Manitowoc Cranes was awarded a $28.2 million contract to provide Grove all-terrain cranes to the U.S. Army. The GMK4060HC cranes (HC for heavy crane) are specifically engineered for military use and have unique features that make them suitable for job sites on a variety of terrains. The contract is expected to be fulfilled in 2020.
The 60 USt, four-axle capacity cranes that feature a MEGAFORM boom were designed to meet the U.S. Army’s needs, including the ability to ford water up to 48 in. and to operate in harsh conditions. The cranes will also be painted with Chemical Agent Resistant Coatings (CARC) to follow stringent nuclear and chemical attacks, meaning the paint won’t deteriorate under the same conditions as typical paint. The military also asked that the cranes be outfitted to accept armored cabs. In addition, the cranes are upfitted with military spec lighting that allows cranes to operate in a blackout light condition when using night vision technologies.
“It’s a great honor to be able to provide cranes for the U.S. Army,” says Darryl Mellott, Director of Government Marketing at Manitowoc. “Our first contract was signed in 2015, and we are glad to see that our cranes have performed well and serve the Army’s needs. We designed and built directly to the Army’s specifications and created the GMK4060HC, which is perfectly suited for its bridging and support operations around the world.”
The features on these cranes will enable the U.S. Army to tackle projects on the most extreme sites, even working in high-pressure situations in war zones. The cranes will be deployed for constructing barriers, setting up areas of operation, bridge building and vehicle towing applications, among many other uses. Another benefit for the Army is that the cranes are light enough to be transported via C5 and C17 aircraft, as well as by trains and roads.
“These are very versatile cranes that will enable the Army to perform the lifts it needs for a wide variety of applications,” Mellott says. “These tough, durable cranes reflect what it means to be ‘Army Strong,’ and we’re proud to support our military, no matter where the battle is.”
