Cranes at Bauma China come back with a bang

Zoomlion’s brand new ZTK120000V knuckle boom crane has a maximum load moment rating of 1,355 tonne-metres. CE marking is on its way. Photo: Alex Dahm/KHL Group

Bauma China held last week (26 to 29 November) in Shanghai was a very positive trade show despite poor conditions in the domestic market.

Buyers from abroad formed around 20 per cent of the 281,000 visitor total. Many of the more than 50,000 foreign visitors were from Russia, India, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand. The total attendance was more than at any of the other industry trade shows other than Bauma Munich. 

The equipment and component manufacturers among the 3,542 exhibitors seemed keen to talk exports, especially in light of the fact they aren’t selling much at home. In addition, judging by the large number of agent and broker types walking around the show offering late model and general used equipment for sale, there is still a sizeable amount of inventory available in the country too.

Having said that about the poor domestic market, it is clearly picking up, as referenced in our ICST ICm20 ranking of the world’s largest crane manufacturers by revenue. All but one Chinese crane manufacturers in this November 2024 list have turned double digit losses in last year’s table into at least single digit rises this year.

XCMG’s range-topping 4,000 tonne capacity XCA4000 all terrain type crane announced in September and shown at Bauma China in November. Photo: Murray Pollok/KHL Group

Another giant knuckle boom crane on show was this SQ9200ZB5 branded Dude Crane and made by Hubei Best Crane Co. It will lift 33 tonnes at 17 metres outreach. Photo: Alex Dahm/KHL Group

Anyway, what is the main reason for visiting a trade show like Bauma China? To see the new products, of course. While this year may not have surpassed the crazy years of Bauma China ten or so years ago, there were still a lot of new cranes to check out, sometimes with an element of ‘why, what is its intended application?’ Or maybe that was just me not seeing a clear benefit.

What was there

So, the clear star of the show, I would say among all the exhibits, not just cranes, was the massive 11 axle all terrain type telescopic boom crane from XCMG, occupying pride of place in the centre of a very large stand right in the middle of the outdoor area.

The largest Chinese crane manufacturer’s 4,000 tonne capacity, 78,400 tonne-metre (base boom only) range-topping XCA4000 is primarily aimed at erecting wind turbines, and large ones at that, up to 15 MW and 190 metres hub height, the manufacturer said.

Bridge building applications are also likely in its remit. The manufacturer also reported three units already delivered in China and three more on order.

It was displayed fully rigged with lattice jib and wing type capacity enhancement. One boom option is a basic fully extended telescopic stick of 86 metres. Its maximum boom and jib combination for wind work is 205 metres.

Power is from a 566 kW Weichai diesel engine. To help with manoeuvrability on site all 11 axles on the 29.7 metre long carrier are steered and eight of them are driven. For road travel between wind farms or other job sites the XCA4000 is carried on a (large) low bed type trailer.

Another big knuckle boom crane on show was this H3480 branded Sunhunk. Rated at 348 tonne-metres, the maximum capacity is given by its manufacturer as 80 tonnes. Photo: Alex Dahm/KHL Group

At previous iterations of Bauma China Chinese manufacturer Sany has gone big on cranes, one year showing its 3,600 tonne capacity lattice boom crawler crane. Not so much this year with fewer and smaller cranes. The impression was of a smaller stand overall but there was a lot of Sany machinery spread around there when you looked for it.

It should also be noted Sany also offers a 4,000 tonne capacity all terrain type crane, as reported in the November December issue of ICST. One difference is that Sany engineers have managed to squeeze it onto a nine axle carrier.

Similarly, and also not on display at the show but also due for a mention, Zoomlion unveiled a 4,000 tonne capacity all terrain type crane at its global customer event at the factory in Changsha in September.

Shown from its hybrid series of wheeled cranes was XCMG’s 60 tonne capacity XCE60EV three axle all terrain. It can run fully battery-electric, both for crane operation and for road travel. The latter just for short distances as it is better to use the diesel engine which can also charge the battery or, when stationary, it can be plugged into the grid, to charge the battery or to run the crane.

XCMG reported sales of seven units of this model in Europe in 2024, including units to the Netherlands, northern Europe and Turkey.

Pretty much the only rough terrain crane there was the new XCR120_AU, XCMG’s new model specifically for the Australian market and its associated tough mining and similar application environments. Rated at 120 tonnes, it has a 50 metre boom, 231 kW engine and maximum gradeability of 80 %.

450 tonne capacity XCMG XLC450 DP lattice boom crawler crane in uncharacteristic green livery but there was a reason for it. Photo: Alex Dahm/KHL Group

In the naming of the new XCMG XLC450 DP crawler crane the DP stands for dual power, signifying motive power can be provide either by a 562 kW diesel engine or via a 400 kW electric motor. Photo: Alex Dahm/KHL Group

Zoomlion ZCC1500V-1EV(D) lifts 150 tonnes at a 5 metre radius. It has direct electric drives, like an electric tower crane – not electric motors driving pumps to power hydraulic motors. This reduces energy consumption by more than a third, the manufacturer says. Photo: Alex Dahm/KHL Group

Crawler cranes

On tracks XCMG showed its 450 tonne capacity XLC450 DP lattice boom crawler. A maximum load moment of 5,600 tonne-metres is given when rigged with superlift and the TBM jib, as exhibited with the tray partially loaded. In this configuration it is comparable to a 650 tonne crane, the manufacturer said.

Its uncharacteristic green colour scheme along with the DP, for dual power, in the nomenclature, signifies a choice of motive power, either a diesel engine or plugged into the electricity grid. The Weichai WP14 diesel kicks out 562 kW or there is a 400 kW electric motor.

XCMG says it is the only machine of its type at this size. Maximum component width is 3 metres, allowing transport worldwide.

As has repeatedly been the case at this show Zoomlion’s presence was strong and wide-ranging. Interesting was a 150 tonne capacity battery-electric lattice boom crawler crane on display. The ZCC1500V-1EV(D) has direct electric drive, not electro-hydraulic. Typical power consumption is given as 25 kWh which should give a full eight hour shift of work from its 231.8 kWh battery.

Options to recharge that battery are a 240 kW DC system which takes just 1.5 hours or a more gentle, 40 kW AC slow charger that can remain connected while the machine is operating.

The main boom only can be up to 76 metres long. Longest main boom and fixed jib combination is 52 + 31 metres while the maximum main boom and luffing jib combination length is 52 + 46 metres.

Even more interesting

Perhaps edging more towards the wacky end of things was a really immense Zoomlion knuckle boom crane mounted near the rear of its five axle all terrain type carrier with hydro-pneumatic suspension. Its turning radius is given as 9.2 metres and the evenly distributed axle load is said to be no more than 12 tonnes.

Dimensions of the ZTK120000V are 12.87 metres long, 2.80 wide and 3.65 high. Maximum lifting height is 21 metres and the maximum hydraulic horizontal outreach is 17.2 metres.

The 1,355 tonne-metre rated ZTK120000V is the larger of two models currently available. Since its introduction at its customer event, Zoomlion said interest has been sufficient in this model to put one through CE marking for sale in Europe. “More models are in development – we will see what customers want,” a Zoomlion spokesperson told ICST.

Typical applications are likely to be industrial installations, especially inside buildings, and maybe tunnelling, the manufacturer said. This prompted a positively received suggestion it might be good to have on an electric carrier. Zoomlion announced its first electric truck crane some years ago already and now more models, plus all terrains, telescopic boom crawlers and rough terrain cranes are all available in electric versions.

Smaller more conventional knuckle boom cranes were also more strongly evident. Zoomlion will start to offer 25 and 32 tonne models for sale in Europe. Its German plant has six truck chassis on which they will be mounted, just for starters.

The new 100 tonne capacity (400 tonne-metre) type TZGC100HD-1, a heavy duty lattice boom crawler crane for export markets. Offered by long-established manufacturer TZCO, it has EU Stage V and EPA Tier 4f power. Main boom can be up to 61 metres. Photo: Alex Dahm/KHL Group

Taiyuan Heavy Industry Co (TZCO) had a stronger and more central presence at the show than in the past. It is a long-established manufacturer of a wide range of construction machinery, including crawler, truck and loader cranes, plus big lattice boom truck cranes: the all terrain type TZGL750 and the SPMT-mounted TZGX1600 (more on that unusual one in a future story).

Also for the future is TZCO’s design (yet to be built) super heavy lift ring crane. The TZGH2000 14000t Series Ring Rail Crane has a maximum load moment of 275,000 tonne-metres, a 126 metre twin boom, a fixed jib of 36 metres and a lifting capacity of 6,000 tonnes – any of that sound familiar?

If tower cranes are more your thing look out for their Bauma China 2024 show roundup coming soon.