Tadano has announced the launch of a new all-terrain crane (ATC), which is the first ATC to be developed jointly by the Japanese giant’s Lauf and Zweibrücken locations in Germany, the very first member of the future Tadano AC family, and the marker of the completion of an announced merger of all brands under the Tadano umbrella.

According to Tadano, the launch of its new AC 2.040-1 model is a ‘world first’ for the brand and also marks the first model from which all Tadano Group cranes will be sold exclusively under the Tadano brand name.

“That’s why this market launch is really special for us – after all, the new AC 2.040-1 is the first crane to combine the best of our two worlds with the know-how from Zweibrücken and Lauf,” said Dr. Frank Schröder, Product Line VP for all-terrain cranes at Tadano.

According to the manufacturer, this also means that the AC 2.040-1 is “blazing a trail that all Tadano cranes will be following in the future”. It is the first crane in the new Tadano AC family. And all future models will share the same DNA with the AC 2.040-1: a standardised crane control system, cab, and technologies.

The AC 2.040-1 is also part of the company’s innovation push, which will see 15 new crane models come onto the market in the next few years under the Tadano brand name.

Jens Ennen, CEO, explained: “The slogan for our one-brand strategy is ‘Your Passion. Our DNA’. As far as we’re concerned, cranes are more than just a product we sell. In addition, we also want to convey an exclusive sense of purpose and dedication. No other manufacturer is as undividedly focused on lifting equipment as we are, and this goes both for our company as a whole and for each individual member of our team. For us, ever single lift that is performed out there is just as important as it is to the customer carrying it out.”

The AC 2.040-1 features the IC 1 Plus control system with automatic counterweight detection, a capacity radar and a work area display. The system determines the crane’s lifting capacity for every boom position as a function of the superstructure’s slewing angle. This enables the AC 2.040-1 to always make use of the maximum available lifting capacity with any outrigger configuration, including asymmetrical ones. This advantage is maximised when combined with the Flex Base system, which makes it possible to extend the outriggers to any point within their range.

In addition, the crane features the “one-of-a-kind” Tadano Surround View camera system, which shows both the maximum possible extension lengths for the outriggers and the counterweight tailswing radius. Tadano Surround View makes it significantly easier to optimally position the crane at work sites, said the manufacturer. In addition, the system provides assistance on the way to the work site by making it easier for crane operators to notice pedestrians and cyclists when turning.

The crane also comes with the IC 1 Remote telematics solution, which makes efficient crane and fleet management possible and shows both the location of the AC 2.040-1 and all its operating information on the monitor. This system helps with scheduling projects and routine maintenance, ensuring that the crane will have the highest possible availability for assignments. Moreover, it can be used to read error codes so that service team members can read the corresponding data “remotely” and run fault analyses to quickly diagnose and fix problems.

The ESTA-award-winning E-Pack with its 32kW electric motor is also optionally available and enables the AC 2.040-1 to work whisper-quiet and with zero emissions indoors and at night in residential areas, for example. This makes the two-axle crane the third Tadano AC to be compatible with the E-Pack, with the two others being the AC 3.045-1 City and the AC 4.080-1. Tadano added that like all its future cranes, it comes with a “particularly ergonomic cab”, previously only used on Zweibrücken produced ATCs.

Tadano added that the AC 2.040-1 offers the specific advantages of a two-axle crane, such as extraordinary compactness for use in constrained sites. Manoeuvrability is aided by its steerable rear axle with automatic programs for extremely tight radii and crab steering. Moreover, the compact design with an optimized weight also improves the new Tadano’s roadworthiness, improving its taxi crane capabilities. It can carry up to 1.1 tonnes of counterweight while staying under an axle load limit of 12t.

The AC 2.040-1 is powered by a Stage V Cummins diesel engine producing 310hp with low fuel consumption and a long drive train service life, said the manufacturer. The AC 2.040-1 delivers excellent gradeability and acceleration, as well as quiet travel operation, particularly in comparison to larger cranes, said Tadano – an aspect that is becoming increasingly important against the backdrop of stricter noise emission limits in urban environments.

The AC 2.040-1 also features a rear storage box, which has been carried over from the successful Tadano ATF 40G. The box continues to be available with or without a wood rack and is removable. “This solution is extremely popular among our customers, and we expect it to be a fixture in all future AC developments,” said product line VP Schröder.

In terms of its lifting performance, the Tadano AC 2.040-1 offers a fully extended boom length of 35.2 meters at a radius of 8m and can lift loads of up to 7.6t, which Tadano claims is something that no other crane in this class can do. If this maximum main boom length is not enough, the crane’s range can be extended with a 9m-long extension that can be offset by up to 40°. The manufacturer added that this powerful hydraulic boom makes it possible to take care of heavy lifts involving loads of up to 31.9t without requiring any additional sheaves.

“This enables the AC 2.040-1 to take care of a very broad range of lifts without carrying out time-consuming setup changes, making it both a fast and versatile machine,” said Schroder.

The Tadano AC 2.040-1’s technical characteristics, including a fully hydraulic boom, make it a versatile taxi crane that is quickly ready for work and a perfect solution for a wide range of assignments, including roofing projects, photovoltaic system installations and lifting containers and work material at job-sites. And when it comes to indoor work, the zero-emission E-Pack makes it the perfect crane for the job, Tadano added.