Kobelco is to launch a European version of its 75 tonne TK750G telescopic crawler crane, the TKE750G.
In addition to its conversion to a full European specification, the crane has been upgraded and updated. The crane is rated at three metres and features a heavy duty, four section 30.1 metre boom for a maximum tip height of 33.5 metres. Maximum counterweight is 17.2 tonnes. The overall width when fully extended is 4.83 metres, retracting to 3.2 metres for transport when fitted with 800mm track pads.
Capacity on the fully extended boom is 18.5 tonnes at an eight metre radius, while capacity at the maximum radius of 27.8 metres is 2.7 tonnes. The crane also has load charts for 8.2 tonnes or no counterweight. The boom is reinforced and features increased overlaps between boom sections in order to make it suitable for foundation and cycle work.
Power comes from a larger Stage V Mercedes-Benz E9H01 diesel than would be found in a straight lift crane in order to drive foundation equipment such as augers and higher capacity hoists and 22mm heavy duty wire ropes. The new crane also includes features found on Kobelco’s latest G series lattice boom crawler cranes.
Overall weight is around 70 tonnes, 52.4 tonnes with counterweight removed and 37.4 tonnes with tracks removed also reducing the overall width to 2.99 metres. Each track weighs 7.5 tonnes so it is feasible to transport the tracks and counterweight on a single load in some markets.
Kobelcoʼs KCROSS (Kobelco Crane Remote Observation Satellite System) telematics system is available on the TKE750G model allowing the crane to transmit working conditions, locations and maintenance history globally.
Vertikal Comment
This is clearly first and foremost a foundation and duty cycle crane, with its short but extremely tough boom, and no extensions. Competition is patchy, Tadano does not market its Mantis based telescopic crawlers in Europe and even then the choice is 60 or 90 tonnes. Sennebogen has a competitive machine with its 70 tonne 673, but while it boasts almost six metres more boom and a choice of jibs and extensions, it can also be used for foundation work. It is not really a head to head match for the Kobelco though, which truly is ‘tough as old boots’, exceptionally reliable and well proven, with early TK750 and TK 750G models having racked up millions of hours.
Liebherr has a 60 tonner, but it is very much a lift crane. There are however some Chinese companies with products that might compete.
The new crane ought to do well in the Netherlands and it will be interesting to see how it fares elsewhere in Europe. Hopefully one will be on display at Vertikal Days in September.
