Stephenson Equipment finalized its plan to purchase a Potain Igo T 130 self-erecting crane. The Harrisburg, Pa.-based company has big plans for the crane, counting it as a crucial tool for its upcoming expansion into western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Dennis Heller, president and CEO of Stephenson, said that the company will first use the Igo T 130 as a rental crane to help expand its reach in new territories before it goes up for sale to customers.

“After evaluating the new Potain Igo T 130, we felt it was a very versatile crane that would increase the capabilities of our rental fleet,” he said. “We believe there is tremendous growth opportunity for us, as the crane enhances our lifting solutions package.”

The largest self-erecting crane in the Potain range, the Igo T 130, has a 164 ft. (50 m) folding jib, giving huge coverage across even relatively large job sites, while the crane’s ability to telescope its mast allows users to pick the working height that best suits the job, according to the manufacturer.

The crane has an 8.8 ton (8 t) maximum lift capacity and can include the Ultra View operator’s cab which offers 30 sq. ft. (9 sq m) of glass. In its transport configuration, it travels as a single trailer with an overall length of 56 ft. (17.15 m). This convoy has a ground clearance of 1 ft. (.3 m) for better access to working job sites.

A series of sensors, along with Potain’s SmartCom, make the crane easier to deploy to its working position. Once working, the integrated remote control and adjustable controls make lifting as simple as possible, improving productivity.

Stephenson has been representing Potain tower cranes for nearly 10 years in eastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York. The company plans to add even more Potain models in 2014, anticipating the market for self-erecting tower cranes to continue growing.

“Self-erecting tower cranes are still a new concept for lifting,” Heller said. “They are an economical alternative and sometimes the absolute best way to lift materials on a job site, especially when space is a challenge.”

The ability to vary the working height of the Igo T 130 is a feature that users prefer, allowing them to select the best height configuration to suit the project. Minimum height for the crane is 60 ft. (18.2 m) and maximum available height is 200 ft. (61 m), working with an inclined jib. The crane offers variable height both through adding lattice sections to its mast and by luffing its jib from the horizontal to an angle of 30 degrees.

The Igo T 130’s jib also is equally versatile. While its 164 ft. (50 m) maximum suits larger job sites, on more compact sites the jib can be folded back to 111 ft. 6 in. (34 m), allowing it to work within tighter site constraints.

Stephenson Equipment has been providing sales and rentals of construction equipment, paving equipment and cranes since 1957. The company serves customers from seven locations across Pennsylvania and New York. Stephenson Equipment is an official dealer of Manitowoc cranes, Grove cranes, National Crane boom trucks and Potain tower cranes.

“We are very proud to represent Potain along with Manitowoc Cranes,” Heller said.

For more information, visit www.stephensonequipment.com/.

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