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 News Release
April 20, 2009
Manitowoc unveils innovative new mobile crane, Grove GSK55
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| The GSK55 merges the upperworks from Grove’s GMK3055 all-terrain crane with a specially-designed truck chassis that acts as a trailer. |
High Resolution Photograph
Manitowoc is introducing its innovative new GSK55 mobile crane at Intermat 2009. The crane combines the lift ability of a Grove all-terrain crane with the flexibility and mobility of a standard on-road truck. It combines a Grove GMK3055 all-terrain crane upper with a specially-designed truck chassis that acts as a trailer. Customers then use the tractor of their choice to transport the crane.
Michael Preikschas, Manitowoc’s senior product manager for all-terrain cranes, said the new crane offers advantages in lifting and transport.
“The GSK is a more affordable option for our customers that want Grove all-terrain performance from their cranes but do not necessarily need the off-road ability that the GMK range offers,” he said. “The GSK also has a number of unique advantages that embody Manitowoc’s innovative approach to product development.”
The truck chassis has its own 104 kW Iveco engine that provides full power to the GSK55, operating all the crane’s functions, including the outriggers. Because of its standard design, the crane does not need require a specific brand of tractor. This is a useful benefit if the crane is working at a job site where multiple trucks are in operation or for customers that operate fleets of trucks. The ability to attach any tractor also means that national requirements for left-hand drive or right-hand drive vehicles are easily accommodated.
Because of its configuration, the crane can offer favorable axle loads for travel. With two axles on the tractor and three on the trailer, loadings do not exceed 9 t on any single axle when the crane is traveling with a counterweight of 11.6 t, while its gross vehicle weight is less under 41.8 t. These axle loads mean the GSK55 travel configuration is well below the 12 t per axle maximum common in many markets.
Lifting specifications for the crane match the GMK3055, so maximum capacity is 55 t and it has a 43 m main boom. An optional 8.7 m/15 m swingaway jib is available, allowing a maximum tip height of 60 m.
Frans Vanwinkel, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Manitowoc in EMEA, said many customers would appreciate the flexibility and easy roading of the GSK55.
“Because of the trailer’s configuration this crane actually has a very small turning circle when it’s on site,” he said. “We put our emphasis on flexibility and lower operating costs. The GSK55 can travel as fast as the tractor that the customer attaches to it. We think it will be popular with rental companies and also on locations such as refineries where GMKs are regularly used in the same position and rarely moved.”
Grove GSK55:
| | Non-U.S. | U.S. |
| Model designation | GSK55 | GSK55 |
| Maximum capacity | 55 t | 60 USt |
| Maximum main boom | 43 m | 141 ft |
| Maximum tip height | 60 m | 190 ft |
About The Manitowoc Company
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. is a multi-industry, capital goods manufacturer with over 100 manufacturing and service facilities in 27 countries. It is recognized as one of the world's largest providers of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes, tower cranes, mobile telescopic cranes, and boom trucks. Manitowoc also is one of the world's leading innovators and manufacturers of commercial foodservice equipment serving the ice, beverage, refrigeration,food prep, and cooking needs of restaurants, convenience stores, hotels, healthcare, and institutional applications.
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