Mobile crane giant Grove has unveiled its new TMS9000-2 truck crane, which has a 100t lift capacity and is lighter, longer and stronger than its predecessors.
According to a statement by Manitowoc, which owns the Grove brand, the new crane features a number of improvements over previous models that will enable owners to increase their utilisation and lifting capabilities. Its lighter weight makes for increased roadability and helps customers in more global markets meet gross vehicle weight requirements.
The new model also sports a longer boom, which increases reach and enables lifters to complete a wider variety of applications, Manitowoc said, adding that the crane is also stronger, with best-in-class load charts for all counterweight configurations.
“The Grove TMS9000-2 is a clear example of The Manitowoc Way in action,” said Harrison Hipple, product manager for truck-mounted cranes at Manitowoc. “We brought our customers in at the earliest stages of designing this crane to ensure we made a product that fits their lifting needs. It was engineered with one goal in mind: to increase utilisation rates for customers and increase their return on investment in a truck crane.”
The TMS9000-2 is approximately 363kg lighter than its predecessor, the TMS9000E. Its reduced, best-in-class gross vehicle weight enables a wider range of flexibility in carrying counterweight, cribbing and other items, which will help lifters optimise the crane for a variety of applications, the statement said.
Though the TMS9000-2 is lighter, its boom length and capacity have both increased. The crane features a new, 51.6m, six-section MEGAFORM boom that utilises Grove’s Twin-Lock pinning system. It’s a greaseless boom, which reduces maintenance for owners. The improved reach will enable customers to complete a wider variety of applications with the crane, but from a compact chassis, which is 2.6m in width and 13.4m in length. The crane offers manual or hydraulic swingaways, along with additional inserts, to provide further reach options.
According to Manitowoc, the crane’s increased reach comes with increased capacity across all load charts. The crane’s 100t capacity makes it the strongest four-axle truck crane on the market with the best load charts in its class, the statement claims. Both the boom and chassis are stronger on the TMS9000-2 than previous cranes, so there is more capacity across all radii. On average, load charts with maximum counterweight have improved by approximately 5% over its predecessor.
The new model also shares the same counterweight system as the TMS9000E, so owners can interchange counterweights and wing weights from the previous-generation crane, giving them flexibility in configurations across an entire fleet.
Manitowoc’s standardised operating system – its CCS or Crane Control System – not only offers six simple predefined boom sequences to maximise crane utilization, but also incorporates features found in CCS-equipped Grove all-terrain products. This includes an intuitive Boom Configurator Mode that makes it quick and easy to select the optimum boom position and length for a specific lift, maximising the crane’s capabilities. According to the statement, the operator simply inputs lift parameters and the system calculates the best configuration.
The crane is powered by a Cummins ISX12 powertrain, an on-highway, EPA-certified engine that provides 450bhp of power at 1800 rpm, and a maximum 2102Nm of torque. The TMS9000-2 sports an air suspension and customers also have the choice of either a fully manual or an automated manual transmission, Manitowoc said.
