24.01.2018

Potain hydraulic luffer goes into production

Potain has formally launched the MCH 125 hydraulic topless luffing jib crane, which was first seen as a prototype at Bauma China in November 2016 See day two Bauma China

Since then pre-production units have been on test on Potain distributor job sites in Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.
Please register to see all images

The new eight tonne Potain MCH 125

Maximum capacity is eight tonnes, maximum jib length 50 metres with a jib tip capacity of two tonnes. Maximum hoist line speed is 100 metres a minute when fitted with the 60 LVF 20 hoist. The crane has been designed for fast erection and dismantling with a 40 metre free-standing height possible in under six hours, according to the company. The entire upperworks of the crane, including its full 50 metre jib, can travel on four trucks.

The MCH125 can be mounted on existing 1.6 or two metre Potain towers with jib sections from the MCR luffing jib cranes. Five jib configurations are possible, ranging from 30 to 50 metres in five metre increments and can raise its jib from horizontal to 87 degrees in less than two minutes. The crane is unusual in that it features a short fixed counter jib rather than the usual dynamic counter jib on this type of crane. The crane also features Potain’s Vision 140 cab, one of the largest on the market.
Please register to see all images

A closer look at the superstructure

Potain product director Thibaut Le Besnerais, “The MCH 125 represents the very latest in tower crane design and is unlike any other crane on the market. The positive reception to the prototype at Bauma China was followed by a series of highly successful early stage trials with customers in Asia Pacific. We are already seeing strong interest in the crane for all kinds of applications.”

“We used advanced simulation tools during the development of the MCH 125 to create a machine that will perform to the levels that Potain customers expect. We are expecting strong interest in this crane among its launch markets.”

Deliveries will begin shortly, with the crane initially being available in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Russia and South America, but surprisingly not yet in Europe.

Vertikal Comment

The hydraulic luffing jib tower crane was pioneered by the German company Jost and found an immediate market in the UK, where congested city centre sites are plentiful and oversailing a major issue. Since then other companies have entered the market, including Wolffkran and Jaso, with another manufacturer currently testing an all-new product in this sector.

With so much focus on this niche sector, surely Liebherr and Comansa will not be far behind, all of which will give this market a significant boost which should spread the concept beyond the classic luffing jib markets. Exiting times.