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 News Release
December 12, 2007
Grove GTK1100 debuts on wind power site in Germany
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| GTK1100 |
High Resolution Photograph
Manitowoc’s Grove GTK1100 crane has completed its inaugural lift series at a jobsite in Germany. The distinctive crane, with its unique design and transportation abilities, first appeared at the bauma 2007 tradeshow in Munich, Germany. Following further tests at Manitowoc’s Wilhelmshaven factory in Germany, the first unit went to work this month for owner Wiesbauer. Jochen Wiesbauer, managing director of Wiesbauer, said the crane had lived up to all expectations. “The performance of the GTK1100 on this first set of lifts was simply outstanding,” he said. “Because these lifts were the first in a field setting we took extra caution and double-checked everything. But even with this, the cost and time savings compared to other lift solutions were exceptional.” The GTK1100’s first job was in Ilshofen, Baden Würtemberg in the southern part of Germany. Energy provider Repower Systems is installing a 2 kW wind turbine at the location and selected the GTK for an initial project. Efficient transport is a key benefit of the GTK1100. The crane is designed to travel on only four or five trailers depending on its configuration and local road regulations. For the Baden Würtemberg job the crane required only four trailers as there was no counterweight required for the lifting configuration. The GTK1100 completed five lifts on the jobsite. The first three were the wind turbine tower mast sections, that weighed 62 t, 53 t and 45 t. Next, was the installation of the heaviest element, the nacelle, which weighed 70 t. Finally, the crane positioned the three rotor blades (each weighing 8 t) which were assembled on the ground before being lifted as a single 42 t load. Among those present at the GTK1100’s first lift was Frans Vanwinkel, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Manitowoc in EMEA. He said those who saw the crane perform got an understanding of its true benefits. “The crane worked perfectly on this job and the erection and dismantling was fast and smooth,” he said. “Unlike traditional lifting solutions on projects such as these, the GTK allowed Repower Systems to save on ground preparation costs. These savings come through a combination of reduced space requirement on site and greater stability on uneven ground because of the GTK’s advanced outrigger design.” Manitowoc welcomed several dozen potential customers to the site while the lifts were taking place. Vanwinkel said this was a perfect opportunity to highlight its capabilities. “We invited customers and potential customers from Asia, North America, South America and Europe to this job,” he said. “Seeing the GTK in action, on site, really opened a lot of people’s eyes to its full capabilities.” The GTK1100 has a 76.5 m vertical tower which is topped with a five-section 60 m telescopic boom. It is able to lift loads of over 70 t to heights of over 120 m.
About The Manitowoc Company
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. is one of the world's largest providers of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes,tower cranes, mobile telescopic cranes, and boom trucks. As a leading manufacturer of ice-cube machines, ice/beverage dispensers, and commercial refrigeration equipment, the company offers the broadest line of cold-focused equipment for the foodservice industry. In addition, the company is a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and conversion services for government, military, and commercial customers throughout the U.S. maritime industry.
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