New Potain MCR 295 luffing jib crane launches at bauma China

Manitowoc will use bauma China 2016 to introduce a new Potain luffing jib crane for the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Latin American markets. The Potain MCR 295 will be the largest luffing jib crane from the Manitowoc manufacturing facility in Zhangjiagang, China. The crane will take center stage on the company's booth at the event, which will be located on Stand A.02 in the outdoor area. This year's bauma China will take place between November 22 and 25 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

MCR 295 in the spotlight
The Potain MCR 295 will be available in three variations, each with their own rated capacity and load chart. The MCR 295 H16 will have a 16 t maximum capacity; the MCR 295 H20 will have a 20 t maximum capacity; and the MCR 295 H25 will have a 25 t maximum capacity. All three will feature a lengthy 60 m maximum jib.

As with all luffing jib cranes, the new MCR 295 is ideal for job sites with tight working quarters with a compact 2 m x 2 m footprint and the optional Top Tracing II anti-collision system. Owners can choose from a variety of winch options, all with Potain's unique variable frequency drive technology that offers smoother acceleration and closer control. Winch options for the MCR 295 are: the 75 LVF 40 Optima or the 100 LVF 40 Optima on the 16 t version; the 100 LVF Optima 50 or the 150 LVF 50 GH Optima/180 LVF 50 GH Optima (depending on power supply) on the 20 t version; and the 100 LVF 63 Optima or the 150 LVF 63 GH Optima/180 LVF 63 GH Optima (depending on power supply) for the 25 t version.

"With so many options for this new range of MCR 295 cranes, users can choose the exact model with the best load curve and line speed to suit their needs," said Leong Kwong-Joon, Regional Product Manager for tower cranes at Manitowoc. "With luffing jib crane sales on the rise, we wanted to add another choice from our Zhangjiagang plant to meet the increasing needs of our customers in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The specifications of the MCR 295 make it well-suited for today's construction sites, and the ease of assembly and compact footprint of the crane make it especially attractive."

Manitowoc in China
Christophe Simoncelli, Vice President of tower crane sales, Asia and the Middle East, said that bauma China represents a great opportunity for Manitowoc to reinforce its position in the Asian market by underlining the high level of innovation it brings to the industry.

"The addition of the Potain MCR 295 is an example of driving innovation in China and other regions to help our customers increase their return on investment," he explained. "Recent years have seen an increasing number of contractors employ more machines on job sites to accelerate construction schedules, and our luffing jib tower cranes continue to grow in popularity thanks to the many decades of experience we've gained through working in this region."

Manitowoc operates in China both through its direct sales organization and a comprehensive network of dealers. It began manufacturing cranes in the country in the early 1990s.

"Over the years, bauma China has become one of our most important events in the region - it gives us a great opportunity to connect with customers first hand and learn about their lifting needs," said Simoncelli.

The last bauma China event in 2014 welcomed close to 190,000 visitors from 148 countries, including over 25,000 from outside China.