Manitowoc has unveiled the new 400t capacity Grove GMK6400-1 all-terrain crane at Conexpo 2020 presenting it with a “virtual launch” — a first for the company.
According to a statement from Manitowoc, visitors to its stand at the event in Las Vegas can experience a virtual tour of the new crane via a VR booth on the Manitowoc stand. The company is also displaying for the first time in the Americas the 250t capacity GMK5250XL-1, which was launched at Bauma last year and is on the on-stand line up.
Andreas Cremer, vice president of product management for all-terrain cranes at Manitowoc, said CONEXPO, which got underway in Las Vegas yesterday, provides an opportunity to showcase new technology and industry-leading reliability.
“We are using CONEXPO to highlight the increased reliability of our Grove AT cranes,” he said. “Our ongoing investment in lean manufacturing under The Manitowoc Way operating system is delivering improved quality and reliability, which is better for our cranes and better for our customers. We have invested a lot of engineering hours into making our cranes more durable, and through the work of our Product Verification Centers, we have partnered with our suppliers to improve the reliability of the components in all of our Grove cranes.”
Stepping inside the dedicated VR booth on the Manitowoc stand, visitors get an interactive look at the new GMK6400-1. Using VR technology enables the smallest details on the crane to be brought to life in vivid detail and lets the user view the machine from multiple angles in quick succession, giving a better overall impression of the unit.
According to Manitowoc. the GMK6400-1 sets new standards in the increasingly competitive 400-450t class, outperforming the competition in every category. It follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, the GMK6400, but includes additional reach, enabling it to take on jobs that usually require a seven- or eight-axle crane. This delivers a clear competitive advantage and ensures an accelerated return on investment for customers.
“We have upgraded this crane to use all of the latest technological advances, including our Crane Control System (CCS) and MAXbase variable outrigger system, which increases capacities on the main boom,” Cremer said.
“On top of that, its easy and fast setup enables it to handle more work in a day. We’re excited to have the crane as our first-ever virtual launch, and through VR technology, visitors can get a true feel for what this new machine can do. We hope they see the simplicity of such a powerful machine when it comes to set up and rigging, which can be experienced step-by-step during the show without needing to be at a job site.”
The capacity-enhancing MegaWingLift attachment is available as an option for the GMK6400-1 and the self-rigging addition can be ready in less than 20 minutes, without the need for an assist crane. This attachment increases lifting capacities up to 70% and makes the crane well-suited to applications such as bridge construction, wind farm work or tower crane assembly, while the crane is also likely to prove popular in general construction or on petrochemical or industrial plants.
The GMK6400-1 has a maximum capacity of 400t and a main boom of 60m. When fitted with its full complement of jib, it can achieve a maximum tip height of 136m. The crane also has a compact overall package, with a length of 17.5m and boom overhang of 1.8m.
A single engine does both lifting and travelling duties and the hydraulic system is improved from its predecessor models. Manitowoc says that with Linde hydraulics in the superstructure there is a higher oil flow, which in turn delivers higher operating speeds. On- and off-road movement ins aided by a driveline that includes the Megatrak suspension system and the Megadrive hydrostatic drive for on-site positioning.
Compared to previous models, the GMK6400-1 is fitted with Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS), including boom configurator mode, while the latest GMK carrier cabin has larger space and better visibility.
