Grove’s 165-Ton GRT9165 Rough-Terrain Crane Has New Jib Option For Precast Concrete Panel Work

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“The GRT9165 with the heavy-duty jib is the perfect package for what we need,” says Pete Klosterman, executive vice president, field resources for Miron. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

Wisconsin design-build contractor Miron Construction Co. became the first customer to use a new heavy-duty jib option with its 165-ton (150-metric-ton) Grove GRT9165 rough-terrain crane. The new jib is designed for setting precast concrete panels, which average 12 feet (3.7 meters) wide, more than 24 ft (7.3 m) in height, and 60,000 pounds (27,216 kilograms) in weight. Miron used the new jib in June to place panels for a new high school in western Wisconsin.

Parent company Manitowoc says that precast concrete panel work is expected to grow 5.6% annually over the next five years due to its efficiency, cost reduction, speed, and quality consistency. Each precast panel’s hollow core halves the amount of concrete used without jeopardizing its strength. Using less material reduces the CO2 footprint of a building’s construction by 25%, the company says. The new jib option is available on all new Grove GRT9165 cranes and as a retrofit for existing units.

Strong & Precise

“The GRT9165 with the heavy-duty jib is the perfect package for what we need,” says Pete Klosterman, executive vice president, field resources for Miron. “It has strong capacities and precision for precast and is a solid all-around crane for the wider range of work we do. Our precast jobs have a short duration and we wanted to minimize transport and setup costs.”

The new jib option for precast tilt-up work offers two hooks, fast setup, and cost-effective transport, Grove says. Customers like Miron and dealers such as American State Equipment of Milwaukee participated in its development process.

The compact jib is 12.5 ft (3.8 m) in length and has a maximum lifting capacity of 68,600 lbs (31,116 kg). Its capacities are up to 20% greater on average than its nearest competitor, according to Grove. The jib has two sheaves, supports up to four parts of line, and can be hydraulically offset from 0 to 50 degrees with an in-cab switch.

Real-World Wins

For the high school construction job in Wisconsin, Miron configured its GRT9165 with its full 56,800 lbs (25,764 kg) of counterweight, a max tip height of 124 ft (37.8 m), and a 50-ft (15.2 m) radius with no offset.

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Miron Construction Co. became the first to use a new heavy-duty jib option with its 165-ton Grove GRT9165 crane to place precast concrete panels for a new Wisconsin high school. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

“It’s great to have the ability to luff the jib up and down for increased or decreased separation as needed, and it’s quick and easy to install and uninstall the jib,” says Miron project superintendent Luke Rathke.

The new jib also allows the GRT9165 and its long boom to work under height limitations. This has won Miron more work in industrial settings such as large paper mills with piping and ductwork overhead.

“We must be more efficient and versatile in how we approach our jobs,” says Klosterman. “You’ve got to stay ahead of the game, and it helps when the equipment we’re using can make that happen.”

The Grove GRT9165

The GRT9165 is a three-axle crane with a 44.9- to 205-ft (13.7- to 62.5-m) main boom and a 299-ft (91.1-m) maximum tip height. The six-section Megaform boom uses the Twin-Lock pinning system. It supports manual or hydraulic bi-fold swing-away jibs that can be offset up to 50 degrees.

Grove says the GRT9165, which is designed for a reduced transport height and is powered by a Cummins B6.7L Tier 4 Final- and Stage V-compliant diesel engine, has best-in-class load charts. Its new, wider cab provides a panoramic view for the operator and can tilt up to 20 degrees. Manitowoc offers the GRT9165 with a two-year warranty.

Source: Manitowoc