Grove RT550E 45-Tonne Rough-Terrain Crane Services Yachts At German Marina
A 45-tonne (49.6-U.S.-ton) Grove RT550E rough-terrain crane is pulling seaside duty at a German marina on the Baltic Sea. Boasting the highest capacity and the longest boom in its class at 39 metres (128 feet), according to the manufacturer, the manoeuvrable RT550E crane is safely handling expensive yachts at Ancora Marina.
“In a marina like this, poorly executed lifting or driving could easily result in costly damage, so the clear and confident operation we get from our new, compact Grove RT550E is very reassuring,” says Ralf Schmidt, head of operational services at Ancora Marina. “The crane’s load charts were also an important factor in our purchase, considering the capacity and reach we need for different applications.”
Tight Turns
Ancora Marina is on the Bay of Lübeck in Neustadt in Holstein, northern Germany. The 1,400-berth marina accommodates yachts up to 35 m (115 ft) long. The new Grove RT550E is helping with boat repairs and maintenance, including mast installations, along with upkeep on the facility’s buildings.
The compact crane has a short, 3.66-m (12-ft) wheelbase and four steering modes. In its two-wheel steering setting, the carrier has a turning radius of just 7.02 m (23 ft). The crane can also steer using all four wheels in crab and coordinated modes. The RT550E has hydraulic disc brakes on all four wheels and hydraulic inverted outrigger jacks. The outriggers can be extended halfway as needed.
“It’s a busy environment all year ‘round at Ancora Marina, so the Grove RT550E’s manoeuvrability and ease of use make it a vital part of our operations,” Schmidt says. “It’s already been working well, and our operators really appreciate the comfortable full-vision cab that makes their task so much easier.”
The Grove RT550E
Manitowoc builds the Grove RT550E at its production facility in Niella Tanaro, Italy. The crane has load-sensing hydraulics and a gross vehicle weight of 29,200 kilograms (64,375 pounds). Its power plant is a Stage V Cummins QSB6.7L engine with a fuel-saving ECO mode.
The RT550E’s five-section Megaform boom uses the Twin-Lock pinning system to extend from 9.9 to 39 m (32.5 to 128 ft). The RT550E is able to lift 0.7 t (0.77 U.S. t) at a 32-m (105-ft) radius. An optional, 8-m (26.2-ft) offsettable boom extension helps the crane reach its 48.8-m (160-ft) maximum hoist height.
Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS) provides the crane operator with dual colour displays and an armrest-mounted jog dial. CCS can also launch Boom Configurator Mode, which makes telescoping the boom easier and more efficient. The cabin of the RT550E has a high-output heating and air-conditioning system.
Find The Right Grove Crane
CraneTrader.ae lists new and used Grove cranes from many sources, including Grove rough-terrain models for sale.
Source: Manitowoc