Page 34 - COAug2022

TICKER TAPE
EQUIPMENT In addition to the power take-off from the truck’s diesel engine, the
BÖCKER LAUNCHES HYBRID ELECTRIC TRUCK CRANE

new Böcker AK 37e can be run as a hybrid crane via an onboard
230 Volt electric motor. Connected to a single-phase 230 Volt
socket, the AK 37e operates continuously electrically in crane or
platform mode
Manufacturer Böcker in Germany has launched a hybrid truck
mounted model with a fully electrically powered crane.
The AK 37e can be configured to lift 4 tonnes (2 tonnes as standard)
and offers a maximum lifting height of 37 metres (35 metres as
standard). It can also be quickly converted into an aerial work
platform with the addition of a personnel basket. said. Energy consumption is reduced by having an automatic
For work on site the unit is positioned and set up and then the stop-start system so the electric motor only runs when it is needed.
crane can be operated fully electrically. It has a lithium-ion battery As per the diesel version, the AK 37e offers a maximum hook speed
on board the truck from which the crane can be operated. For of 45 metres a minute. With a load of 250 kg the electric crane
continuous operation the crane can be connected via a cable to can reach 28 metres, allowing it to place loads over the rear of
a mains electricity supply to run the 8 kW electric motor powering buildings.
the hydraulics. High tech controls
This electricity supply only needs to be domestic 230 Volt single- The electronic control system includes automatic set-up with
phase AC, not 400 Volts AC three-phase, Böcker said. When auto-levelling and range indication in live mode, plus limitation
connected to the mains supply it charges the battery quickly on the slewing and the erection angle. Operation is via a hand-
enough to maintain a constant battery level during everyday held radio remote control from HBC radiomatic. It carries a colour
operation, according to the manufacturer. It allows the crane to display showing all operations, available from one operating level.
be operated wherever there is mains electricity, for example, in Cameras are optional.
residential areas, not necessarily industrial areas. Weight comes in at a maximum of 8.6 tonnes. Mounted on a 7.49
Quieter and cleaner tonne MAN or Mercedes 2-axle truck there is a payload of 4 tonnes.
Operation is possible with no harmful exhaust emission at the point Outrigger settings can be individually controlled to adapt the spread
of use because the crane truck‘s engine does not need to be for the available space on site. A PLC control then determines the
running. (Note that there is a power take off from the engine to run capacity available as the crane moves.
the crane conventionally where no mains electricity is available). For heavier duty application a version is available as a hybrid crane
Operation is quieter with the electric drive than a diesel engine. with a 400 Volt, 13 kW drive.
“The new AK 37e operates with optimised consumption and requires A trailer mounted version of the electric crane, the AK 36e, is
significantly less energy than comparable cranes,” the company already available.

SKANSKA TO TRIAL ELECTRIC DRILL RIG is aiming to reduce its CO2 emissions – from both its operations and
Swedish construction company Skanska is to field test the first sold products – by 50% by 2030. In line with this, the manufacturer
battery-electric drill rig from mining equipment and attachments plans to make all models in its underground mining equipment
specialist Epiroc. Designed to improve the “environmental portfolio available in battery-electric versions by 2025, with electric
standards of quarries and larger construction sites”, the battery- versions of its surface operations product line available by 2030.
powered SmartROC T35 E drill rig is said to offer high productivity Skanska’s trial of the machine is the latest of two advancements in
with low emissions, as well as low noise and vibration levels. the specialist equipment sector.
While exact specifications about the drill rig have not been Last month Germany-based Bauer Maschinen revealed that its
revealed, it is thought to share many of the same features as 100-tonne eBG 33 prototype drill rig is now being used by joint
Epiroc’s existing diesel powered SmartROC T35 rig, on which its venture contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV), for deep foundations
design is based. It is anticipated that, when the model hits the applications on the UK’s new HS2 (High Speed 2) railway line.
equipment market, it will have an operating weight of between
15 and 17 tonnes (excluding the drill rod) and match its diesel
powered sister machine’s 37-metre drill depth and its drill hole
diameter of 64 to 115mm.
Johan Eliasson, project manager at Skanska Industrial Solutions,
said, “A milestone has been reached and a new opportunity has
come to reduce our climate impact.
Both companies have set bold environmental goals – this
project really takes a great step towards Skanska´s goal of being
completely climate neutral by 2045, which is an important part of
our promise to build a better society.
Epiroc, which has signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative,

34 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|AUGUST 2022