GMK5150XLe delivers 150 tonne capacity and a 68.7 metre, seven-section boom, with performance that matches that of the regular diesel-powered Grove GMK5150XL. At the same time, it delivers low-emission operation through a fully electric mode for on-site lifting.
The crane’s 160 kilowatt-hours (kWh) battery pack can be charged while driving, allowing it to top-up on the way to the next jobsite. Options include a 9.6m/16.2m bi-fold swingaway jib, an eight metre boom extension, and a six metre jib extension.
At the heart of the new crane is a battery pack that enables a solid day’s work as a taxi crane. With 180kWh of energy, the Grove Plug-in Hybrid cranes can easily carry out several daily tasks. What makes them especially versatile is their ability to charge the battery from the grid (either AC or DC power supplies) or a 170kW generator integrated into the carrier. This allows charging while driving and eliminates concerns about the availability of charging infrastructure. The cranes can even be operated while charging (providing there is infrastructure for this at the jobsite).
The battery pack enables about eight hours of emissions-free lifting without compromising speed or capacity. When the crane is connected to the grid, the crane can operate continuously. This is more than enough functionality for a 150 tonne taxi crane, and when the day’s work is complete, the batteries are recharged while the crane is driven back to base. Another exciting feature is the E-Boost function. While accelerating the generator can be used as motor and gives an additional 800Nm torque into the driveline.
These new Plug-in Hybrid cranes deliver more sustainable lifting and boost owners’ environmental credentials. They can drive to the job site using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel to power the efficient Mercedes-Benz engine and reduce carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent while simultaneously charging the batteries.
There’s also a massive reduction in noise pollution – an advantage when operating in a city centre.
The Grove GMK5150XLe is expected to land in Australia before year’s end.
Grove in Italy
During September’s GIS EXPO, Grove featured a variety of all terrain and rough-terrain cranes that have never been shown in Italy.
The Grove GRT550 and GRT780 – both built at Manitowoc’s Italian factory in Niella Tanaro – and GMK6450-1.
• Grove GRT550: With a 50 tonne capacity and class-leading 39 metre five-section boom (49 metre tip height with eight metre extension), the GRT550 offers improved load charts, faster 155m/min line speed, and 5552 kilogram line pull. It remains road-legal across Europe under 29t GVW, and is easy to transport with a vehicle width of 2.55 metres. Upgrades include Site Steering, MAXbase™, redesigned cab with improved visibility, and service access supported by Grove CONNECT™ and CSI diagnostics.
• Grove GRT780: The 80 tonne rough-terrain crane features a five-section MEGAFORM™ boom spanning 11.9 – 47.3 metres, with a bi-fold swingaway jib extending reach to 67 metres. It includes MAXbase™ variable outrigger positioning, Grove CONNECT™ telematics, a 12-in CCS 1+ touchscreen, CSI diagnostics, and a full-vision tilting cab – all packed into a narrow, manoeuvrable frame with optional hydraulic counterweight removal. The crane’s carrier is less than three metres wide, and its Gross Vehicle Weight is 46.6 tonne with a full spec, or less than 43 tonne.
• Grove GMK6450-1: The 450 tonne all-terrain crane has a 60 metre five-section main boom and MegaWingLift™ attachment that boosts capacity by up to 70 per cent on the main boom (up to 400 per cent with luffing jib). It lifts 8.9 tonnes at 50 metre radius with a 79 metre jib (136m tip height); or 12.8 tonne between 36 and 52 metre radius with a 67 metre jib. MAXbase™, CCS, and a faster hydraulic system enhance flexibility and speed.
