Grove GMK5250XL-1 All-Terrain Crane Has Power & Versatility Needed To Dismantle Brazilian Lime Plant

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“When we came across the GMK5250XL-1, we realized that it was the only crane that could perform this work securely and efficiently,” says Wildson de Jesus, general director of Willift Lifting Engineering. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

The process of dismantling an old lime plant in Vitoria, Brazil, required a crane that could hold 24-ton (22-metric-ton) silo barrels and metal parts at 131 feet (40 meters) high as some of the metal parts were cut away. Wildson de Jesus, general director of Willift Lifting Engineering, says finding such a crane proved to be difficult.

“There was just not enough room for us to go to the back side and lift the silos from there,” de Jesus says. “We needed a high-capacity crane with a long boom that could reach the silos from the front part and remove them. The telescopic cranes we were looking into had a boom length of only 236.2 feet (72 meters), which would require the use of a swingaway extension to increase the tip height and reach at a 65.6-ft (20-m) radius. But that was not ideal, because we needed the crane’s maximum capacity with its main boom for the job, to increase safety.”

Enter The Grove GMK5250XL-1

Grove’s GMK5250XL-1 is reputed to have the longest boom on a five-axle crane. With its 257.5-ft (78.5-m), 8-section main boom and jib extensions, the 130,110-pound (59,020-kilogram) crane can reach 358 ft (109 m) in maximum tip height. The GMK5250XL-1’s lift capacity is 300 t (250 mt).

“When we came across the GMK5250XL-1, we realized that it was the only crane that could perform this work securely and efficiently,” de Jesus says. “It’s a high-capacity crane easy to maneuver in tight spaces and, more importantly, its boom can extend up to 257.5 ft, which was a perfect fit to remove those barrels.”

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Grove’s GMK5250XL-1 went to work last year in February and finished the job, on schedule, in September. (Photo courtesy of Manitowoc.)

Crane Control System

The GMK5250XL-1’s Crane Control System (CCS) provides a graphic user interface, ergonomic controls, and a jog dial controller for simple operation. CCS displays key data like the load moment to provide operators with the information they need in real time during complex lifts like the lime plant job in Brazil.

“I was very impressed with how reliable this crane was, enduring numerous challenges we had in this project,” says de Jesus. “Altogether we lifted and moved 1,014 t (920 mt) of parts with no issues reported. We didn’t stop working one single day.”

Find The Right Grove Crane

You’ll find hundreds of new and used Grove cranes for sale at CraneTrader, including Grove all-terrain cranes like those in the GMK5250 family.

Source: Manitowoc