Tadano Demag now offers a new seven-axle machine with a series of forward-looking solutions and new technical specifications. The basic idea when developing the new AC 450-7 was both simple and demanding: Tadano Demag wanted to "give wheels" to a more powerful alternative to its existing six-axle cranes, with the objective to keep it as compact as its counterparts despite the additional axle, all while combining that with significantly better performance.
In terms of its dimensions, the AC 450-7 meets this criterion, having a carrier length of just 52.5 feet, a 27.7 foot outrigger base, and a total length of 57.8 feet. "In other words, it doesn't need more space than a six-axle crane at a work site, and yet it offers significantly better lifting capacities," says Demag Product Marketing Manager Michael Klein, confirming that one of the company's crucial goals was perfectly achieved.
But why seven axles to begin with?
"Simple. The only way for the machine to be street-legal and meet our goals of having a longer boom and larger lifting capacities was for it to run on seven axles," Klein explains.
Despite mostly identical dimensions, the new AC 450-7 features considerably better performance characteristics when compared to cranes with six axles. In fact, it features a 262.5 foot main boom with a maximum lifting capacity of up to 212.8 USt. If the main boom's length is not sufficient, it can be extended using a luffing jib with a maximum length of 265.7 feet. The crane's maximum system length is 433 feet. The luffing jib can be "divided up" in 9.8 foot segments from 78.7 to 265.7 feet. In order to make it easier to transport the luffing jib, two system dimensions are used, making it possible to slide the extension's individual parts into each other. Moreover, the patented luffing jib rigging system makes setup especially fast, simple, and safe - a design that the new AC 450-7 shares with the Demag AC 300-6, AC 350-6, and AC 1000-9 models. Furthermore, the AC 450-7 is versatile when it comes to extension matters - in addition to the luffing jib, Tadano Demag also offers fixed jib configuration, even with an offset section, as well as a runner.
Improved counterweight design
The AC 450-7 consists of a 22 USt base plate and redesigned counterweight plates that have been optimized in terms of swing radius, which is now only 18.4 feet. The counterweight plates are available as 11 USt plates, 5.5 USt plates, or a combination of the two, with the goal being to enable customers to optimize their transportation logistics.
The base plate can be set up from the front - an advantage that is particularly beneficial at work sites where space is tight and the corresponding transportation truck can only be positioned in front of the crane.
In addition, there is an optional counterweight frame available for the AC 450-7 that can be used to increase the swing radius in order to further increase the lifting capacity - especially when using an SSL configuration.
Demag Surround View
At 27.7 feet, the outrigger base is also at the level of a 6-axle crane. It should be emphasized that the AC 450-7 has five different outrigger widths. This means that the new Demag crane has greater site flexibility, particularly in confined construction site conditions.
The new optional Demag Surround View makes it easier for the crane operator to position the AC 450-7 at the job site. This patented system uses six cameras to display the possible outreach of the outriggers as well as the tail swing radius at the current position of the crane in a computer-aided display.
