Before and After: H&E Remanufactures Manitowoc 4600 Dragline Crawler Crane

Manitowoc EnCORE partner H&E Equipment Services’ crane remanufacturing and structural repair business finished the complete remanufacturing of a Manitowoc 4600 dragline crawler crane for Chicago-based United States Gypsum Co. Its manufacturing plant in Sweetwater, Texas, had been using a similar Manitowoc 4600 for mining raw gypsum from the ground to eventually produce USG Sheetrock Brand Gypsum Panels, but the aging crane required replacement.

Since Manitowoc no longer produces the 4600, nor a dragline crawler crane like it, USG faced the options of either finding a replacement crane or remanufacturing a similar used 4600. USG chose, along with H&E to source a second Manitowoc 4600.

“This crane is for all practical purposes a new machine – structurally, mechanically and cosmetically,” said Tony Gugliuzza, crane reman manager at H&E’s crane remanufacturing facility in Belle Chasse, La. “Our goal at H&E is to ensure each EnCORE remanufactured crane will provide the owner with an entire new crane lifecycle of dependable service. Our 40 years of crane remanufacturing experience as a cost-effective alternative and valuable service to our customers. We are very proud of our employees and the quality of their work, as evidenced by the final results in USG’s 4600 crane.”

In addition to the top-to-bottom remanufacturing, H&E added some upgrades including installation of a new generation, programmable auto lube system where all lube lines routed throughout the machine are fabricated from stainless steel and tubing that eliminates 174 manual grease points over the entire crane, saving time and labor costs.

H&E also added:

• Piping of 11 remaining grease points to four separate panels that can be serviced with minimal time and effort;
• Installation of a high-volume, self-contained air-conditioning unit powered by the machine’s increased-capacity 24-volt system;
• Addition of a complete on-board, dual-chemical fire suppression system;
• Assurance of MSHA compliance with updated handrails, adjustable access ladders, fall-prevention guards, bail service platforms and maintenance access safety steps;
• Installation of side mirrors, a full front cab guard and three CCVC cameras that allow the operator to monitor the rear and left blind spots of the crane with a 72-degree interior view of the upper machine on a 15-inch split-screen display monitor;
• A custom ultra-high gloss, highly chemical-resistant paint finish in USG’s new corporate colors of crimson red, medium grey and gloss black.

“Being sustainable across the lifecycle of our products and operations is an important goal at USG,” said Jeff Grimland, USG plant manager for Sweetwater. “We actively look for opportunities to reduce, reuse, or recycle resources when possible, and the remanufacturing of the dragline crawler is a unique example of how we are continuously looking for ways to minimize our impact on the environment.”

The remanufacture of the 4600 is the third remanufacturing project of a Manitowoc 4600 completed at H&E’s Crane Remanufacturing Center.