A National Crane 1300A boom truck crane recently completed a U.S. tour with foundation pieces from the World Trade Center buildings that collapsed on September 11, 2001.
The 1300A was used by Salt Lake City, Utah-based Mountain Crane Service to lift the two pieces, one weighing 12,000 lbs and one weighing 13,000 lbs, onto a flatbed truck for visitors to view in 31 different cities. At each stop, the 1300A raised a custom-designed, 400 lb American flag and flag beam over the pieces, completing the visual display.
Paul Belcher, co-owner and CEO of Mountain Crane, said the 1300A was a logical choice for several reasons.
“We needed a crane that was durable enough to drive 9,100 miles over six weeks through 31 cities,” he said. “The 1300A handled everything that we threw at it day in and day out. In addition, easy maneuvering in places like small-town America and the tight tolerances of cities including Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis was the key to our choosing this crane.”
The 1300A features a 30 USt capacity and is available with 100 ft and 110 ft boom lengths. Dual “H” style outriggers offer excellent stability and allow mid-span and full-span capabilities. Its Vision Cab has integrated armrest crane controls, a graphic LMI display and a standard Work Area Definition System (WADS). Like most boom trucks, the 1300A is roadable without the need for additional permitting in many regions.
Along the way, the 1300A stopped in more than 40 different locations in the 31 cities, including sites in Chicago, Florida and Texas. The pieces of the World Trade Center’s foundation were shown at baseball games, car races and town square occasions, among other events. A special partnership with the Fallen Warrior Foundation had the crane and artifacts on display at a memorial site in Kansas, honoring those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, for example.
The convoy set out on August 31 and reached its final destination on September 23. At the conclusion of the tour, the 1300A removed the pieces and placed them on trucks headed to their final destinations. Belcher said the crane performed well and is a valuable tool in Mountain Crane’s fleet.
“We’re a fan of the National Crane brand because it handily serves specific needs within our fleet,” Belcher said. “The outrigger pads were very well positioned on this trip, for example, which made for more efficient lifts.”
Mountain Crane provides a variety of services across the Intermountain West, including plant maintenance, refinery work, steel erection, pre-cast tilt ups, wind farm construction and maintenance, and the lifting of transformers and bridge girders, among others. Along with its Salt Lake City office, the company has a satellite branch in Green River, Wyo., and a satellite branch in Elko, Nev. Its fleet includes more than 100 pieces of equipment.
Mountain Crane purchased the 1300A from Baton Rouge, La.-based H&E Equipment. Established in 1961, H&E offers a host of services for the all of the Manitowoc crane brands, including crane rentals and sales, parts and services, and training. The company is also a certified EnCORE partner, providing the outstanding service and the highest quality remanufacturing and structural repair work for Manitowoc-brand cranes.