Grove GMK3060L-1 – Compactness And Reach At Its Best
The Grove GMK3060L-1 is the most compact crane in the 60 t class: In addition to the shortest overall length and the lowest height it also scores top marks for the smallest tail swing.
The main feature with the machine is the extreme compactness, it is only slightly longer than a two-axle crane in the carrier. If you take a two axle 40 tonner, the Grove three axle cranes are only 40cms longer in the carrier. This makes it extremely compact, and it can get in anywhere. The GMK 3060L-1 also has an extremely small tail swing for tight work sites.
The new all-terrain crane combines a powerful seven-section MEGAFORM® boom with a compact three-axle carrier making it ideal for a variety of work in tight locations.
Grove Crane’s GMK3060L-1 is powered by a Cummins QSL9, a 254 kW (340 hp) six- cylinder in-line diesel engine for reduced fuel consumption. The QSL9 combines high strength with a compact footprint for one of the best power-to-weight ratios in its class. The crane includes a ZF TraXon automatic transmission, giving it 12 forward-speed options and two reverse.
New features include a state-of-the-art EUROMOT 5/Tier 4 final engine for reduced fuel consumption, and additional counterweight for improved load capacities and outstanding taxi configuration.
Features:
- Seven-section TWIN LOCK pinning boom
- Exclusive MEGAFORM boom design
- Exclusive MEGATRAK suspension system
- Hydraulic counterweight removal system
- Manitowoc Crane Control System
- Cummins Tier 4f/ Euromot 5 engine with ZF Traxon automatic transmission
- Manitowoc Crane Care support
Gravity Rigging have the first GMK3060L-1 delivered in Victoria
Gravity Rigging recently took delivery of the first Grove GMK 3060L-1 all-terrain to be delivered in Victoria. Gravity Rigging Director, Dean Crook explains the background to the purchase.
Dean Crook has been in the crane industry for 21 years. He worked for Total Machinery Relocations for close to 15 years and when that business closed in 2014, he decided the time was right for him to go out on his own. Gravity Rigging has its yard in Cranbourne, Victoria and the customer profile for the business ranges from the likes of Downer, AE Smith and AG Coombes through Tier One, Tier Two and Tier Three builders, spa and pool companies, plumbing and roofing businesses.
We bought the Grove GMK 4100L-1 last June and we’ve been really happy and impressed with the performance of the crane. We spoke to both Grove and Liebherr about buying a 60t machine and we decided to jump on board with Grove based on our previous experience with the 100t. We also liked the idea that we were buying a brand-new model with a new design and 48m of boom. The 100t Grove had been performing perfectly so we didn’t see any reason to change brands”
Crook goes on to explain how Gravity Rigging operates and the type of customer put their way.
“We do everything from full plant room change overs, to design and install gantries to removing chillers and boilers and getting things done in tight and awkward spots. For example, we’ve just won a contract with Nielsen’s installing transformers for all the sub stations on the tunnel project. These are 17t transformers, the site cranes are lifting them, but we are skating them anywhere from 50m to 100m to their rooms, jacking them and putting them into position.
Crook discusses the difference the Grove GMK 4100L-1 and now the GMK 3060L-1 are making to his business.
“With the Grove GMK 3060L-1, the 60t capacity, the long boom and luffing fly we will be completing jobs quicker. Because of the compact nature of the crane, it will get onto site easier and with the longer boom it will reach lifts we couldn’t have managed in the past. We’ve now got two new cranes in the fleet, one brand new and the 100t which is just 12 months old. This gives our customers confidence we have reliable cranes for their work. We don’t have the problems that come with an ageing fleet where things inevitably break and go wrong.
Super Compact Chassis
According to Cranes and Lifting, the chassis is almost as compact as a two-axle model and up to 1 m shorter than competitive three-axle cranes, with a carrier length of only 8.68 m and a minimum overall height of 3.48 m with the suspension fully lowered.
The new model features a longer, 48 m seven-section TWIN-LOCK hydraulic pinned main boom and boasts significantly stronger load charts.
It features Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS), as well as a boom configurator feature. This enables operators to input basic lift parameters, such as load, radius and load height, and the system automatically provides optimal boom options for performing the lift. This saves time at the job site and makes the setup process much easier. Like all GMK cranes with CCS, the GMK3060L also features the MAXbase option for variable outrigger settings and increase load charts in certain working ranges.
The GMK3060L-1 is powered by a Cummins QSL9, a 254 kW (340 hp) six- cylinder in-line diesel engine for reduced fuel consumption. The QSL9 combines high strength with a compact footprint for one of the best power-to-weight ratios in its class. The crane includes a ZF TraXon automatic transmission, giving it 12 forward-speed options and two reverse.
Adam’s Cranes Beat the Crowd in NZ
The GMK3060L-1 Grove crane has also been selling in New Zealand with Adam Gausel purchasing one in October.
Gausel and his wife Nicola decided they wanted to move into crane ownership to provide mobile crane hire and lift planning solutions with a new machine that outclassed its local competition.
Having previously experienced the usability and performance of the Grove GMK3060 All Terrain Crane, Adam was drawn to this crane model for his operations.
Gausel confirms “I’d purchased a GMK3060 new from TRT with my previous employer, so I knew how they performed, and the size suited the niche in the market where I wanted to position myself. It is also of a size where you can tow a trailer for the counterweights behind the crane. This is important to me because I wanted to minimise the overheads associated with having trucks and employing staff starting in a new business.”
Radio Controls Increases Safety and Communication
Another stand out feature of the GMK3060L-1 is the remote control. This was a feature that was critical for Gausel, as it allowed him to work on his own.
The radio control function removes the dependence of being restrained to the crane itself through cab controls. It means the operator can be near the load to lift, lower, or position it. The major advantages are safety and communication, the operator can choose the best place to see the lift because they can move around the crane to see the lift from every angle.
Dean Mcllroy, TRT’s Crane Sale expert worked alongside Gausel throughout the entire process, from the day it left the factory, through shipping, and to the progression of New Zealand compliance.
As of the 18th of October, Adams Crane was officially open for business and within days of collecting the crane, Adams Crane had his first official job. The GMK3060L-1’s first job was lifting a relocated classroom that had been sat on pallets. The original plan was to jack it up and pile underneath it.
However, it was more cost-effective and beneficial to lift the classroom and move it away from the foundations. Saving the builder from having to work underneath the room.
After the piles had been completed, Gausel and the builder lifted the room back on the piles just the two of them in a couple of hours.
Gausel confirms “We did it just the two of us, no fuss, no dodgy builder hand signals or yelling because I was right there with the radio control. The sun was out, the piles were perfect, the old-timer under the tree watching us thought it was Christmas and it was my name on the side of the crane.”
“Being radio controlled, it’s not something you see very often, and it challenges how people see mobile cranes. It allows me to work side by side with my clients. It allows better communication and provides freedom to put the operator in the best position to view the lift. I think there is still a place for sitting in the seat but having the option to choose is a marketable point of difference I have over my competition.”
Adam explains that he named his business Adam’s Crane because Nelson is still a small city and I’ve been in the industry here for over 20 years. Many will already know me and how I like to operate, so it seemed logical to have Adam in the name.
I enjoy the different aspects of crane hire, especially being involved in people’s projects at key times.
