08.09.2022

Heavy duty luffing extension

Grove has introduced a new heavy duty jib type extension for its 150 tonne GRT9165 Rough Terrain crane for setting concrete panels and tilt-up work.
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The 3.8 metre long jib connects to the standard swingaway extension lugs and offers a maximum capacity of 34.3 tons/31 tonnes. It offsets/luffs hydraulically from zero to 50 degrees and has a two sheave jib tip for reeving with up to four parts of line. It is designed to work with an auxiliary hoist in conjunction with the main boom to turn or tilt panels or other loads.
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The jib was designed in collaboration with Wisconsin-based design and build contractor Miron Construction and local distributor American State Equipment. Miron naturally took the first production unit on its GRT9165. The company has a backlog of such work in the healthcare, warehouse, manufacturing, and higher education projects and has seen concrete panels grow in size as demand has increased and now average 3.7 by 7.3 metres in size with an all-up weight of up to 27 tonnes (60,000lbs).
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Miron executive vice president Pete Klosterman said: “It takes a larger crane to lift and rotate the concrete panels and vertically set them in place. Our precast jobs have a short duration and we wanted to minimise transport and setup costs. The GRT9165 with the heavy duty jib is the perfect package for what we need. It has strong capacities and precision for precast and is a solid all round crane for the wider range of work we do. We must be more efficient and versatile in how we approach our jobs. You’ve got to stay ahead of the game, and it helps when the equipment we’re using can make that happen.”

Luke Rathke, a project superintendent with Miron added: “It’s great to have the ability to luff the jib up and down for increased or decreased separation as needed, and it’s quick and easy to install and uninstall.”

Grove Rough Terrain product manager John Bair said: “We took feedback from Miron to develop preliminary charts and stayed in close contact through the testing phase, making real time modifications to deliver a final product that meets the market need from day one.”
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One of the first jobs for the new jib was to set panels for a new high school in western Wisconsin. The GRT9165 was configured with its full 27.8 tonnes of counterweight and working at a maximum tip height of 38 metres with a 15 metre radius and zero degree jib offset.

The heavy duty jib extension is available for order on all new Grove GRT9165 Rough Terrain cranes and as a retrofit for cranes in the field.