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 For Immediate Release
March 15, 2005
Grove cranes favorite choice of busy homebuilder
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| Grove TMS900E |
Pulte Homes is using Grove truck cranes to build hundreds of new homes in
northern Virginia and Maryland. Five Grove TMS900E truck cranes and a Grove
RT530E rough- terrain are working for the Washington Division of Pulte Homes.
It expects to construct 500 houses across five counties in northern Virginia
and Montgomery, Maryland, by the end of this year.
The homes are spread across a six county area up to 65 km (40 mi) from the
plant where Pulte Home Sciences manufactures concrete panels, floor trusses,
exterior walls, and interior panels used in construction. Brian Delhagen,
field operations manager with Pulte Homes Sciences, explained why he chose
Grove truck cranes to build the new homes.
“We chose the Grove truck crane mainly because of the cost of movement. Our
jobs last only for about a year or so and during startup we moved the two
cranes we had at that time quite a bit,” he said. “The decision also gave us
flexibility to move to different jobs more easily. Our developments are paved
streets and we rarely need to access the house from the other side of the
curb.”
The homes, which range in size from 185 m² (2,000 ft²) to 464.5 m² (5,000 ft²)
each have different panel qualities. On average each home uses 25 to 38
concrete panels for the foundation, while the floor consists of another 10 to
13 panels. Pulte’s plant optimizes the panel weight and sizes to work with the
crane capacity. Typically, 22.8 m (75 ft) to 26 m (85 ft) of radius is
required to lift the panels in with the TMS900Es, depending on weights, where
the house is staged and its size. Pulte rigs these cranes with 29 m (95 ft) of
main boom and a counterweight that weighs 5,851 kg (12,900 lb) to handle the
panels.
Typical swing time using the TMS900E truck cranes is four to seven minutes per
panel. Each panel measures 2.7 m (9 ft) to 11 m (36 ft) and weighs in around
1,814 kg (4,000 lb). An entire foundation can be set within eight to ten hours
with a crew, including a crane operator, of seven workers.
Pulte’s RT530E, a 4x4 rough-terrain crane which has a 27 t (30 USt) capacity
rating, is rigged with a four-section 29 m (95 ft) boom. It is being used for
installing exterior framing panels and roof trusses. In addition, the crane is
harnessed as a general work horse and used for all manner of different lifting
duties within its capabilities.
“We went with the Grove brand because it is the industry leader of hydraulic
cranes,” said Delhagen. Grove has the only 80 t (90 USt) crane that could
handle the weights of our precast walls at the radius we need. Grove has also
been very willing to build machines that meet our specific needs. For example,
while we do not need a second hoist, the machines have been built to accept
one should we choose to add it later. That’s service.”
About the Manitowoc Company
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. is one
of the world’s largest providers of lifting equipment for the global
construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes, tower cranes, mobile
telescopic cranes, and boom trucks. As a leading manufacturer of ice-cube
machines, ice/beverage dispensers, and commercial refrigeration equipment, the
company offers the broadest line of cold-focused foodservice equipment in the
industry. In addition, the company is a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship
repair, and conversion services for government, military, and commercial
customers throughout the U.S. maritime industry.
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High
Resolution Photograph (1.99 MB)
For More Information Contact:
About The Manitowoc Company
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. is one of the world's largest providers of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes,tower cranes, mobile telescopic cranes, and boom trucks. As a leading manufacturer of ice-cube machines, ice/beverage dispensers, and commercial refrigeration equipment, the company offers the broadest line of cold-focused equipment for the foodservice industry. In addition, the company is a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and conversion services for government, military, and commercial customers throughout the U.S. maritime industry.
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