Crane business

Terex says that its new Challenger 3180 all terrain is the only 3-axle, 60-tonne capacity class machine currently available that is designed for one-man operation. The new machine also represents a new approach for naming crane models, based on load moment rating rather than maximum safe working load.
Across the industry, the model names of mobile cranes have for years indicated their maximum rated capacity, such as the AC 60 – 60t capacity – which the new Challenger 3180 replaces in the Terex product line up.

Ten Manitowoc cranes are working on the construction of a remote dam in South Africa. The De Hoop (“The Hope”) Dam will be 81 m tall and stretch more than 1 km over the Steelpoort River in Limpopo, South Africa. It is being built for the South African Department of Water Affairs.

A crane operator is in an intensive-care hospital unit after receiving an electric shock, when the boom of his crane contacted overhead power lines in Toronto, Canada yesterday.

The man, said to be in his 30s, sustained second-degree burns to his arms but his injuries are not life-threatening.

SOLITEC®, recently unveiled at the Interalpin 2011 Trade Show in Austria, is TEUFELBERGER‘s latest generation of round strand ropes. It stands for SOLId TEChnology, that is, long service life, minimal initial elongation, and highest flexibility. Ultimate traveling comfort and quietest operation are the result of a refined, innovative manufacturing process that has allowed TEUFELBERGER’s engineers to largely cancel out a rope’s initial elongation as early as in the production stage.

Following the successful identification of an old Bay City crane last week, another reader has asked if any of our readers know who made what was a famous crane/come wrecker mounted on a Magirus chassis.

The aircraft, which has welcomed visitors to the Alameda Naval Station for 32 years, had been subject to a two year restoration project and was being placed back on its pedestal in time for July 4th celebrations. No one was injured but the damage could take another two years to put right. The crane, a Grove four axle truck crane was working for contractor NRC Environmental. A similar sized truck crane was called out from Bigge to rescue both the crane and the stricken aircraft which was returned to the hanger.

The International Sign Association’s successful Mobile Crane Operator Safety Certification Training is now available for direct delivery. ISA member companies and non-members simply need to register a minimum number of employees to participate in the certification training and ISA will bring and conduct the program to any location.

Crews were cleaning up a construction site after a crane overturned in north Houston on Friday. Officials said the crane, which was being used for a Metro Rail project, was picking up re-barb at 1650 North Main near Hogan when it toppled over around10:45 a.m.

This week one machine has dropped two seven tonne transmission towers alone. Early on Tuesday morning the Sun Bird Erickson air crane helicopter placing a tower close to a highway near San Diego in California, dropped a the load from a height of more than 70 metres. We understand that the highway was closed for the lift and no one was injured.

Linden Comansa is helping to construct the Mexico Tuxpan highway which will link the country’s capital city with the coast town of Tuxpan, in the Gulf of Mexico.