The Next Generation of Knuckleboom Cranes
By Seth Skydel
A quick look will tell you that knuckleboom cranes are an amazing piece of engineering technology. Also known as a loader crane, an articulating crane or a picker crane, these highly versatile machines designed with at least one point of articulation in the boom assembly allows them to manipulate loads in a variety of ways and in tight spaces, and at the same time easily fold onto vehicle chassis and body for transport.
Knuckleboom cranes offer optimal outreach, impressive lifting capacity and unmatched precision, and for those reasons their use is rising among operators serving a range of industries. To meet those needs, manufacturers are not only expanding knuckleboom model offerings, but they are also introducing new designs, features and advanced technologies.
“ PALFINGER is always seeking innovative ways to enhance our knuckleboom cranes to better serve our customers,” said Greg Sneek, product manager, articulating cranes at PALFINGER North America.“ With precision demands for crane operators on the rise, we’ ve unveiled two new models in our TEC series this year that are designed
For Bernie Faloney, CEO of Fascan International, the majority of advancements in the latest knuckleboom models are seen in the crane operator interface and controls.
A PALFINGER PK 33002 EH knuckleboom crane being used for trench shoring easily handles the demands of heavy equipment and other materials.
36 May 9, 2025 www. contractorshotline. com