With a 550 tonne-metre rating, it is designed for large infrastructure jobs, such as dams and bridges.
A choice of winches means that it is available with a maximum capacity of either 25 tonnes or 40 tonnes. In 25t version, it lifts 5.4t at the end of its 80m jib. With the 40t winch, jib-end capacity is 4.6t.
The first two prototypes are working on the expansion of Madrid’s Atocha rail terminal for contractor Dragados
Several design innovations on the MD 560 B make crane erection easier, Manitowoc says. Platforms on the counterjib are the same as those on the MD 485 B, although access has been made easier for riggers. The crane has newly designed and improved tie bars on the counterjib and an updated cat head. The tie bars are integrated into the counterjib for faster and safer erection, and each component in the crane has a clearly positioned plate for simple identification.
For assembling the jib, customers have options. Either the jib can be erected and assembled in the air in three pieces or it can be placed as a single piece. If customers choose to assemble the jib in three pieces, it means smaller lifts are required from the mobile crane erecting the MD 560 B. If the jib is lifted in a single piece, then assembly of the jib can be done beforehand, at ground level. Attaching the jib’s tie bars is simple using Potain’s “pear-shaped” hole system, and assembling the tie bars (and the counterjib) is easier with the integrated auxiliary winch.
Manitowoc global product manager for tower cranes Jean-Pierre Zaffiro said: “This new crane shares many common features with the rest of the MD range. We’ve worked hard to make this crane easier and faster to erect and more productive once it’s working. We’ve improved lifting ability, and customers will see a real advantage in the chart, especially making picks at the jib end.”
There is a choice of mechanisms for trolleying and hoisting, depending on configuration of the crane. The RVF 183 Optima+ slewing mechanism is standard and offers smooth, frequency-controlled rotation of the crane. Lifting power comes from the 100 LVF 63 winch in the 25t version or the new 270 LVF 100 for the 40t version. The 270 LVF 100 is a 201kW hoist with a 10t capacity per line, giving the crane its 40t maximum when working in four falls of rope.
Lift performances, on average, are improved by more than 12% in comparison to earlier models, and in some cases are much higher, the manufacturer says.
All MD 560 B cranes will be equipped with the new Ultra View cab from Potain. The MD range is just below Manitowoc’s MD Maxi range, which is its largest line of tower cranes.
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