Manitowoc MLC100-1 Crawler Crane Logged 2,500 Hours With No Issues On Tunnel Project In Cleveland

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A Manitowoc MLC100-1 crawler crane “completed a 6,600-foot (2,012-meter) tunnel without a single issue, which is so rare,” says Triad Engineering & Contracting President Cliff Kassouf. “Typically, any machine will have an issue at some stage, but this thing never stopped.” (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

Tunneling specialist Triad Engineering & Contracting made the right choice with a 110-ton (100-metric-ton) Manitowoc MLC100-1 crawler crane for a large sewer project in east Cleveland, Ohio. Starting in August 2019, the crane worked 2,500 hours—including months of 6:30 a.m.-to-midnight double shifts—with no problems of any kind.

“When Manitowoc introduced the MLC100-1 it was exactly what we were looking for,” says Triad President Cliff Kassouf. “We needed it to work across two shifts continuously for a period of several months, so reliability and efficiency were always going to be important.” Cleveland Crane & Shovel of Bedford Heights, Ohio provided the crane and support for it.

“It completed a 6,600-foot (2,012-meter) tunnel without a single issue, which is so rare. Typically, any machine will have an issue at some stage, but this thing never stopped,” says Kassouf. “To have a machine operating that dependably across two shifts for so long is huge. In the end, we mined the 6,600-ft tunnel section ahead of schedule.”

Going Up

The tunnel is part of Cleveland’s London Road Relief Sewer project. The Manitowoc crane sat above ground at the mouth of an access shaft, where it would pick up underground rail cars full of material excavated by a tunnel boring machine. Each car weighed roughly 16,000 pounds (7,260 kilograms). After being emptied, each car would be returned down the shaft by the MLC100-1. The crane raised and lowered between 50 and 60 rail cars per shift.

“The line speed, line pull, and precision of controls were all important factors when we were looking for a crane,” Kassouf says. “We can calibrate the controls on the MLC100-1 to regulate the speed at which we lower something. . . get it down to small increments so it’s accurate, then speed it up when we need to move faster.”

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The self-assembling, 110-ton MLC100-1 crawler crane can be equipped with up to 200 feet of lattice boom and a 60-ft fixed jib. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

The Manitowoc MLC100-1

The MLC100-1 crawler crane can be equipped with up to 200 ft (61 m) of lattice-style boom and a 60-ft (18.3-m) fixed jib. It can self-assemble without requiring an assist crane, and it comes with button-style wire rope terminations.

“Putting the crane together is pretty quick and efficient, and fuel consumption has improved,” says Kassouf. “There are a lot of benefits with this new machine.”

The crane’s 300-horsepower Cummins 6.7-liter engine meets Tier 4 Final emissions requirements. The engine and its intake, cooler, and exhaust aftertreatment system are all self-contained.

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“We can calibrate the controls on the MLC100-1 to regulate the speed at which we lower something. . . get it down to small increments so it’s accurate, then speed it up when we need to move faster,” Kassouf says. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

The MLC100-1’s operator uses Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS) to guide the unit’s operation. CCS can track individual function hours and provide diagnostics. It also increases the interchangeability of parts and makes the cab layout similar across the Manitowoc crane family. The MLC100-1’s cab, in particular, has a wide-body style and offers 10% more legroom.

“Our operators liked it a lot. It’s convenient and comfortable to operate,” says Triad equipment manager Rick Chipka. “This crane has done really well for us—it really has.”

Source: Manitowoc