Why aluminium cranes? The first thing a crane has to carry is its own weight. Manufacturing the cranes out of aluminium means less "own weight". To achieve the same working radius and load capacity using a steel crane would require a much heavier construction and therefore a larger, heavier vehicle. Heavy cranes are less manoeuvrable, making them harder to get into awkward construction sites; they are often required to be set up in the street where they block traffic. Heavy cranes can also be damaging to the surfaces they are set up on, having a high point load. Klaas trailer cranes are light enough to be easily craned into and out of building sites with difficult access.

Aluminium? Aluminium is always used in the form of an alloy. Klaas sources its profiles from Nedal in the Netherlands. The two types of aluminium used are:

Alloy Code	Alloy Type	Max Strength
EN AW-7003	AlZn6Mg 0,8 Zr	T6 F31
EN AW-7020	AlZn4,5Mg1	T6 F35

Applications for these grades of aluminium include military folding bridges and aircraft, which require the highest grades of alloy.

How far out and how high can I go? Klaas's aluminium cranes are characterised by their enormous working radius. For each model, the first figure is the maximum working radius with a hook load of 250 kg, while the second figure is the maximum hook height. For example, a K 35 – 42 aluminium crane can lift 250 kg to a distance of 35 metres from its base (centre of rotation) and can also reach a maximum height of 42 metres (though not at the same time). At its maximum working radius of 35 metres, this model can lift 250 kg up to a height of 15.5 metres.
The full range of cranes available can be viewed on the Klaas website: www.klaas-online.de

Do I have to worry about how many degrees I turn? No, a major advantage of Klaas aluminium cranes is that they can slew through 360 degrees, in either direction non-stop.

Can I telescope under load? With one or two exceptions, the cranes are designed to be extended at the beginning of work and then used by luffing the boom to move the hook closer or further away from the base of the crane; they are not designed for telescoping under load. The main exception is when the crane is used as an Elevating Work Platform. In this configuration the boom can extend and retract (the hoisting rope becomes the rope allowing retraction).

Can I articulate the fly jib? With most models, the fly jib is articulated using two hydraulic cylinders at the head of the boom. With most models, these cylinders are designed to be fully extended when used as a crane – which means there is no articulation under load in this configuration, the cylinders being there purely to set up the crane before use and for folding after use. When used as an EWP, however, the fly jib is fully articulated under load.

How do the extensions to the fly jib work? The extensions are slid out and secured by pins, by hand and at ground level, with the assistance of the hoisting rope.

What are the crane's applications to roof work?

• Lifting clay or cement tiles using the tile clamp and the tile trolley
• Lifting slate using the slate clamp and trolley
• Lifting laths/battens using the lath/batten fork
• Lifting beams and trusses directly into position using the webbing straps
• Lifting rolls of roofing material
• Lifting gravel using the gravel hopper
• Evacuating old materials when replacing a roof, using the automatic tipping container or rubbish container

What are the crane's applications to other building work?

• Lifting building materials around the building site
• Lifting window frames into position and lowering old ones out of position
• Lifting lintels into position
• Lifting palletted materials using the pallet fork
• Lifting fill and rubbish using purpose-built lightweight skips

Other applications? Lifting spas, Jacuzzis, small pools etc. over the top of existing houses where access to the back yard is a problem.