September 17, 2009

KOBELCO SL4500’s new optional variation ‘Light Configuration’

The new variation of SL4500 crawler crane includes excellent transportability and assembly, and powerful lifting capacity up to 300 tonnes.

KOBELCO CRANES has developed its new 300t capacity SL4500 Light Configuration as a new optional variation of SL4500 and will launch to global market.

The SL4500 Light Configuration is a follow-up global machine of ‘SL4500 Standard Configuration’ launched at Intermat in April 2009. It emphasises transportability to lower transport costs and shortens assembly/disassembly time. The light configuration also includes luffing boom and luffing jib specifications.

The base machine and boom base of the light configuration are common components with the standard configuration (width 3.0 meters). However, the transport width of the light configuration’s attachment is only 2.5 meters which is the limit of normal transport width in most of countries in the world, allowing for easy and economic transport using high bed trailers. Furthermore, 151 ton counter weights are only weights needed for the job and had to be transported. This reduces the number of trailers necessary and on-site assembly time is shortened. The 2.5 meters width is nowhere subject to transport restrictions, resulting in transport for less cost.

The brand new SL4500 Light Configuration with a max. lifting capacity of 300 tonnes and a max. load-moment of 2,140 tm, was developed in response to demand and in close cooperation with several key buyers around the world. Max. luffing jib configuration is totally 132 meters with 66 meters luffing boom and 66 meters luffing jib.

Key features of SL4500 Light Configuration

The SL4500 Light Configuration provides the ideal combination of lifting performance, economical operation and tough durability with excellent duty charts.
Main features of these fully loaded models are:

• Lifting Performance
  
  Max lifting capacity 300 tonnes
  The upper frame has been designed to increase sectional strength and optimise the frame’s stress capacity. This enhances rigidity while reducing weight, which contributes greatly to the SL4500 light configuration’s exceptional lifting capacity.

  While total counterweights of the light configuration are reduced because of lighter attachments, the lifting capacity maintains the same lifting performance with the standard configuration. It can be cut down on transport costs depending on the conditions of worksites.

  Wide, Large-Capacity drums
  Winches are mounted on the boom base. The hoisting winches include wide, large-capacity drums on each level for high-speed rope hoisting.

  Large, extra-wide main and auxiliary drum capacities promote ultra-smooth operation and enhanced component service life, especially of wire rope and drum. The winches are virtually maintenance free, and the multi-disc drum brakes are self-adjusting and self-equalizing.

  Model	Engine power	Rated line pull	Min-Max.  line speed	Rope dia.
  SL4500	320 kW	137 kN (14.0tf)	3-110 m/min	28 mm

• Excellent transportability and assembly
  
  Easy-to-transport swing cab
  The swing cab is practically designed for easy transportation. By swinging and stowing the cab at the front of the base machine, the transport width of the upper machine is just 3 meters.

  Winches mounted on boom
  On a conventional model the winches are mounted on the base machine, but on the SL4500 the main and aux. Hoist winches are mounted on the boom base. This not only reduces the weight of the base machine, but also shortens assembly/disassembly times and saves on transport at costs because the boom and mast can be transported with winches attached.

  Nested booms improve transport efficiency
  The luffing insert jib can be easily nested in the insert boom by using the optional stowing guide rollers. This reduces the number of trailers needed for transport and helps to minimize required storage spaces.

• Safe, environmentally-conscious design
  
  New powerful, fuel efficient, environment-friendly Stage 3 engines
  Quiet running, water-cooled HINO engines with direct fuel injection, intercooler and turbo-charger provide all the power needed for lifting, swinging and travelling. The SL4500 Light Configuration is equipped with an extremely powerful 320kW power unit. The engine is in compliance with Stage 3 (EUR 3) American and European Emission regulations.

  Engine speed, hydraulic flow and pressure demands are coordinated by the computer-controlled Engine Speed Sensing (ESS) system, reducing speed changes in simultaneous operations to give smoother, more efficient performance.

  Operator comfort – it is well known that performance is directly related to operator comfort, and Kobelco cranes are famous for unrivalled smoothness while performing multi-function crane operations. The 7-way adjustable luxury seat provides the ideal balance between comfort and ergonomics. In addition, the beamless construction of the cab roof and front window provides a clear, unrestricted field of view, both up and down. An optional tilt-cab, up to 15 degrees, further enhances operating comfort.

  An Inching control reduces the machine’s hydraulic functions (excluding swing) to 1/3 of normal speed, for precise positioning and manoeuvring.

Kobelco is renowned for smart engineering – aiming to increase versatility and flexibility with productivity-boosting technical advances – from advanced winch systems to the self-diagnostic multi-display monitors. All designed to give users a competitive edge and provide top performance.