Gulf Construction Online - Tadano rolls out new all-rounder crane

Manufacturers & Procurement

The GTC-1800EX has an actual lifting capacity of 156 tonnes and a maximum load moment of 590 MT.

Tadano rolls out new all-rounder crane

01 November 2020

Tadano, one of largest crane manufacturers in the world, is introducing the new telescopic boom crawler crane in the 180-tonne capacity class. An all-rounder crane, the GTC-1800EX has an actual lifting capacity of 156 tonnes and a maximum load moment of 590 tonne metre (MT).

Developed and built in Zweibrücken, Germany, the crane made its concept debut at last year’s Bauma. Now that Demag is part of the Tadano Group, it is being relaunched as the Tadano GTC-1800EX.

There are good reasons for including the telescopic boom crawler crane in the Tadano brand: Tadano has a long tradition with these products and a very strong line of telecrawlers.

The move is also a logical step in terms of corporate strategy: “Our goal is to become ‘One Tadano’. With the first telecrawler produced in Germany and branded by Tadano, this vision is now becoming a reality,” explains Ingo Nöske, Director Product Management, Crawler Cranes.

The group can take advantage of synergies and the “best of both worlds” can flow into the development of new products – as is the case with the GTC-1800EX telecrawler, which has the Demag IC-1 Plus control as well as the IC-1 Remote telematics system technology, he adds.

“With the integration of the GTC-1800EX into the Tadano brand, we’re bringing the lone warrior into the family, so to speak,” says Nöske.

The crane closes the gap between the 130- and 220-tonne capacity classes, he adds.

The Tadano GTC-1800EX is an extremely versatile and flexible tool: it has a track width that can be adjusted as necessary in both symmetrical and asymmetrical configurations so that it can be used for applications in which space is at a premium, such as bridge construction projects.

“It is also perfect for doing construction work, where it is not only able to move and telescope components, but also luff down and retract the boom and then travel underneath roof structures to get to where it needs to be,” says Nöske.

In addition, GTC-1800EX is also able to bring its strengths to bear as an assist crane, as well as when carrying out wind turbine pre-assembly work. And since the load charts for its 60-m-long main boom are excellent even when lifting on inclines of up to four degrees, its use requires less topographical ground preparation on-site than a lattice boom crawler crane. For example, it can lift a full 34 tonnes at a radius of 12 m when working on an incline of four degress with the main boom at a length of 30 m.

With its main boom length of 60 m, the GTC-1800EX already features the longest reach in its class, yet it can be increased further if necessary, he says. Main boom extensions with lengths of 5, 11, 17, and 23 m that can be mechanically and hydraulically offset are available, meaning that a maximum system length of up to 83 m is possible. The 5-m extension can be folded onto the side of the main boom for transport to save space.

In addition to a large lifting capacity, the GTC-1800EX provides nearly the same manoeuvrability and ease of operation as an excavator with its travel pedals.

It is driven by an MTU six-cylinder engine with an output of 230 kW and a torque of 1,300 Nm. There are two operating modes in this model: At a speed of 1,500 rpm, the diesel engine will run in an ECO mode that optimises fuel consumption, while at a speed of 1,800 rpm, it will have a Power Boost function available.