The worldwide construction equipment ... - Contractors World

Industry Industry News
News
The new 2300 tonne capacity Manitowoc
31000 crawler crane complete with its
Variable Position Counterweight system has
successfully raised its maximum test load.
Page 12
Manitowoc Manitowoc 31000 31000 successfully
successfully
completes completes overload overload test
test
The design capacity of Manitowoc’s new flagship heavy lift 31000 crawler
crane has been physically verified with an impressive overload test at the
company’s factory in the US. The machine has a rated maximum
capacity of 2,300 tonnes and it has successfully lifted a test load of 2,500
tonnes.
During its test lifts, the 31000 has been fitted with over 600 strain
gauges to enable the Manitowoc engineers to monitor the stress levels in
the crane under load. Larry Weyers, Manitowoc’s Senior Vice President
of the Americas region, said the test went as expected and the
company’s engineers were pleased with how the crane performed.
To maximise its lifting capacities, the 31000 is equipped with
Manitowoc’s Variable Position Counterweight (VPC) system. This clever
arrangement automatically extends out rearwards when more
counterweight moment is needed during a heavy lift. The VPC weights
do not touch the ground (thereby greatly reducing site preparation work)
and the device will allow enhanced pick-and-carry duties.
As Manitowoc engineers progress with their commissioning of the first
full sized 31000, it has been announced that model maker TWH
Collectibles is to produce a limited run of 500 1:50 scale models of the big machine. A prototype of this model was
displayed at the Conexpo exhibition in 2008 to illustrate the design of the new crane with its four crawler tracks. The
production scale model will be produced in time for next year’s Conexpo.
When fully rigged with a replica 80m main boom and a 40m luffing jib, this high quality scale model will be over
2.5m in height. Complete with the VPC system, the model will retail for $1,800. Individuals interested in reserving a
31000 model should visit The Manitowoc Model Shop website.
Having its own on-line model shop shows how Manitowoc is keen to embrace every aspect of marketing. The man
in charge of marketing at Manitowoc is now Ingo Schiller who has just become Senior Vice President of Global
Marketing. He succeeds Bob Hund, who is now concentrating solely on his role as Executive Vice President of
Manitowoc Crane Care.
Ingo Schiller has over 20 years of experience in the crane industry working mostly in sales, marketing and product
support. He joined Manitowoc in 2008 as the vice president of mobile cranes and was recently appointed to senior
vice president of sales and marketing for Manitowoc Cranes Americas. His duties will also now embrace global
product management.
Equipment Equipment Manufacturers Manufacturers Call Call on on Congress Congress to to Act
Act
on on V VVoter
V oter Demands
Demands
Manitowoc
Congress prepares to return to Washington in a few weeks, and voters across America, regardless of political party
affiliation, have one issue as their top priority -- improving the economy. A number of recent surveys show that
American voters want to restore the unlimited potential of manufacturing jobs in America as a sure way to lift stagnant
unemployment numbers.
"When Congress returns in September, it cannot merely tinker around the edges of policies that will impact
manufacturing jobs and the future of America's economy," said Dennis Slater, president of the Association of
Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). “Two very direct ways to create jobs: meaningful funding of needed infrastructure
improvements across the nation and export-friendly policies that spur trade.”
AEM recently released results of a non-partisan nationwide voter survey that showed nearly 9 out of 10 voters
agree that the nation needs to “dramatically increase manufacturing jobs” so our economy can compete with other
countries. The survey asked voter attitudes on the economy, manufacturing jobs and infrastructure.
In a bipartisan poll by Mark Mellman and Ayres McHenry, two-thirds of Democrats, Independents and Republicans
agree that "high-tech and services" industries cannot replace manufacturing in a strong U.S. economy. A top concern
among independent voters in this April poll is that “we have lost too many manufacturing jobs in this country.”
“Poll after poll shows that American voters want the federal government to focus on creating a national
manufacturing strategy that really drives job creation and a revival of manufacturing,” stated Slater. “We hope Speaker
Pelosi and her colleagues heed this call when they return to work in September.” [CP&E]
CP&E Contractors Plant & Equipment Vol 1 No 6