- Grove responded to customer demand for a higher-capacity crane by introducing the Grove GMK6450-1.
- The updated nomenclature aligns with customer feedback and more accurately highlights the crane’s superior lifting capabilities in the six-axle category.
- The nominal maximum capacity rating increases from 400 t to 450 t.
The Grove GMK6400-1 will be upgraded to the GMK6450-1 and carry an increased maximum capacity rating of 450 t, which is 50 t more than the previous GMK6400-1. The crane remains the strongest all-terrain crane available on six-axles and renaming it better reflects its true capabilities.
“Over the past two years, we have seen a growing demand for a name change from our global customer base. We reviewed the crane’s performance, which resulted in a new model, the GMK6450-1,” explained Andreas Cremer, Vice President Product and Project Management for Mobile Cranes at Manitowoc.
The addition of the MAXbase™ variable outrigger positioning system on the GMK6400-1 in 2021 allowed customers to further capitalize on the all-terrain crane’s strong performance. This feature allows the use of asymmetrical outrigger setups and results in enhanced load charts. In addition, MAXbase™ can be used in conjunction with the capacity-increasing MegaWingLift™. The self-rigging attachment can be deployed in less than 20 minutes and does not require an assist crane. With MegaWingLift™ lifting capacity can be increased by up to 70% on the main boom and by up to 400% when using the luffing jib. These enhancements led to customer requests for renaming the crane.
The Grove GMK6450-1 offers segment-leading lifting capabilities and has been used on projects in place of seven-axle – or even eight-axle – all-terrain cranes. For example, it can lift 8.9 t between 38 m and 50 m radii when working with its full boom and jib system length of 136 m. When working with 120 m of boom and jib, the crane handles an impressive 12.8 t at distances between 36 m and 52 m. Furthermore, the GMK6450-1 is particularly well suited to wind power projects that require flexible set-up distances to the turbine and the ability to lift heavy loads at steep vertical angles. It can lift in wind speeds of up to 9 m/s with its 79 m luffing jib.