Crane Spotlight
are refreshing their fleets. Also, it helps that overall construction activity is up,” he said.
Grove’ s Hooper sees the market in a holding pattern right now, but he notes that crane rental houses remain busy and that long-term drivers like public infrastructure programs, utility work and data center construction remain strong.
Coming Developments
What new products and features can truck crane customers look forward to seeing in the not-too-distant future?
Hooper said Manitowoc continues to invest in control system advancements, telematics and operator comfort across the Grove truck crane range.
He added that the company is also working to improve travel efficiency and safety, and to align production schedules closely with market demand.
Hooper also noted that Manitowoc is expanding aftermarket support with new tools such as ServiceMax for asset tracking.
As for Tadano, Rydbom said the company is incorporating two years of customer requests and suggestions to improve its GT 800XL-2 and GT 1200XL-2 truck cranes, both rolled out in 2023.
Link-Belt’ s Soper said the Lexington, Kentucky, manufacturer is now developing“ some new truck cranes,” though he could not reveal details right now.
He also said Link-Belt will be adding even more user-friendly features, such as variable-position outriggers, to its truck cranes.
In addition, Soper noted that Link-Belt is revising its truck-crane and all-terrain drivelines to match the new internal combustion engines needed to meet tighter Environmental Protection Agency emission standards that start in 2027.
“ Engine manufacturers are developing new platforms to meet the stricter standards, and we’ re making sure our drivelines match up well with them,” Soper said.
Marvin and Marge Ohlenbusch, who still lead the company today, Alamo has 65 employees and prides itself on its expertise, award-winning safety record, breadth of services and commitment to answering every call, day or night, 365 days a year.
The company’ s cranes range in capacity from 15 to 770 tons and include boom trucks, truck cranes and all-terrains.
Most of Alamo’ s truck cranes are involved in taxi-crane service, and each has an assigned operator.
The truck cranes with capacities from 40 to 60 tons often do many jobs per day, while the 80- to 120-ton units typically do just one or two.
“ Our cranes lift whatever a customer needs picked and set,” said Marvin Ohlenbusch,“ whether it’ s an HVAC unit, compressor, swimming pool, structural steel or a railroad caboose.”
The top three things Alamo looks for when shopping for a truck crane are lifting capacity, boom length and reliability, said Marvin Ohlenbusch.
“ Each of our operators has a set of additional features that they find most important, but they all agree that mobility and easy
Owners’ Insights
Alamo Crane Service Inc. is a family-owned crane, rigging, transportation and consulting company that serves clients throughout Texas from its headquarters in Selma, near San Antonio.
Founded in 1979 by husband and wife
Patriot Crane Service sets steel for an agricultural plant with its Link-Belt 120 | HTLB truck crane.
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September 2025 • www. cranehotline. com