12.03.2006

Terex to launch new truck crane

Terex is planning a surprise for Intermat in the form of a new truck crane, the first in years. The new crane, a 55 tonner, is likely to be built at the PPM plant in France, and will be aimed at those crane companies that run up higher mileages than usual and do not need the off-road capabilities of an All Terrain.

Terex are remaining tight lipped about the specification of the new crane until closer to the show.

Vertikal Comment

From time to time over the past 20 years manufacturers have aimed to reintroduce a truck crane, with the aim of offering a simpler, lower cost crane that not only costs less to buy, but is less costly to run. All Terrains with their all wheel drive and steer are complex, and costly to maintain, particularly in high mileage applications.

The UK has to be the main target market for such a product, with hire companies running up high mileages. Many of them have maintained that their Japanese truck cranes were the most profitable units in their fleet.

However, truck cranes tend to be longer, less manoeuvrable, and do not perform well on soft ground. An All-Terrain is more versatile and when it comes to resale has a much wider market. So unless the price differential is substantial it will fail.

However...

The main truck crane market today is China, if a manufacturer wanted to re-kindle the truck crane market, its best chance would be to build it in China and import it into Europe with a substantial price differential over an All –Terrain.

Several hirers have already considered buying truck cranes from China but are concerned with reliability and product support. If a company such as Terex developed such a crane it would sell and could completely change the small mobile crane market.

Perhaps this is where the new crane will come from?