The Austria-based manufacturer Palfinger has launched the first crane mounted on a crawler chassis, that will mark its debut at the IAA Commercial Vehicles in September in Hanover, Germany. With this crane, the constructor offers its customer a lifting solution for situations where a truck would normally struggle. “On difficult terrain – for example, when constructing power lines or cable lifts – helicopter transport is normally the only alternative to a truck-mounted crane, “ says Michael Hagenauer, Head of Product Division Crawler Cranes. “With the PCC, such a jobs can be completed safely, efficiently and inexpensively.”
The Palfinger Crawler Crane PCC is 40 cm narrower than a conventional truck and it can handle gradients of up to 60%. Thank to the knuckle boom that can be angled upwards, the high lifting power and compact dimensions, the PCC can be also used in urban areas as well as in the industrial and indoor sector. The crawler allows the crane to be quickly repositioned on construction sites and when necessary. Another advantage is that the crawler and crane can be controlled, transported and operated separately, which is particularly useful in situations where weight restrictions apply. The crane module can also propel itself on its own stabilisers without the crawler – a process also know as “shifting”, explains Hagenauer. The PCC can also be mounted onto the transport truck.
PCC offers compact dimensions with a minimum clearance width of 2 to 2.2 metres and, minus the crawler, a passenger height of 2.2 to 2.5 metres. Shifting (moving the crane using only stabiliser outriggers) allows the system to be moved through extremely low and confined spaces and loaded into a container without the crawler.
The Palfinger Crawler Crane PCC is initially available in three variants, between 50 to 115 tonne-metres. The first is the PCC 57.002 with a maximum reach of 29.5 metres, a maximum lifting height of 32 metres and a maximum lifting capacity of 17,900 kilograms. The next is the PCC 71.002, that has a reach of 31.6 metres, a maximum lifting height of 34 metres and a maximum lifting capacity of 19,100 kilograms. The last and most powerful model is the PCC 115.002 which has a reach of 33.3 metres, a maximum lifting height of 35.8 metres and a lifting capacity of up to 30,000 kilograms.
Additional equipment such as workman baskets, vacuum lifters, pipe manipulators and grippers are available for all models. PCC 71.002 and PCC 115.002 are available now and the model PCC 57.002 will become available in spring 2019.
