During BAUMA, a highlight from Tadano was the introduction of the CC 78.1250-1, the next generation of lattice boom crawler cranes.
Building on the proven performance of its predecessor, the CC 68.1250-1, this newest model incorporates significant advancements in performance, safety, efficiency, and transportability.
Designed to meet the evolving demands of heavy lifting applications, including the growing wind power sector, the CC 78.1250-1 achieves a maximum hook height of 224.5 metres when it is equipped with a 15-metre fixed jib. In this configuration it can lift an outstanding 140 tonnes. To improve its stiffness, the width of the base crane was increased to 3.5 metres. Furthermore, the two available crawler shoe widths – 2.0 metres and 2.4 metres – can accommodate varying ground pressure requirements.
Advanced Design and Enhanced Performance
“The CC 78.1250-1 represents a significant step forward in Tadano’s crawler crane development,” said Andreas Hofmann, Executive Vice President of Research & Development.
“Customer feedback played a crucial role in its design, ensuring that this crane delivers not only superior lifting capacity but also transport-optimised components and efficient assembly sequences.”
Tadano’s CC 78.1250-1 is designed to offer multiple redundancies maximising uptime and enhancing safety. The crane features a dual-engine arrangement with an optimised hydraulic system, allowing for single-engine operation at reduced speeds. Flexible user-friendly interfaces and an optional dual CAN BUS system contribute to increased reliability and operational flexibility. Additionally, the optional auxiliary power unit enables cab systems, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), and lighting to operate using a compact 17 kilowatt diesel engine, reducing fuel consumption and emissions during standby operation.
Safety and Operator Support
Tadano prioritises safety, and the CC 78.1250-1 offers multiple features designed to enhance operator confidence and job site security. The crane is equipped with the Tadano Fall Protection System and incorporates protective access to the superstructure and the undercarriage including improved handrails, catwalks, and access ladders.
The cab design provides an expanded field of view, while an array of cameras and mirrors help the operator see the hoist drums and other blind spots around the crane.
Add Versatility with Outriggers
For job sites with uneven terrain, an optional Pedestal Crane (PC) kit replaces the crawlers on the undercarriage with outriggers enabling precise levelling at three different outrigger bases – 12m x 12m, 14m x 14m, and 16m x 16m – offering compatibility with existing foundations. This capability enhances setup efficiency while reducing both time and environmental impact.
Sustainability and Smart Monitoring
The CC 78.1250-1 features the IC-1 control system, which is standard on all Tadano crawler cranes and well accepted by operators.
The IC-1 also gives the operator real-time ground pressures on the rigging aids when erecting long boom systems. This system boosts efficiency with intuitive controls and precise configurations and provides essential information for safe and efficient operations.
The crane’s twin Mercedes-Benz engines are compatible with HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel), reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions without sacrificing performance.
Additionally, Tadano’s IC-1 Remote telematics solution enables real-time diagnostics and remote troubleshooting, minimising downtime and optimising fleet management.
Optimised Transport and Assembly
The CC 78.1250-1 has been designed for ease of transport, which includes accessible lifting points on components to make the assembly safe and efficient. Manufactured in Zweibrücken, a centre of excellence for mobile cranes, the crane adheres to world-class safety standards and uses high-quality components from established partners.
In an ever-changing industry, Tadano remains committed to delivering lifting solutions that combine reliability, efficiency, and sustainability – ensuring customers can invest with confidence.
New Tadano Hybrids
The first Tadano hybrid, the AC 4.070HL-1 is now available to order and is followed by the AC 5.120H-1 which features double the battery capacity.
The AC 4.070HL-1 is the market-ready version of the four-axle 70-tonne crane that the innovation leader showcased as a tech demo in 2022. Since then, the corresponding pre-production models have received an overwhelmingly positive response after both testing and real-life use.
The 120-tonne AC 5.120H-1 crane, which was developed on the basis of this experience, is the next model in the series.
An ambitious backdrop: lower emissions, higher energy efficiency
These new hybrid crane developments are a result of Tadano’s ambitious “Tadano Green Solutions” (TGS) environmental protection strategy, which has the goal of reducing the company’s CO₂ emissions between 2019 and 2030 by 25 per cent worldwide.
Over the same period, Tadano aims to cut CO₂ emissions from the use of its products by 35 per cent. The goal is to be completely climate neutral by 2050.
One important step towards this goal is the hybrid crane solutions, which generate about 60 per cent less CO₂ than diesel-powered superstructures. Electric crane operation has a system efficiency of about 85 per cent, which represents more than double the energy efficiency of an efficient diesel engine.
Flexible power options
A combination of conventional travel and fully electric on-site operation is made possible by the new Tadano AC 4.070HL-1 hybrid crane and the upcoming AC 5.120H-1.
More specifically, the diesel carrier engine is responsible for bringing the crane to its work site, where the engine can then be switched off for the duration of the job once the outriggers have been deployed.
Meanwhile, the high-voltage (HV) battery in the superstructure powers an electric motor, as well as the thermal management system and the superstructure cab’s air conditioning. The electric motor powers the hydraulic system used for crane operation, all with zero restrictions on the corresponding performance.
Tadano hybrid cranes can be operated both self-sufficiently with their own battery power and with the support of an external power source, such as temporary work site power. The latter not only extends a unit’s multi-hour electric runtime, but can also relieve the load on the HV battery. In addition, these hybrid cranes remain fully operational even when the HV battery is fully depleted and no external power supply is available. This is thanks to a generator that is driven by a power take-off on the carrier’s diesel engine that charges the HV battery and allows for continued crane operation.
Finally, the hybrid cranes also feature a separate and time-tested 24-V vehicle electrical system that can be used for de-rigging in case of emergency.
Under the hood: the hybrid technology in detail
The HV components and their accessories in the superstructure are housed in the packaging space that would normally correspond to the eliminated superstructure engine.
The compact electric motor is in the exact same position as the internal combustion engine it replaces, and runs with the same maximum speed. This makes it possible for the hydraulic unit used for crane operation to remain unchanged and in its original position – a plus when it comes to maintenance and spare parts for the unit, which can be smoothly activated and deactivated. The HV battery is located above the electric motor, surrounded by battery thermal management system components and battery management system components. The HV components’ layout is optimised for short cable runs, good coolant flow to cooling elements, and ease of maintenance and repair.
The vehicle inlet for charging is on the right side of the rear end, leaving enough storage space to the left, as well as enough space for a trailer hitch in the centre. When selecting HV components, Tadano follows its tried-and-true strategy of using components that come from reputable suppliers and conform to industry standards. As a result, the HV battery has a modular design and can be accessed in a straightforward manner.
Extra utility without side effects
Best things first: Tadano hybrid cranes have the exact same lifting performance, lifting capacities and axle load capacities as their counterparts with two internal combustion engines, meaning that the slight increase in weight represented by the hybrid system is not tied to any loss of performance.
As with other electric vehicles, the purchase price is higher than that of comparable models with an internal combustion engine. However, these hybrid cranes pay for themselves as a result of their extra advantages. In fact, quiet and zero-exhaust-emission crane operation means that new applications and potential sources of revenue can be tapped into:
Hybrid crane software
Tadano did not take any short cuts when it came to the software used to integrate the high-voltage system. The HV components are linked and controlled with in-house software developed internally by the company’s own IT resources, ensuring the hybrid cranes’ reliable suitability for daily use. The crane functions remain hydraulically powered, giving operators the same familiar, highly responsive control feedback, particularly since all HV-specific information has been smoothly integrated into the display solution.