Refurbished Grove GMK3050 Helps Van Gestel Montage Recruit Veteran Crane Operator
Manitowoc’s EnCORE “rebuild, repair, and remanufacture” program was pivotal in Dutch steel construction company Van Gestel Montage’s recent hire of an experienced crane operator. The operator agreed to join the Kaatsheuvel-based firm, but only if it could put him in the cab of an original Grove GMK3050 all-terrain crane—the same model he had been using for more than 36,000 hours.
“We asked him what it would take to get him to join us,” says proprietor Rens van Gestel. “And he said, ‘A nice, pristine, original GMK3050.’ Of course, that’s easier said than done, as Grove no longer builds the GMK3050, only the third-generation GMK-3050-3. But we talked to the guys at Manitowoc in Breda, and they immediately got to work. In no time at all, they had found an original GMK3050 that first rolled out of the plant 21 years ago. So, once we identified the crane, we then had to figure out the best way to give it a new lease of life.”
As Good As New
EnCORE provides customers like Van Gestel Montage with machines and components rebuilt according to engineering specifications aligning with exact Manitowoc OEM standards. For Van Gestel Montage’s GMK3050—which had clocked roughly 8,000 hours and traversed 80,000 kilometres (49,710 miles) under two previous owners—technicians refurbished the boom and winch, made minor repairs and upgrades, and repaired every dent and crack. They also applied a new paint job with clear-coat finish and carbon decals.
“This GMK3050 looks as good as when it first left the factory,” says Rolf Klooster, Manitowoc regional director in The Netherlands. “It’s in virtually mint condition and a casual observer would not be able to say whether its year of manufacture was 2001 or 2022. Our EnCORE refurbishment program is a great option on so many levels; sometimes for budget constraints, other times for sustainability reasons. Or it’s a great alternative to new machines that tend to have longer lead times. Now, we can add another reason to the list of advantages EnCORE offers: helping contractors and rental companies find the right candidate.”
The GMK3050 & GMK3050-3
The GMK3050 has a Mercedes-Benz OM501LA engine rated for 349 horsepower (257 kilowatts) and an Allison transmission with six forward gears and one reverse gear. The machine can reach highways speeds up to 85 km/h (53 mph) with a 5.7-tonne (6.3-U.S.-ton) fixed counterweight. Once set up, it has a 50-t (55-U.S.-t) lift capacity and a maximum tip height of 40.5 metres (133 feet).
The GMK3050-3 is powered by a Cummins QSL9 engine that’s rated for 340 HP (250 kW) and has a ZF TraXon 12-speed transmission. The compact crane has a maximum width of 2.55 m (8.4 ft), a length of 11.3 m (37 ft), and a 3.52-m (11.5-ft) tailswing. It’s equipped with a 7.5-t (8.3-U.S.-t) counterweight and has a 50-t lift capacity and 40-m (131-ft) maximum tip height thanks to its five-section Twin-Lock boom. An optional, 8-m (26.2-ft) swingaway jib is available.
Find Grove All-Terrain Cranes
CraneTrader.ae offers hundreds of new and used Grove cranes for sale, including all-terrain cranes like those in the GMK3050 family. Grove is a Manitowoc company.
Source: Manitowoc