A trend in the knuckle boom sector is increased lifting capacity, combined with cost-saving features. “Cranes operators want to have bigger cranes with the highest possible lifting capacity, while at the same time keeping the truck size reasonable. This means that the crane has to be light but able to offer the highest possible capacity and long outreach”, says Mikael Rietz, vice president, Cargotec loader cranes.
At the SAIE exhibition, in Bologna, Italy, last October, there were a number of new range-topping machines on show.
Effer presented what it describes as the most powerful knuckle boom ever built, with the 250 tonne-metre Effer 2455 Progress. The maximum seven stage boom with six jib extensions, reaching 59m, can be supplied in three configurations: on a truck with double subframe, on crawler tracks with a subframe, or on remote controlled crawler tracks without a subframe. The crane has the company’s progress control system and is mounted on the most advanced version of its CroSStab stabiliser system.