Potain launches new heavyweight MDT 1609 and delivers first model to Germany

• The new crane is the largest in the Potain range of topless cranes, with a 40 t maximum capacity and the ability to lift 14.1 t at the end of its 80 m jib.
• German building materials and construction giant BACHL Group has received the first crane.
• Manitowoc Lift Solutions provided design and engineering support so the crane could be installed on an existing mast at the customer's facility.

The first of Potain's impressive new MDT 1609 tower cranes has entered service at the headquarters of building materials specialist Karl Bachl Betonwerke in Bavaria, Germany. Maximum capacity for the crane is 40 t, and it can work with up to 80 m of jib. Jib end capacity is 14.1 t at 80 m, and the crane is now the largest topless crane available from Potain. At the Karl Bachl Betonwerke facility, the MDT 1609 has been erected at a height of 40.2 m.

The state-of-the-art tower crane is one of the most powerful in its class and sets new standards for the precision handling of large loads. At Karl Bachl Betonwerke, it is used to move goods in the storage yard. A key advantage is the 80 m reach, which allows the company to optimize yard space, streamlining loading and pre-loading for shipments. The high-performance crane operates two daily shifts, handling a variety of loads, including precast concrete segments weighing up to 40 t.

Intelligent technology for optimal performance

The MDT 1609 features state-of-the-art technology, including an integrated energy storage system that captures kinetic energy from lowering loads and recycles it, thereby reducing the crane's overall energy consumption and contributing to Karl Bachl Betonwerke's sustainability goals. There's also Potain's Crane Control System (CCS), which delivers controlled handling and facilitates commissioning so crane operations can be set in just 15 minutes following installation.

Karl Bachl Betonwerke is harnessing Potain CONNECT™ on the new MDT 1609, the on-board telematics system that enables remote diagnosis and maintenance, helping customers maximize uptime. With Potain CONNECT™, maintenance tasks are easier, and operational reliability improves.