This
article was published in the March 2023 edition of NTEA News.
NTEA’s
Telescopic Service Crane Manufacturers Group (TSCMG) was formed in 2014. It
targets key issues related to service cranes and helps promote more efficient
work truck builds.
Continuous development of programs to help enhance safe and
efficient use of service cranes is a key priority for the group. A recently
completed initiative involves a uniform inspection form upfitters can utilize
to examine telescopic service cranes. This project involved incorporating
elements of each participating company’s inspection form into a universal
document for truck equipment upfitters to use for service cranes.
The group
is in the process of completing work on the development of recommended uniform
parameters for load charts, with the objective of offering service crane
operators a better understanding of a uniform load chart across multiple
manufacturers.
TSCMG also
developed a definition for its product. “A service truck crane is identified by
its telescopic boom, where the base and mast structure is not integral to the
stabilizer/outrigger system. Lifting is typically accomplished via a winch
(electric or hydraulic), and its functions (rotation, elevation, telescoping)
are either powered or manual. These machines tend to have relatively shorter
boom lengths (10–35 feet) and lower capacities (1–7 tons) as compared to other
telescopic boom-fixed cab machines (e.g., boom trucks, carry deck cranes).
Additionally, operations are usually conducted by the use of radio remote or
pendant control with the operator standing on the ground following the load.”
How to
join
Membership
is open to NTEA member companies in good standing engaged in the manufacture of
telescopic services truck cranes and/or an authorized national importer of
telescopic service truck cranes, as defined below.
- Telescopic service truck cranes have a
telescopic boom, the base and mast structure of which is not integral to the
stabilizer/outrigger system.
- Lifting is typically accomplished via a winch
(electric or hydraulic) and its functions (rotation, elevation, telescoping)
are either powered or manual.
- They typically have relatively shorter boom
lengths (10–35 feet) and lower capacities (1–7 tons) as compared to other telescopic
boom–fixed cab equipment (e.g., boom trucks cranes, carry deck cranes).
- Crane operations are usually conducted by use
of radio remote or pendant control with the operator standing on the ground
following the load.
For more
information or to join, email Bob Raybuck (bob@ntea.com), NTEA
director of technical services.