Terex, Open Day, Challenger--Terex open day attracts 1,100 visitors

More than 1,100 visitors from all over the world attended Terex Cranes’ customer days last Thursday and Friday at its facility in Zweibrücken, Germany.

As well as seeing the unveiling of the new three axle All Terrain Terex Challenger 3160, visitors could also see other recently released cranes including the Terex Roadmaster 5300 (previously called the 8000), the first AC1000 which will be delivered to Ainscough in the UK at the end of January 2011, the long-boom AC100/4L and the RT100.

The two day event gave an insight into the company’s future plans and products. Many senior Terex Cranes management attended including president Rick Nichols and managing director Terex Cranes Zweibrücken, Doug Friesen.

The first day got off to an excellent start for Terex with the signing of what is believed to be the largest crawler crane contract in recent years – a €70 million plus, 12 machine deal with Sanghvi Movers of India.

The contract includes eight, 600 tonne CC 2800-1 cranes and four 1,600 tonne CC 8800-1. All cranes are to be manufactured at the Zweibrücken facility, with delivery provisionally scheduled from the fourth quarter 2011 through to the third quarter 2013.

Star of the show was the prototype three-axle, 55 tonne class Challenger 3160 which should be available for delivery early in 2012. The crane impressed many with its 50 metre single cylinder boom and capcity of 35.6 tonnes at four metre radius within 12 tonne per axle loads and on demonstration, lifting one tonne to 38.3 metres.

The 3160 has been designed to avoid working at height. The boom can be tilted to minus five degrees, allowing fast and safe assembly of the variable assembly jib or re-reeving the hook block from the ground. Its three sheave, ‘variohook’ system with 18mm rope (six tonne single line pull) is claimed to reduce rigging time and the weight of equipment transported. The new crane also features the new cab introduced at Bauma earlier in the year.

The Challenger 3160 and the other new machine – the Roadmaster 5300 – are the first to bear Terex’s new nomenclature system. All new cranes from now on will feature a series name (eg Challenger/Roadmaster) with the first number being the number of axles and the last figures being the load moment. Hence the Roadmaster 5300 has five axles and a load moment of 300 tonne/metres. Existing cranes will continue with their current nomenclature until they are replaced.

A few of the UK guests (L-R) John Chappell and Lee Marsden from the Specialist Hire Group, Ben Smith and Phil Howell from ALC and Russ Adkins from Terex UK

The Roadmaster 5300 is the latest truck mounted crane mounted on a Scania chassis, although a Mercedes chassis – which also allows more counterweight to be carried – will be available next year.

Developed at the Montceau-les-Mines, France facility, the 100 tonne capacity class truck crane offers two boom options – 59.4 metres and 50 metres – giving a maximum system length of 81.7 or 77 metres respectively. As well as lower running costs – helped by the sleeper cab - Terex says that the Roadmaster is also less expensive than the equivalent AT crane.

Visitors were also able to see the first new 1,200 tonne AC1000 which is in the final stages of testing before being delivered to UK crane hirer Ainscough at the end of January 2011. The crane demonstrated its rapid set-up capability, lifting a load within 45 minutes using its 50 metre, on the road, main boom. The AC1000 offers a choice of 50 or 100 metre main boom.

Doug Friesen said that Terex was still changing - particularly improving the quality of the products – and that it was moving in the right direction.
“We want to get products right. Our best press is our customers talking about the improvements in the performance and quality.”

Source: Vertikal.net