Looking c&a loader cranes further World Power’s largest crawler mounted knuckle East… boom crane is the ER-115.000 For many years the market leaders in the loader crane sector - Palfinger, Hiab and Fassi - have remained unchallenged although it has not all been plain sailing. Last year we highlighted Denmark’s HMF - probably the fourth largest loader crane manufacturer - and looked at its recent expansion and developments. However, lurking in the background are a number of manufacturers from a country with a predilection for very large loader - or should we say knuckle boom - cranes. The country is Turkey and it appears to be Hidrokon’s Barry Chester making inroads in western Europe, possibly assisted with the new fully folding Hydrokon’s new 110 tonne/ by the recent depreciation of the currency. HK110 at Bauma metre HK110 Walking around Bauma you could crane. On top of all this it builds tensile SSAB steel,” says Barry as something larger than the 110 hardly fail to notice the growing vehicle recovery equipment, marine Chester of Hidrokon. “All materials tonne/metre HK110.” number of Turkish manufacturers. cranes and provides special project supplied are examined for quality “Some of the larger knuckle boom In the loader crane sector solutions. and continuity using state of the cranes may breach maximum gross this included Hidrokon, World At Bauma the company launched art testing equipment, while the vehicle weights in some markets, Power Erkin and MPG (Makine the new HK range of ‘fully folding’ manufacturing process involves in which case they would be Prouduksiyon Grubu) which loader cranes which includes the 20 plasma laser cutting machines and limited to special use cases such exhibited a 450 tonne metre tonne/metre HK20, the HK65 and the robot welding. Each completed as rail, off road vehicles, marine knuckle boom crane on a seven HK110. The HK20 can lift just over a unit is then painted in a three and site based trucks. For the UK, axle chassis. tonne at its maximum 12.58 metres part process to meet the higher units up to 165 tonne/metres can Hidrokon expands reach including manual extension or standards of a marine crane finish be mounted on standard truck before being passed for final test and Hidrokon was formed in 1993 when 1,285kg at 10.46 metres on the full chassis.” approval.” it began building large knuckle boom power telescopic version. The unit As part of its expansion Hidrokon or, if you prefer, articulated cranes. has multiple options and is said to Features of the HK range include has opened a new distribution and Its current range is topped by a be ‘very competitive’. 25 degree negative boom angle, a parts centre in Denmark - Hidrokon 345 tonne/metre mode, but also The 65 tonne/metre HK65 can lift progressive stability control system Europe - and more recently a manufactures truck cranes from almost 500kg at a maximum of with visuals of the crane’s position satellite operation in the UK. It is 10 to 60 tonnes, truck mounted 31.63 metres while the 110 tonne/ available on screen and on the also looking to appoint distributors platforms to 60 metres and has metre HK110 has a maximum remote control unit, simultaneous throughout Europe and says recently launched a new All Terrain capacity of 21 tonnes and can multi-function feather control with discussions are already under way handle two tonnes variable speed hydraulics, a control in some key markets. system to govern sequential boom Hidrokon launched its HK on its main boom at “To support the European markets, range which includes the extension/retraction as well as up to 25.36 metres. service personnel from Denmark 20 tonne/metre HK20 a wide range of options to suit With jib extensions, and the factory in Turkey are individual customer preferences 510kg at 34.56 available to provide hands-on such as restricted movement metres is possible. support and training. spare parts parameters, auto-levelling and one “The new fully can now be ordered from Denmark touch automatic folding. folding range for overnight throughout Europe. was designed “With more investment and a new In the UK we have already signed completely in house determination to enter new markets, up key partners for installation and and manufactured new products are being developed after-market support to cover most using the latest rapidly,” he said. “The fully folding of England and Wales. Scotland and technology, best in range will be expanded to cover the Ireland are yet to be determined but class components market’s most popular sizes with we anticipate this will be in place and high grade the imminent addition of 15, 35 soon.” and 85 tonne/metre units as well June 2019 cranes & access 35 Palfinger’s largest crane is the 150.7 loader cranes c&a tonne/metres PK 200002 L SH High Performance The 450 tonne/metre MPG 450 on a seven axle carrier More MPG Like the other larger MPG loader Another Turkish company MPG cranes from the AC 130 TM up, the located in Konya - south of Ankara MPG 450 features two stabilisers to - produced its first loader crane in the rear of the chassis adding to lift 1998 having manufactured truck capacity and stability. cranes since 1990. It currently offers World Power Erkin a range of 20 loader crane models Probably the most recognised ranging from the AC 20 TM to the knuckle crane brand from Turkey is monster 430 tonne/metre MPG 450 World Power Erkin which produces mounted on a seven axle carrier cranes from nine to 450 tonne/ combination stowed to the front over equivalents, but their ranges are - the machine that was shown at metres and claims to have been the chassis cab shortening the overall growing. Bauma. The Danish Crane Import the first to produce such a large travel length. The MPG 450 however Group based in Roskilde, has been knuckle boom - the ER-450.000. Palfinger’s largest crane is the the master distributor for mainland stows the crane to the rear, reducing 150.7 tonne/metres PK 200002 The company was formed from Europe for the past three years, the overall height but increasing L SH High Performance with a the 40 year old Erkin Hydraulic while JHKran is the local dealer for overall length, which necessitates a maximum outreach of 47.9 metres company and has become known Denmark, between them they have further two axles. The ER-450.000 (25.6 metre hydraulic) and a for heavy-duty custom-built sold eight large machines. uses an eight section boom with maximum capacity of 40 tonnes. machines. It also claims to have six section jib, the MPG has a nine Hiab’s largest loader crane is the The MPG 450 has a maximum designed and built the world’s section boom and similar jib. X-HiPro 1058 - a 90 tonne/metre capacity of 77 tonnes at 5.15 metres first 360 tonne/metre knuckle Maximum lift capacity favours the crane with a horizontal outreach and 6.5 tonnes at 33.25 metres. If boom crane which can operate World Power machine - with 92 of 34.5 metres and 38 metres using the two manual extensions it in restricted headroom situations tonnes at 4.6 metres compared with vertically. Fassi comes closest with can take 3.5 tonnes to its maximum making it particularly useful for the MPG’s 77 tonnes at 5.15 metres. its 160 tonne metre F2150RAL xhe- horizontal reach of 40.48 metres. moving and assembling machinery. At 17.5 metres both machines lift dynamic which has a maximum With jib the unit has a lift height In addition, it produces three about the same, however on the full outreach with jib of 41.3 metres. of almost 70 metres and can lift crawler mounted knuckle boom hydraulic boom reach the ER-450.000 310kg at its maximum radius of 65.7 cranes with lift capacities to Hiab Effer can lift 13.3 tonnes at 22.3 metres, metres. 37 tonnes, marine cranes, boat Hiab’s lack of big capacity cranes to whereas the MPG can reach 33.25 The crane has a touch screen movers, recovery tow trucks and compete in this niche but growing metre with 6.5 tonnes. Both have control panel showing cylinder scrap loader cranes. market sector was certainly one two manual extensions with the MPG pressure, boom length and angle, of the reasons for acquiring Italian 450tm machines winning this comparison by almost 13 truck stabilisation and automatic manufacturer Effer from the CTE compared metres - 40.48m/3.5 tonnes versus counterweight. Other features group last year. At the time Hiab It is interesting to compare the two 27.8m/5.6 tonnes. include radio remote control, and its parent Cargotec said the 450 tonne/metre cranes - MPG’s electronic Crane Control System Big cranes acquisition would be a key factor in 450 and the ER-450.000-L - as there and Crane Diagnostic System, from the leaders its aim to become the clear loader are several major differences. Active Stability Monitoring, remote The market for these mega loader crane market leader. The Effer range technical support, automatic All the larger World Power cranes is very small, so it is not significantly boosts Hiab’s range lubrication system and winch. It can machines are mounted on five surprising that market leaders like over 100 tonne/metres where Effer also be fitted with a work platform. axle carriers with the boom and jib Palfinger, Hiab and Fassi do not have is a leading player with models (L-R) Viggo and Dorte Burin-Rasmussen of the Danish Crane Import Group, Veysel Soylu of MPG and Jan Hansen of JHKran at Bauma The World Power ER 450.000-L 36 cranes & access June 2019 The Effer 2255 can lift 3,720kg at 26.12 metres c&a loader cranes “With FrameWorks we reduced the installation times of frames for our heavy range cranes by 75 percent and have now reduced installation time for bodies by the same amount.