Magni offers the RTH 6.46 rotating telescopic handler for large construction projects. This machine can be used in cities and congested jobsites where space for equipment is limited. Unlike a crane, the Magni RTH 6.46 rotating telescopic handler can be set up within minutes, combining compact mobility and maneuverability. It can lift a maximum 6 t, or 2.5 t to just under 46 m, from where a spider crane can distribute the loads to the higher floors.
“Space is at a premium and speed is essential,” explained Mick Duffy, director of field operations, Structure Tech, which was contracted to build a 40-story structure on 47th Street in New York. “We pour a concrete floor every three days, which is incredibly fast compared to other cities, but that’s New York: everything here is about time and money.”
“This street is just a single lane so it can’t be closed off,” added Adam Cardona, operator at Structure Tech. “So we have to perform each lift super-fast or we could face being shut down.”
For this project, the telehandler was used for hoisting everything from plywood sheets to the concrete pump and bringing the garbage back down. It is estimated that the Magni will make approximately 3,000 lifts over the 13-month build, including moving a total 900 t of steel.
This sort of use is far from unusual for Magni’s telehandlers, so when it came to choosing an engine that could reliably power the RTH 6.46, its engineers thought of partnering with Volvo Penta.
Integrated Engine
The Modena, Italy-based OEM worked with Volvo Penta to develop a solution that met the machine’s challenges – namely reaching a balance between size and power output. By producing a maximum torque of 910 Nm at just 1,410 rpm and maintaining that all the way up to its 160 kW (218 hp) rated power at 2,300 rpm, the in-line 4-cylinder, 5.1-liter Volvo Penta D5 industrial engine became the candidate.
“Telescopic handlers are quite small vehicles, and the specific power ratio that Volvo Penta’s D5 engine can provide allows Magni to reach its performance objectives despite the reduced footprint in the machine,” stated Matteo Mambelli, Volvo Penta Italy.
Volvo Penta and Magni engineers collaborated to enable the TAD 572 VE Tier 4 Final engine to fit within the tight confines of the engine compartment.
“One challenge when a small machine works at these heights is that every movement is amplified – a gust of wind can have a huge impact on stability,” explained Matteo. “But thanks to the responsiveness of the engine and the machine’s many safety features, the Magni enables its operators to handle it as safely as possible, even in tough conditions."
Performance
The reliability of the telehandler and its engine hasn’t gone unnoticed in the Big Apple. “The Magni has a powerful engine that allows us to maximize the weight we can lift, and it never lets us down,” said Mick Duffy. “Our crew on this site costs around $4,000 an hour, so for every hour we lose, that’s $4,000 we’re not getting back."
“But the equipment is top notch – right now, we’re up to 33 floors, and despite all the material we’re sending up and the demands we put on the Magni, it has not caused a single minute of downtime. It just keeps running, from morning to evening. So, to say that I have a machine that hasn’t let me down with just seven floors to go – well, that’s great.”
Part of the reason for this reliable operation lies in Volvo Penta’s emissions solutions, supporting low total cost of ownership. In its latest Stage V configuration, the D5’s fixed geometry turbo and Exhaust Aftertreatment System (EATS), as well as SCR technology, enables the use of a low-complexity design. High uptime is supported by the maximization of passive regeneration during normal operation. A common-rail injection system provides fuel efficiency, reducing the frequency of fuel tank refilling.
Operator Support
Conscious that many more of its customers are equally dependent on its equipment, Magni was also drawn to the long service intervals and support network that Volvo Penta provides.
In the case of Structure Tech, Volvo Penta can provide an accessible phone line and a fully trained technician can be on site within an hour. “If something happens, it’s always taken care of very quickly,” concluded Mick. “Often, it can even be taken care of over the phone and we’re straight back to work adding more floors."
