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For their SCA1600TB telescopic boom crawler, SANY designed a six-section, 196.5-foot, pin and latch boom. A lifting capacity of 160 tons at 9 feet gives the machine the same or more radius as lattice boom crawler cranes while offering maneuverability for strong pick and carry capabilities, the company noted.
When Mid Atlantic Steel Erectors (MASE) was called on to provide cranes to complete construction on multiple data centers, a medical complex, a high school and a minor league baseball stadium, they knew exactly what they needed. For the Midlothian, Virgina based crane rental and steel erection services provider the choice was obvious.
In the MASE fleet and ready to handle those multiple jobs in a little more than one year are SANY teleboom crawler cranes, including four SCA900TB and two SCA1600TB models. The company also has SCA2600A and one SCC3000 lattice boom crawlers.
For Joel Hicks, crawler crane product manager at SANY, there’s little doubt why the telescopic crawlers made sense. “They are well suited for handling steel,” he said. “For MASE as well, the three-bar grouser pads handled rough terrain with ease and retractable side frames allowed them to maneuver in tight locations.”
Another reason that teleboom crawlers are attractive to construction contractors, according to Hicks, is their modular design for ease of transport and quick setup time. “They can self-assemble with a wired or wireless remote control eliminating the need for a helper crane,” he added.
Latest Features
With customers demanding increased capacity and reach, Hicks noted that SANY designed a six-section, 196.5-foot, pin and latch boom for their SCA1600TB telescopic boom crawler. A lifting capacity of 160 tons at 9 feet gives the machine the same or more radius as lattice boom crawler cranes while offering maneuverability for strong pick and carry capabilities.
On the SCA1600TB there are multiple jib configurations, including 50.9-foot fixed and 9.8-foot heavy lift jibs offering a maximum tip height of 247 feet. The latest model also features a new tilting cab with an adjustable air suspension seat, HVAC, ergonomic controls and Bluetooth radio.
SANY telescopic crawlers, including the SCA1600TB and the 90-ton capacity (at 10 feet) SCA900TB with a five-section, 154-foot boom and a maximum tip height of 198 feet, are standard with winch, swing, rearview and wireless boom tip cameras. The boom tip camera has a remote in the cab to let the operator zoom in and out as needed. All SANY cranes also have a mechanical hydraulic lock lever and interlock switch that disables hydraulic functions once the operator leaves the seat.
For operator safety as well, standard LED lighting on top of the cab and around the upper structure illuminates the area around the crane, and the boom light can be adjusted from the cab for better visibility of the load and ground personnel. In addition, a touchscreen LMI (Load Moment Indicator) displays all work parameters, including real time ground bearing pressure, and will disable hydraulic functions when unsafe conditions exist.
Upcoming technology on SANY teleboom crawlers will include an integrated Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) that will power to the cab electronics and HVAC while allowing the engine to be shut off when the crane is idle. “The APU will keep the operator comfortable and lower fuel consumption and maintenance costs by reducing engine hours,” Hicks said.
Teleboom Crawler Outlook
There are several reasons that SANY is optimistic about the teleboom crawler market.
“Telescopic crawler cranes are popular with bridge, road and general contractors because they can tackle the most demanding jobsite terrain,” Hicks stated. “They can even pick on uneven terrain up to 4° with strong pick and carry capability, so they are well suited for road projects like installing sound barriers.”
Hicks added that telescopic crawlers are also a popular option for assembling larger lattice boom crawler cranes used for construction. They can easily travel between sites and can also be used to offload components, he pointed out.
“Last year, the U.S. telescopic boom market was down 28% due to a lack of inventory, rising interest rates and uncertainty in an election year,” Hicks said. “The current geopolitical environment has also created economic uncertainty and will have an impact on this year’s market.
“Looking forward, however, there is a favorable long-term outlook for the telescopic boom crawler market,” Hicks continued. “The market is trending toward 105-ton or larger telescopic crawlers, and with infrastructure and construction projects ramping up, there will be greater demand for these machines.”
