Manitowoc held an open day for 60 customers and 15 journalists to launch two new Dongyue truck cranes for the Chinese market, the GT8 and GT10A. The cranes are the first two to benefit from the updated design and production processes at the company’s factory in TaiAn, Shangdong Province. Following a positive response to the launch of the new cranes, Manitowoc reported several orders at the end of the open day.
The cranes have a number of features and benefits that make them top performing models. The Dongyue GT8 will compete in the 8 t capacity class, and the Dongyue GT10A in the 10 t capacity class, both hugely popular categories in the Chinese truck crane market. In addition to industry-leading performance, both cranes have cost effective and simple designs, as favored by Chinese customers.
The TaiAn factory, which is building the cranes, has updated its processes to 5S, the system used at other Manitowoc facilities around the world. The 5S process is based around the principles of Sorting, Straightening, Shining, Standardizing and Sustaining. Adopting the new manufacturing process has involved a complete redesign of the factory floor and several important additions, including a new paint line.
In the design and engineering offices at the factory there have been improvements too. The design teams have moved to Solidworks CAD software; finite element analysis is used for new product development; and Design For Manufacture and Assembly methodology has been introduced.
Robin Zhang, production manager at Manitowoc Dongyue Heavy Machinery Co. Ltd., said the benefits of using DFMA in particular had produced notable results, especially with the GT8.
“Our previous 8 t truck crane, the QY8, had approximately 10 percent more tailswing than its competitors,” he said. “But using DFMA and other design tools, we were able to introduce a successor to that crane, the GT8, with 20 percent less tailswing than any other crane in the class.”
GT8
Offering less tailswing is just one example of how Manitowoc engineers have refined the design of the GT8 without compromising on the cost and simplicity of the crane, ensuring it maintains strong appeal with Chinese customers.
The crane has a 17.4 m main boom and a 6 m jib that can combine to give an overall lifting height of 23.9 m. With this maximum combination, the crane can still lift 1.3 t out to 5 m radius. Both lifting and driving power come from a single FAW engine that produces 450 Nm of torque at 1,400 rpm. The boom features a four-plate design, but offers ample capacity and the ability to be fully extended in just 35 seconds.
GT10A
For the GT10A, the main boom is 19.9 m, which can be extended fully in just 40 seconds. With its jib attachment, the crane’s reach is increased to 25.8 m. As with the GT8, the GT10A’s boom has a simple four-plate design.
The crane can reach hoisting speeds of 105 m/min and has a top road speed of 74 km/h. Both lifting and driving power come from an FAW engine that has a 101 kW rating at 2,500 rpm. Total weight of the crane is 11.3 t.
Common features
For both cranes, simplicity is the key and manual hydraulic controls on the GT8 and GT10A are reliable and easy to use. Manitowoc has included ferrule fittings on the hydraulic hoses to reduce leakages and maintain reliability, and a control panel relays key data to the operator. This includes feedback from devices such as a height limiter, locking valve, level indicator etc., to promote more efficient lifting operations.
As with all cranes from Manitowoc, attention is given on the GT8 and GT10A to creating an ergonomic environment for the operator. A streamlined cab gives the crane driver an uncluttered view of both the load on the hook and the instrument panel, while the adjustable seat provides more room and comfort. Both models also feature full decking around the superstructure, with anti-slip handholds and steps providing easy access. Controls are color-coded for faster identification and operation.