Unic sets out large spider crane range for restricted-access lifting

Capacity through a doorway

Heavy lifts on congested sites often come down to an awkward compromise: the crane needs the capacity and reach for the load, but the site cannot accommodate the access, outrigger spread or headroom a conventional mobile crane demands. In a new range overview, Unic Cranes Europe argues that its larger spider cranes resolve that conflict, combining crawler tracks, configurable outriggers and compact travel dimensions with capacities of up to 10 tonnes.

The company points to the URW-806 as the clearest example. The next generation of the long-established URW-706, it lifts 8 tonnes at a 1.7 m radius – and still 6 tonnes at 3 m – yet measures just 1.67 m wide in travel configuration, narrow enough to pass through restricted routes into factories, shopping centres and occupied buildings.

Four models at the top of the range

Above the standard URW-706, the range now runs to four large models. The 6-tonne URW-706-2 adds a hydraulic tele-luffing jib for a maximum lifting height of around 25 m, suited to façade, glazing and refurbishment work where loads must be placed above roofs or behind obstructions. The URW-806-3 pairs the 8-tonne capacity with a tele-luffing jib for 27.8 m of hook height and a 21 m working radius, letting loads be luffed over parapets or under overhangs.

At the top sits the URW-1006. The 10-tonne flagship is roughly 2 m wide travelling, reaches 22.8 m on its main boom and stretches to about 30.7 m of height and a 24.3 m radius with the optional fly jib. It can also pick and carry loads of up to 1.5 tonnes, within its approved configuration and load chart, which Unic says is valuable for machinery moves and industrial installation.

Set-up flexibility and electric options

Central to the argument is the outrigger system: each leg can be positioned individually around walls, columns, trenches or machinery, with the safe load system limiting capacity to suit the selected configuration. Radio remote control lets the operator stand where the load and installation point are visible, which the manufacturer highlights for glazing, steelwork and machinery placement.

For indoor and emissions-sensitive sites such as airports, warehouses and shopping centres, the URW-706 and URW-806 are offered with an optional mains-electric drive alongside the diesel engine, without increasing the crane’s travelling length. Typical applications cited include curtain walling and glazing, plant-room M&E installations, structural steel on tight sites, rail and utilities maintenance, and renovation work around occupied buildings. Unic stresses that headline capacity alone should not drive selection: the crane must handle the load at the actual radius and boom configuration, backed by a site assessment and lift plan.

Source: UNIC Cranes Europe — Photos: UNIC Cranes Europe