Grove GRT8100 & GMK5250L Cranes Work Reliably At High Altitudes & In Extreme Cold For Corssen Of Chile

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Corssen’s most recent Grove crane, a rough-terrain GRT8100, is currently working at a mining port near the company’s headquarters in Antofagasta, Chile. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

Corssen Grúas & Montajes is a company in Chile that provides Grove cranes (and exclusively Grove cranes) for mining, energy, and construction projects. Some jobs require Corssen’s GRT-series rough-terrain and GMK-series all-terrain cranes to operate at 15,000 feet (4,500 meters) above sea level and at temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius).

Two of the busiest cranes in Corssen’s fleet are a 100-ton (100-metric-ton) Grove GRT8100 rough-terrain model and a 300-t (250-mt) GMK5250L all-terrain crane.

The Grove GRT8100

Corssen has been working its GRT8100 crane for a couple of years at a copper mine in the Atacama Desert. As the company’s most recent Grove model, the GRT8100 has served steadily without trouble. The crane is currently operating at a mining port near Corssen’s headquarters in Antofagasta.

“This crane is very versatile, and it has performed well across different jobsite environments,” says company owner Martin Corssen. “Whether on the Pacific Coast dealing with high winds, or in the mountains at high altitudes and frigid conditions, the crane has not disappointed.”

The GRT8100 has a gross vehicle weight of nearly 60 t (54 mt). It has a full-power Megaform boom with five sections and a length of 39.2 to 154.3 feet (12 to 47 meters). The crane can attain a maximum tip height of 239.4 feet (73 meters) with a jib.

The GRT8100 is powered by a Cummins QSB 6.7-liter turbo-diesel generating 275 horsepower (205 kilowatts). The GRT8100 also features the Manitowoc Crane Control System (CCS) with dual graphic displays and a user-friendly jog dial interface.

“We like this crane for its ability to easily dismantle its counterweight while keeping the auxiliary winch in the superstructure,” Corssen says. “The crane’s CCS is very easy to operate. Its boom has very good reach and performance.”

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Corssen says its Grove GMK5250L all-terrain crane has performed admirably at high elevations and in extreme temperatures. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

The Grove GMK5250L

Corssen says its GMK5250L all-terrain crane has also given good performance at high elevations and in extreme temperatures. Despite the crane’s 300-t (250-mt) lift capacity, a single 532-HP (390-kW) Mercedes-Benz diesel engine provides enough power to run its superstructure as well as its carrier. This means the GMK5250L uses up to 30% less fuel than a comparable dual-engine crane. The single engine also reduces the crane’s weight and maintenance requirements.

Recently, Corssen’s GMK5250L helped to expand and recondition a large, coal-fired smelter at a mine. “This crane is easy to maintain, and we like the way it is built and how it performs with one single engine,” says Corssen.

Grove’s current model of the GMK5250L, the GMK5250L-1, is a five-axle crane offering high performance, quick setup, top maneuverability, and operator comfort. In addition, Grove says that its load charts rival those of six-axle models. With its 230-foot (70-meter) main boom and swingaway jib with up to 50 degrees of offset, the 66-t (60-mt) crane can reach 361 feet (110 meters) in maximum tip height. The GMK5250L-1 has a self-rigging auxiliary hoist and a VIAB turbo clutch for wear-free braking and starting.

Source: Manitowoc