New Tadano AC 5.250-2 with Top-of-the-line lifting capacity

New five-axle crane combines the best of two “Tadano worlds” as a joint development between Lauf and Zweibrücken locations.

Easy transportation combined with excellent lifting capacities: this is the development goal that the engineers at Tadano pursued when designing the new AC 5.250-2, which the company will now be showcasing for the first time ever at bauma 2022. So did they achieve this goal? Absolutely, and the excellent teamwork between the Lauf and Zweibrücken locations during the crane’s development played a key role in that.

“This kind of teamwork enables us to take full advantage of and combine all the know-how and expertise from both our locations,” explains Project Manager Peter Kleinhans. And the fact that the results are extraordinary can be seen, for example, in the corresponding lifting capacities, which are 10 to 15 percent higher in many areas and with certain configurations can even go all the way up to 30 percent higher than previous best values in this class. 

More specifically, the AC 5.250-2 easily leads the pack with a lifting capacity of 14.5 tonnes with a 70-meter boom length at a radius of 12 to 24 meters. There is also its lifting capacity of 11 tonnes at a radius of 42 meters with a boom length of 47 meters, which is also at the very top – to name just two examples. This impressive run is continued by the new crane’s system length: The 70-meter main boom can be extended by a generous 42 meters with a HAV main boom extension, making it possible to reach a system length of 112 meters. Also notable: All available main boom extensions from 5.8 to 36 meters are self-rigging.

The Tadano team is also tremendously proud of the outstanding transportation configuration options available for the AC 5.250-2. For instance, it can carry a three-sheave hook block for lifting loads of up to 67.3 tonnes or a 5.8-meter heavy-lift runner on board while remaining within a 12-tonne axle load configuration – not to mention that the transportation mounts for the HAV extension are included by default in the 12-tonne axle load. Moreover, a payload of several hundred kilograms at the rear end is possible. And the whole thing with 16-inch steel rims. The result? The crane can be used as a taxi crane without a support vehicle while remaining within the legal axle load limit of 12 tonnes. And if the axle load is increased to 16.5 tonnes, it can also carry up to 20 tonnes of its maximum counterweight of 80 tonnes. All these advantages contribute to the new Tadano fixe-axle unit’s enormous versatility. Moreover, in order to make the crane attractive for export markets such as the US, the design engineers responsible for the carrier in Lauf made sure to take the wheelbases required in many countries into account so as to ensure that worldwide approval would be a cinch.

The crane can pick up its total counterweight of 80 tonnes in three lifts: 46.6 tonnes with a full 360° radius of up to 6.2 meters followed by two lifts of 15.2 tonnes, with each split into 10 and 5.2 tonnes for mounting on the right and left of the base package. And if necessary, the counterweight can be split into smaller pieces as well, making it possible, for example, to pick up the 5.5-tonne base plate from a distance of up to 20.1 meters across the full radius. “Thanks to the IC-1 Plus crane control system, which comes as standard, the available radius can even be significantly increased at certain slewing angles,” Peter Kleinhans underscores. In addition, the fact that the counterweight can be split into a large number of elements with none weighing more than 10 tonnes ensures maximum flexibility for transportation logistics. This means that relatively small trucks can be used for transportation when required by space conditions at a work site.

Tadano designed the AC 5.250-2 to come with comprehensive equipment as standard right out of the gate, not to mention that all new cranes in the Tadano AC family will benefit from the same equipment effective immediately. The corresponding features include the innovative IC‑1 Plus crane control system, for example. This system determines the crane’s maximum lifting capacity for every boom position as a function of the superstructure’s slewing angle, and in real time to boot. As a result, the crane is always able to take advantage of the maximum lifting capacity available to it – especially during lifts over the outriggers. In other words, the feature literally provides the greatest support when it comes to lifts in which the outriggers are not fully extended and the counterweight is reduced. All in all, the AC 5.250-2 benefits from this tremendously, as its outriggers can be extended asymmetrically to 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 percent positions. 

In addition, the Tadano AC 5.250-2 features the one-of-a-kind Surround View camera system, which makes it easier for crane operators to optimally position the crane at work sites: This patented system uses six crane cameras to show a computer-assisted diagram of the maximum possible extension lengths for the outriggers at the crane’s current location. “With Tadano Surround View, crane operators can take a look at a display in the cab to know exactly how they need to position the crane at their work site in order to extend all outriggers sufficiently and ensure that they are using the required counterweight tailswing radius. This eliminates tedious and time-consuming measurements and testing when looking for a location from which to operate the crane, making the latter ready for use faster,” explains Peter Kleinhans. The system also provides assistance on the way to the work site by making it easier for crane operators to notice pedestrians and cyclists when turning.

Finally, the new AC 5.250-2 also makes a compelling case when it comes to its engine, a state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz unit with an output of 522 hp and a maximum torque of 2,600 Nm that provides solid propulsion and powerful lifting capacities. And it goes without saying that the HVO-compatible diesel engine meets the latest EU Stage V requirements. In addition, it is particularly cost-effective thanks to its eco mode, which ensures that the engine always outputs the exact amount of power that the crane actually needs at any one time, with the IC-1 crane control system taking care of the corresponding calculations.

When developing the AC 5.250-2, the team at Tadano also made sure to attach special importance to the needs of crane operators. Accordingly, all hydraulic components that emit noise are located away from the superstructure cab, where things are comfortably quiet. Moreover, the spacious design behind both cabs ensures maximum operating comfort and a pleasant work environment. As for safety, intelligently positioned access points, attachment points for operators’ personal safety equipment, and a step that can be extended from the carrier to make it safe and comfortable to enter and exit the superstructure cab all contribute.

With the new AC 5.250-2, Tadano is keeping its innovation promises and showing that its new strategy is bearing fruit: The new five-axle crane, which combines the best of both worlds, truly sets new standards in many ways. And this provides the crane with tremendous versatility, which combined with an enormous reach and large lifting capacities makes the unit perfect for erecting tower cranes and for construction projects of all types.