What are the key advantages of rough terrain cranes?

While North America might be the traditional home of the rough terrain crane, they are continually proving popular in Europe and further afield.

The Manitowoc plant in Niella Tanaro, Italy, has further expanded its manufacturing capability to include production of its Grove GRT8120 and GRT8100-1 rough terrain cranes. (Photo: Manitowoc)

The Manitowoc factory in Niella Tanaro, Italy, has further expanded its manufacturing capability to include production of its Grove GRT8120 and GRT8100-1 rough terrain cranes.

“Expanding this plant’s production lines reaffirms the strategic position of our factory for customers in the Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific markets,” says Federico Lovera, product manager at the Niella Tanaro plant.

“The GRT8120 is the largest Grove RT crane ever built at the plant, and we are excited to add it to our production line.”

With a wider range of Grove RT cranes now offered from Niella Tanaro, the company says its customers in EMEA can benefit from locally produced cranes. Grove RT cranes produced at the factory share multiple common components to simplify parts support.

The 120 tonne capacity two axle GRT8120 has a seven section, 60 metre boom with a tip height of 80.8 metres when used with the optional jib.

It also offers the option of the Maxbase asymmetrical outrigger system, which Manitwoc says allows for greater flexibility on congested jobsites, as well as the crane control system.

The other new RT crane rolling off the production line at Niella Tanaro is the GRT8100-1, which replaces the older GRT8100 in the company’s product offering. The GRT8100-1 combines the wide cab and carrier of the GRT8120 with the superstructure of the predecessor GRT8100. The 100 tonne capacity GRT8100-1 has a 47 metre main boom, with up to 72.9 metres of tip height available.

UK first

Scottish marine services company, PSG, has received the first Grove GRT8100-1 rough terrain crane in the UK. (Photo: Manitowoc)

Scottish marine services company, PSG Marine & Logistics (PSG), has received the first Grove GRT8100-1 rough-terrain crane in the UK.

The 100 tonne capacity crane is being used to support quayside logistical activities for companies in the marine, offshore oil and gas, and offshore wind energy industries.

PSG chose the crane for its efficiency and time-saving benefits, plus its strong pick-and-carry capabilities. “We have run a Grove RT600E rough terrain crane for many years and it has delivered reliable and productive service,” says Steve Clark from PSG.

“The crane’s performance combined with the excellent support we receive from Crowland Cranes and Manitowoc convinced us to invest in the GRT8100-1,” Clark continued.

It has a 10.1 to 17.1 metre offsettable bi-fold lattice swingaway extension, a 360 degree mechanical positive swing lock, and an auxiliary hoist package.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be the first company in the UK to receive one of these models and can’t wait to put it to work,” Clark adds.

Steel work

Elsewhere in the world, PT Vector Utama, one of Indonesia’s leading engineering and heavy construction service and solutions providers, also purchased a Grove GRT8100.

Indonesian company PT Vector Utama’s new Grove GRT8100 rough terrain crane. (Photo: Manitowoc)

It will be used for structural steel erection work and site maintenance at the Batu Hijau mine in West Sumbawa, Indonesia, alongside the company’s 250 tonne Grove GMK5250L-1 all terrain crane.

PT Vector Utama says it chose the Grove GRT8100 because it wanted a robust, 100 tonne capacity rough-terrain crane with excellent manoeuvrability.

Matt Peeler, president director at PT Vector Utama Indonesia, says, “This is the second time we have commissioned a Grove crane, and we are very impressed with the GRT8100’s ease of operation and features. We’ve already been using our GMK5250L-1 to do heavy lifts on the jobsite, and the GRT8100 is an excellent choice for smaller lifts and mobilising counterweight for the GMK5250L-1. The GRT8100 was the perfect fit for us in terms of capacity and all-round capabilities, and we know we can rely on it to deliver.”

The crane is powered by a Cummins QSB6.7L engine and has the option to be used in Eco mode.

Safety technology

In Brazil the crane rental company Milplan has expanded its fleet with the delivery of two new LRT 1100-2.1 rough terrain cranes from manufacturer Liebherr.

Milplan takes delivery of two new Liebherr LRT 1100-2.1 rough terrain cranes. (Photo: Liebherr)

These 100 tonne machines will be used for construction operations and electromechanical assembly projects, pipeline construction, maintenance shutdowns in mining, steel, energy, as well as the oil and gas industries.

Leonardo Mendes, Milplan CEO, says the choice of Liebherr cranes was driven by their advanced technology and operational safety. “We were looking for versatile and powerful cranes that would bring agility and strength to our operations. That’s why we opted for a two RT cranes. We aim to provide our customers with maximum availability, quick set-up times, and maximum safety.”

With these machines, Milplan closes its first deal with Liebherr.

Liebherr’s rough terrain cranes, the LRT series, offer the Variobase outrigger technology. The cranes also come with comprehensive monitoring systems. Whether during telescoping or counterweight adjustments, the operator has access to indicators that signal the safe operation methods.

“The Liebherr rough terrain cranes have been designed with operational safety in mind. Equipped with tyres suitable for challenging terrain and using Liebherr’s telescopic boom technology, the LRT cranes provide a practical, safe, and efficient solution for operations that require mobility and power,” says Rene Porto, divisional manager of mobile and crawler cranes at Liebherr Brasil.

Compact size

South Africa-based crane rental company Concord Cranes Group has taken delivery of two Terex TRT 35 rough terrain cranes, from Terex distributor Goscor Access Solutions, for work on port jetties.

South-Africa based crane rental company Concord Cranes Group has taken delivery of two Terex TRT 35 rough terrain cranes. (Photo: Terex)

Francois Smith of Concord Cranes says, “The Terex TRT 35 was selected for its compact size and manoeuvrability, which is needed to access confined spaces on port jetties. The crane is used extensively in the food industry, offloading fish from fishing vessels to the processing plant, which requires accuracy, high safety standards, speed, and reliability.”

The first 32 tonne capacity crane with a boom length of 30 metres and an additional jib extension of 8 metres was delivered to Walvis Bay in Namibia.

As well as the TEOS control system to improve safety, usability, efficiency of navigation, operation, and information flow, the TRT 35 offers compact dimensions, either fixed, modular, or removable counterweight, proportional telescopic boom, full power and comes equipped for T-Link telematics.

Its synchronised, four-section boom gives operators excellent lifting performance while its four steering options ensure smooth manoeuvrability, Terex says.

Goscor Access Solutions is one of the latest distributors to have joined the Terex rough terrain global network, having announced the partnership at Bauma 2022 in Munich, Germany. The company has branches in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth.

Everyday crane

Rough terrain cranes can perform a wide variety of jobs and can be used all year round.

Italian equipment supplier Welding Duebi has been using a Terex TRT 65 rough terrain crane for work at a refinery. (Photo: Terex)

Italian equipment supplier Welding Duebi has been using a Terex TRT 65 rough terrain crane, the first to be delivered in the country, at a refinery in Italy.

“Within our refinery, from which we have contracted out maintenance activities, it is necessary to have at least one crane available 365 days a year, capable of carrying out all required tasks reliably and efficiently,” explains Nicola Barotti, CEO and partner of Welding Duebi. “While we have more than 20 types of Terex cranes in our fleet, the new TRT 65 is an ideal solution for our refinery, since it can juggle a congested and space-restricted environment. Due to its suitability and performance, we decided to allocate it permanently to this site.”

The 65 tonne capacity TRT 65 is powered by a Cummins Stage 5 engine and was rented from Terex distributor Tecno-Gru.

“We chose the TRT 65 because it has all the necessary features to meet the needs of a complex site like a refinery,” continues Barotti. “The versatility guaranteed by this machine, as well as its compactness, is undoubtedly a fundamental element for us, because it allows us to quickly move the vehicle in all areas of the plant, several times a day, both during routine maintenance operations and during the ‘shutdown’ of the plants, which takes place every two years. Agility, manoeuvrability and responsiveness are combined with other features, such as ease of use, and the considerable reach and capacity, which allow us to handle products of all types and weights at very variable heights.”