Manitowoc Grows Topless Tower Crane Line With Potain MCT 135
Manitowoc’s facility in Zhangjiagang, China, is continuing to respond to customer demand for powerful yet compact and cost-effective tower cranes with the introduction of a new model towards the lower end of its growing topless Potain range.
Manitowoc’s facility in Zhangjiagang, China, is continuing to respond to customer demand for powerful yet compact and cost-effective tower cranes with the introduction of a new model towards the lower end of its growing topless Potain range.
The latest addition is the MCT 135, available in 6 t (H6) and 8 t (H8) versions, with a maximum jib length of 60 m and a height under hook of up to 50.9 m. As ever, the new crane is a product of Manitowoc’s extensive Voice of the Customer process, which ensures all new designs are ideally suited to project needs.
Engineered with urban and infrastructure projects in mind, the crane benefits from an intelligent, compact design, with its complete top section including maximum jib traveling in just five containers. Once erected – a simple process that can be achieved in under 1.5 days on a well-prepared site – the MCT 135’s topless design enables it to comfortably operate alongside several similar cranes.
“By speaking to customers, we saw an opportunity to develop a new Potain topless model that is optimized for congested spaces,” said Kwong-Joon Leong, regional product manager for Asia – tower cranes, Manitowoc. “The speed and flexibility of the MCT 135 is sure to make it a popular choice for contractors. Adding this model means our customers have a greater choice than ever, allowing them to select the ideal topless Potain model for any application.”
Quick and easy
Increasing the MCT 135’s suitability for tight working conditions is the option of two counter-jib set-ups. With the full 15.2 m counter-jib, 1.5 t can be lifted at the 60 m jib end by both the H6 and H8 models. With the shorter 12.6 m counter-jib the H6 model lifts 2 t at 55 m, while the H8 will lift 1.9 t at 55 m. Potain’s popular 1.6 m (L46) mast sections feature in the design, with their pinned joints offering fast, easy connection for quicker installation. For optimum flexibility, the seven jib sections allow owners to tailor the crane in configurations offering 30 m to 60 m of horizontal reach.
As expected, performance is another key focus with the crane offering impressive lift ability across the entire load curve. The H6, for instance, can lift its 6 t maximum out to 19.3 m when assembled with its full 60 m jib. For the H8 version, 4 t can be lifted at over 28 m with the full jib in place; and this increases to 32.6 m when a shorter 40 m jib is installed. The crane’s maximum capacity of 8 t can be lifted out to 15.3 m when working with the full jib, or out to 17.6 m with a 40 m jib.
The latest frequency-controlled mechanisms ensure lifting operations are conducted at an optimal rate, whether through high-speed movements for material transfer or super slow speeds for precise positioning.
Multiple mechanism choice
The H8 benefits from the 40 LVFC 20-1 Optima hoist that also features on the MCT 185 which launched in March. The hoist allows the MCT 135 to raise 1 t at up to 98 m/min, and 4 t at 40.5 m/min via its 30 kW motor. It also offers an impressive 375 m rope capacity. With a 22 kW motor and a 400 m rope capacity, the H6’s 33 LVF 15 Optima can raise 0.75 t at 102 m/min, and 3 t at 36 m/min. Benefiting from the continuously variable speed control, both models now offer a 25% increase in lowering speeds compared with earlier Potain models in this capacity class fitted with standard non-Optima hoists.
Each model has two trolley options. Common to both is the 4 kW-rated 6 DVFC 4-2, offering continuously variable speeds of up to 80 m/min. Alternatively, the H6’s 4 D3 V4 provides three speed options of up to 15, 30 and 58 m/min, while the 5 D3 V4 on the H8 gives the operator the benefit of 18, 36 and 70 m/min speeds. A choice of two identical slewing motor options apply to the H6 and H8, topping out at 0.96 rpm for the more powerful model.
Designed to offer a long service life, and featuring a five-year warranty on structural parts, the new tower crane has undergone extensive testing right from the design stage at Manitowoc’s Product Verification Center in the Zhangjiagang plant. The Potain MCT 135 is available across a range of markets, including Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.
