Grove TMC540 cranes from Manitowoc are demonstrating their productivity for two companies in Germany. Transcran and AKV Hüther bought their cranes from KranAgentur Werner, Manitowoc’s German mobile crane agent. Christoph Schares, managing director of Transcran, located in the Essen area, said traveling to a job site in Germany with the TMC540 is incredibly simple. “The crane weighs less than 32 t and does not need any special permits for travel, just a standard truck permit,” he said. “It has great fuel economy, and the purchase price is lower than comparable cranes. Rental rates are very competitive, and the TMC540 has been very profitable.   “We received the crane in the middle of last year, and its performance has been excellent. During that time, we had no problems maneuvering the crane on project sites. The crane and its Scania chassis are both solid and easy to maintain.” 

Truck cranes in Germany must apply for a special permit to travel by road, according to Article 70 of Germany’s highway regulations. Because of its design, the Grove TMC540 is the only truck crane exempt from the ruling. Combined with its 80 km/h maximum speed and great fuel economy, customers have been able to send it to four jobs in one day. The TMC540 is a 40 t crane with a 31 m main boom mounted on a Scania carrier, and is perfect for small-scale construction. It has the ability to lift 2.5 t at a distance of 20 m. Guenter Hüther, managing director of AKV Hüther, based near Zweibrucken, said they looked at several options before selecting the Grove TMC540.   “There were two major features that attracted us to the TMC540,” he said. “We were impressed it didn’t need additional paperwork to drive on the road in Germany and in France, which opens up additional opportunities. As a result, we calculated that the TMC540 could be sent to more jobs and generate a much faster return on investment.”  

Grove’s inverted outrigger jacks protect the piston rods from damage and offers maximum operational reliability. The extra long stroke allows the cranes to set up on uneven surfaces. Full customer support for the Grove TMC540 in Germany (and across Europe) is available through Manitowoc Crane Care.