The AC 5.250-2 all-terrain crane from Tadano first appeared at bauma 2022 as a machine that was easy to transport and a strong lifter. Since then, the company has continued to develop the new unit to add upgraded features focused on safety and other areas.
The AC 5.250-2 features a lifting capacity of 16 tons with a 230-foot boom length at a radius of 39 to 79 feet. Its lifting capacity at a boom length of 154 feet at a radius of 138 feet is 12 tons. The 230-foot main boom can be extended by 138 feet with a HAV main boom extension, making it possible to reach a system length of 367 feet. All available main boom extensions from 19 to 118 feet are self-rigging with no assist crane required.
Tadano has included a counterweight that can be split into a number of elements, with none weighing more than 11 tons, providing transportation flexibility. The crane can self-assemble its total 88-ton counterweight in three lifts, and smaller pieces make it easier to pull everything together on tight job sites.
Touchscreen crane control system
Standard technology upgrades on the AC 5.250-2 includes the touchscreen-controlled IC-1 Plus crane control system that determines the crane's maximum lifting capacity in real-time for every boom position as a function of the superstructure's slewing angle. That means the crane can always take advantage of its maximum lifting capacity, especially during lifts over the outriggers, which can be extended asymmetrically to 0, 25, 50, 75, and 200 percent positions.
Also available for the new crane is the Surround View camera system, which both increases safety while driving and also gives operators the ability to position the crane optimally on work sites. Six crane cameras show a computer-assisted diagram of the maximum possible extension lengths for the outriggers at the crane's current location.
Active backup and lift assist add safety
Another safety-related update is the addition of TailGUARD active backup assist to aid during travel. Two ultrasonic sensors monitor the area behind the crane when backing up. Users can see the distance from stationary and mobile objects on the in-cab monitor. Acoustic warnings alert operators before obstacles are reached, and the crane will stop in the event that the risk of collision is too high. The system engages the moment the crane shifts into reverse.
A future safety feature is Lift Adjuster, a lift assist system that will be made available in 2024. Easily activated, the system measures the boom's deflection and adjusts the lift cylinder to compensate for changes in radius caused by that deflection. This helps eliminate the risk of swinging.
Powered by a 522-hp Mercedes-Benz engine, the crane has a maximum torque of 1,917 ft.-lbs. The engine meets all the latest emissions requirements, and benefits from Eco Mode, which ensures the engine always outputs the exact amount of power needed by the crew at any given time. Power calculations are taken care of by the IC-1 crane control system. A fuel-saving start-stop feature shuts off the crane engine at the push of a button without deactivating the control software.
In the cab, operators will find less noise, thanks to hydraulic components being placed away from the superstructure. Also, the spacious design of both cabs provides a comfortable and pleasant work environment. Intelligently positioned access points, attachment points for operators' personal use, and an extendable step that make it safer and more comfortable to enter and exit the superstructure cab. A hill start assist system makes driving and maneuvering on uphill slopes stress-free.
