Manitowoc launches another big Potain crane from its China factory

• The Potain MCR 815 luffing jib crane has a 64 t maximum capacity - twice that of the current largest luffing jib crane from the Company's Zhangjiagang, China factory.
• The 70 m jib can be luffed to an out-of-service radius of just 16 m, making it ideal for congested jobsites.
• A powerful new winch offers line speeds of up to 185 m/min with a 2.3 t load.

Manitowoc is launching another range-topping tower crane from its factory in China: the Potain MCR 815. Its maximum capacity of 64 t is double that of the plant's current largest luffing jib crane, the 32 t capacity MCR 625. The development of the new crane was driven by Manitowoc's Voice of the Customer (VOC) process and growing demand for large luffing jib cranes on infrastructure projects such as bridges, nuclear power plants, and high-rise buildings.

When rigged in three-fall reeving, the MCR 815's maximum capacity can be lifted between 4.5 m and 18 m working radius when fitted with a 30 m jib. It can also lift its maximum 64 t between 7 m and 19.5 m working radius when fitted with a 60 m jib. In this configuration, it can still lift 7.5 t at its jib end. When fitted with all nine jib sections to create the maximum 70 m, the crane will lift tip loads of up to 7 t with single-fall reeving. For heavy-duty lifting, such as handling large precast elements, the crane will raise an impressive 34 t at the end of a 30 m jib in two-fall reeving.

The crane's strong lifting duties necessitated a new precise and rapid hoist winch. The 280 LVFC 213 can accommodate up to 831 m of rope and has a 212 kW motor, producing line speeds from 62 m/min with a 6.9 t load (in three-fall reeving) to 185 m/min with a 2.3 t payload (in single-fall reeving). There's also a power control option that links to the hoist and other mechanisms, enabling the crane to operate with lower power for greater efficiency. It's an option particularly well-suited to the early stages of a project when less heavy lifting is required. The 110 kW-rated 150 VVFC 90 luffing hoist can raise the jib from its minimum to maximum angle in just 2 minutes and 20 seconds.