Two new link belt cranes, which will be among the stars of the Crane Festival at the end of September, are already available for customers to buy.
In the first week of June in Lexington, Kentucky, the manufacturer announced that the new TCC-550, a 55-USt telescopic crawler crane, and the 65 | HT, a new 65-USt truck-mounted crane, are already in production be ordered.
The 65 | HT started production on June 1st and delivery is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year.
The TCC-550 is expected to reach full production later this summer, with the first units going to customers in the third quarter.
Each of the new models replaces a predecessor with a solid history.
The 55-ton telescopic boom crawler crane TCC-550 replaces the 50-ton TCC-500, which has been in the Link Belt range since 2006.
The 65-tonne four-axle truck-mounted crane 65 | HT replaces the venerable 60-tonne HTC-8660, of which 500 have been delivered since the first unit was delivered in 2004.
Both new link belt cranes are based heavily on the proven designs and performance of the cranes they are replacing. However, both new cranes also offer some significant improvements that provide important new benefits for owners and users.
A better boom
A major improvement in both new models is the Link-Belt’s modern design.
The TCC-500 and HTC-8660 Series II are some of the last link-belt models to use the rectangular four-plate floor boom. New models will use shaped booms in the future.
The new four-part, 36.5power-115 ′ shaped boom with full power gives both the TCC-550 and the 65 | HT 5 ′ additional length and significantly more lifting capacity than their predecessors. Thanks to the grease-free lubrication, maintenance of the boom is practically unnecessary.
Link-Belt says the molded boom also has strong telescoping ability under load.
“The new boom is longer, weighs less and can take more,” says Andrew Soper, product manager for telescopic boom trucks and all-terrain cranes.
To help owners get the most out of their existing systems, the TCC-550 and 65 | HT each use the same two-piece 28.5′-51′-jibs as their respective predecessors.
Link-Belt TCC-550
65HT truck crane
Link-Belt 65HT crane
The 65 | HT has the easy on-road travel, quick set-up, and powerful lifting it takes to get more jobs done each day.
It has a base load of 65 tons and averages almost 17% more capacity than the HTC-8660 S-II at all radii from 12 ′ to 100 ′, with increments of 20 to 28% for any radius of 55 ′ or more. The maximum center height with boom is 125 ′ and with boom and jib is 172.
Complete with its full £ 18,700. The four-axle 65 | HT brings the counterweight, wire rope and load block to less than 84,000 lbs. For good handling and minimized loads per axis, the rig is well balanced at 40.825 lbs. on the front tandem and 42,825 lbs. on the rear tandem. If the weight restrictions are particularly severe, removing all of the counterweight allows the crane to travel in under 65,000 lbs.
The 65 | HT is roadworthy and measures 36 feet 11 inches long, 8 feet 6 inches wide and 11 feet 7 inches high.
Its ability to travel as a standalone unit makes it ideal for quick taxi crane work.
All four counterweight plates are identical and can be assembled in any order. The self-assembly system uses only two hydraulic cylinders and pins.
The Cummins L9 8.9 liter diesel engine is certified to the EPA 2021 emissions standard for road vehicles. It makes 370 horsepower and 1,250-ft.-lbs. maximum torque, while the ZF AsTronic transmission with 12 forward and two reverse gears provides plenty of power and speed. ABS drum brakes help maintain control when stopping.
The crane controls can have one or two axes. Link-Belt’s Pulse System is easy to use for both experienced and new operators.
The new safety features include anti-slip textured paint on all walking surfaces, anchor points for fall protection lines and the addition of a swivel camera on the right-hand side of the tower.
TCC-550 Teleboom crawler
The new TCC-550 raises the lower end of Link-Belt’s Teleboom crawler family from 50 tons to 55 tons. And this 55-ton base output has a usable radius of 10 ′.
In fact, the entire performance spectrum of the TCC-550 competes well with other cranes in its class. And, according to Pat Collins, Director of Product Marketing at Link-Belt: “In the capacity tables of the TCC-550, the trigger for the stowed boom is already built in.” There are also capacity tables for work up to 4 ° from the plane.
Strong capacities, good reach, powerful lift, compact size and easy transport make the TCC-550 a strong performer for infrastructure projects where telescopic crawler cranes of this size are often used.
Its retractable rails can be adjusted to provide an overall position of 15’2.37 “, 13’6.11” or 11’5.24 “to suit site conditions or obstacles.
The powerful drive has two speed ranges, can reach speeds of up to 2 mph and is designed for an incline of 40%.
For easy transportation, the crane comes complete with two hoists, a wire rope, the load block and its standard 25,000 lb. AB counterweight, can be carried in less than 100,000 lbs.
With the caterpillars retracted and the boom stowed away for transport, the complete TCC-550 measures just 46’8.2 “long, 11’5.24” wide and 9’10.55 “high.
There comes an order ready to step off the trailer and go to work in just 5 minutes.
The crane’s improved safety features include durable, non-slip textured paint on all treads, anchor points for attaching fall protection, and a pan camera on the right side so the operator can see the other side of the crane.
The standard lighting package now includes bright LED lighting on the barn and one on the top of the boom base, both of which are remotely controlled from the driver’s cab.
As mentioned earlier, these two dynamic new cranes will be showcased at the Link-Belt Crane Fest in Lexington in late September, but interested customers can order today by contacting their Link-Belt dealer.
