17.10.2018

New 150t Link-Belt AT

Link Belt unveiled a new 150 tonne five axle European style All Terrain crane – the 175AT at its recent Crane Fest event at its plant in Lexington Kentucky.

The 175AT features a 60.1 metre pinned boom, plus a 9.9 to 16.8 metre bi-fold swingaway extension with manual or hydraulic offset and three additional 5.4 metre lattice inserts taking the maximum tip height to 96 metres. A three metre heavy lift extension is also available. The crane also features Link-Belt’s ‘Sure Lock’ swingaway erection system for easier extension erection and stowage while minimising work at height.
Please register to see all images

The new Link-Belt 175AT can travel with five tonnes of counterweight within 12 tonne axle loads

The maximum counterweight is 36.7 tonnes, with the crane able to travel with almost five tonnes of counterweight within 12 tonne axle loads. A three axle trailing boom dolly is available for markets that require it which also allows the full counterweight to be carried, stowed in several different configurations to meet different road regulations.
Please register to see all images

A three axle trailing boom dolly is also available

A V-CALC - Variable Confined Area Lifting Capacities – feature provides up to 81 different asymmetrical outrigger positions, with available capacities for the outrigger configuration selected displayed on the superstructure cab’s 10 inch Pulse 2.0 display screen.

The five axle chassis has a 10x8x10 configuration with four driven axles, and all wheel steer with five steering configurations and speed dependent road travel rear steer. Power for both the carrier and superstructure comes from a Cummins Tier 4 Final diesel, matched to a ZF TraXon transmission. The all new carrier has an overall width of 2.84 metres, with a full width cab constructed from a powder coated aluminium extrusion with a fiberglass external skin. Standard features include automatic climate control, blue tooth radio, cell phone charging, LED lighting, an air ride seat with lumbar support, along with a multi function steering wheel with fingertip controls for engine compression braking and cruise control.
Please register to see all images

Off-road the new 175AT is helped by its eight wheel drive configuration

The crane will also feature a ‘Pulse 2.0’ information system in the carrier cab with a seven inch full colour touch screen display that doubles as the monitor for the rear and side view camera package. The Pulse 2.0 continuously monitors carrier operations, including engine and transmission data, tyre pressures and temperatures and suspension cylinder pressures.

Rick Curnutte, senior product manager for telescopic truck and All Terrain cranes said: “We set out to create the most operator friendly crane in the industry and we think we have done it. This crane is, all new from the ground up and introduces product features that will be very appealing to all AT buyers. Our development team placed an emphasis on improving efficiency behind the wheel and reducing driver fatigue – understanding that a driver can spend several hours a day driving to and from the jobsite. A focus on driver efficiency is not a new concept for Link-Belt, but we have raised the bar with this new cab.”

Vertikal Comment

We do not have the full specification yet for this all new crane, but on the surface it looks like a very well thought out crane. It should certainly do well in North America, the big question though is will Link Belt look at launching it in Europe? Given that it has potential in the Middle East and perhaps Asia, we ought to see it at Bauma next year, and perhaps Vertikal Days a few weeks later?

Breaking into the European All Terrain market is not easy feat however, given the dominance of Liebherr, resurgent Terex/Demag, and strong new products from Tadano, not to mention Grove. With long lead times there are opportunities, but buyers would need to be convinced that Link-Belt was serious about the market for the long haul, and a one model product line is hardly likely to do that.

That said it is nice to see a fresh new model in the sector.