Italian rental company Massucco T. buys three Grove GRT655L rough-terrain cranes

The compact and portable GRT655L features Manitowoc’s CCS (Crane Control System), enabling operations to be easily adjusted to suit individual preferences, making it the perfect rental crane.

Efficiency improvements enabled by the state-of-the-art yet intuitive technologies on the Grove GRT655L were a key factor in Massucco T., ordering three GRT655L rough-terrain cranes. The cranes were presented to the Italian rental company at a handover event at Manitowoc’s Niella Tanaro factory, just 30 minutes from Massucco T.’s headquarters in Cuneo, Piedmont. 

“There were many reasons behind our choice to invest in Grove again,” said Roberto Borgogno, Sales Manager at Massucco T. “Our previous experience with the brand, and our awareness of the reliability and excellent technical support were relevant. But perhaps the main attraction was the advanced technologies on the crane. These are not gadgets, but digital tools that impact crane management and maintenance. For example, the diagnostics feature is an extremely important way to keep on top of operating and maintenance costs. It allows us to precisely schedule service based on working hours.” 

Representing a major leap forward in quality and Total Cost of Ownership, the onboard diagnostics enable the actual hours of many machine functions (winch, boom, slewing, engine, hydraulics etc.) to be recorded, ensuring maintenance is performed exactly when needed. The frequency of maintenance is also significantly reduced thanks to a design focused on increased component service life. For example, by mounting the outrigger jack cylinders upside down, the chrome part of the cylinder and the seals are protected against damage, sand, dust, and other contaminants. And by using hydraulic disc-brakes with double calipers, instead of the more common, less-efficient pneumatic design, there is no need for a separate maintenance schedule.

Another factor that makes the GRT655L a perfect rental crane is its compactness and portability. “The GRT655L is just 3 m wide and has a removable counterweight, so it’s easy to transport on a trailer,” added Borgogno.

As the most compact model in its class, the narrow dimensions of the GRT655L enable it to be easily shipped in one complete load. Maneuverability is enhanced too, with its four-wheel coordinated steering producing a turning radius of just 6.4 m, allowing it to access even the most congested sites. The crane’s CCS consists of two anti-glare, tilting graphic displays, plus a jog dial selector and ergonomic joysticks, which allow response curves and function speeds to be easily customized to operator preferences and skill levels. The 60 t capacity GRT655L also offers the sort of reach more typically found in the 70-80 t class, with a 43 m five-section, full-power boom. When working with a jib, operators can reach more than 56 m and nearly 60 m at maximum tip height. For easier operation when working with longer booms, there’s a hydraulically tiltable, full-vision cab. 

“The GRT655L’s impressive load charts and performance are a big selling point, but even more importantly, it’s a crane with features that are perfect for the Italian and European market – and that’s a major advantage in the rental business,” said Borgogno. “With these purchases, our fleet is more versatile, allowing us to further extend our offering and cover a wider range of applications, from assembling prefabricated buildings to maintenance and process work in industrial plants.”

Massucco T. operates a fleet of over 1,800 vehicles, covering the lifting and earthmoving markets. It was founded over 60 years ago and has 13 branches across Italy, France, and Tunisia. It is one of the largest rental companies in Italy.