Manitowoc has announced the launch of its all-new Potain MCR 305 luffing jib tower crane that is set to target the Southern Hemisphere markets.
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There are two versions of the MCR 305: the 20-tonne capacity MCR 305 H20, and the 25-tonne capacity MCR 305 H25. With a 60m jib length, maximum tip loads are 3.1 tonnes for the H20 and three tonnes for the H25. There are multiple winch options, depending on customer preference, including High-Performance Lifting options, with up to 1,200m of wire rope available. According to the manufacturer, the new tower crane was developed through Manitowoc’s Voice of the Customer process that helped enhance the new design, offering several improvements over earlier models.
“We’ve had extensive conversations with customers and the insights we gained have helped us develop an impressive new luffing jib crane,” said Leong Kwong-Joon, regional Product Manager for Potain tower cranes at Manitowoc. “Strength gains are realised along the entire length of the jib.”
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According to Manitowoc, the MCR 305 features an optimised design that significantly reduces the number of points where the crane must be secured to a building as construction grows upwards. Requiring fewer anchorage points means more efficient assembly and less expense for contractors, saving time on the tight schedules high-rise projects demand. For example, with the existing MCR 295 A configured with a 60m jib, 11 anchor points are required to reach a height of 192.6m. However, with the new MCR 305 with the same jib, just six anchor points are needed to reach 194.3m.
Equally important for contractors is the MCR 305’s reduced out-of-service radius. With a 60m jib the out-of-service radius of the MCR 305 is just 12.5m, compared with 22m for the MCR 295 A in the same configuration. Lowering the out-of-service radius allows contractors to place more cranes on constrained jobsites, making more lifting options available and delivering better space optimisation, potentially realising the opportunity to place two cranes where only one could fit beforehand.
The crane’s design was a combined effort from Manitowoc’s French and Chinese engineers. Basic design, wind performance, and wind tunnel tests for the crane were carried out in France, while the Chinese team completed the structural design and test verifications. Each jib position and lifting point on the crane was subject to an extensive design and analysis process lasting several months.
“There are also great savings for customers in climbing higher faster, and better productivity with a substantially reduced out-of-service radius,” said Kwong-Joon. “We’re excited to launch this new model to market.”
The crane is set to be sold across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.