Potain MDT 1609 Launches as Brand’s Largest Flat-Top Tower Crane
30-Second Takeaway
The new Potain MDT 1609 is the largest flat-top tower crane in the manufacturer’s range and the first model in its new Maxi-MDT line. Its first installation supports precast concrete handling at Karl Bachl Betonwerke, where it stands 40.2 metres high. A specially engineered adapter connects the crane’s upperworks to the circular mast retained from the site’s previous crane.
First Potain MDT 1609 Enters Service in Germany
Potain has introduced the MDT 1609, a 40-tonne flat-top tower crane, with the first unit delivered to German precast concrete manufacturer Karl Bachl Betonwerke.
Installed at the company’s facility in Bavaria, the crane handles materials across the storage yard, including precast concrete segments approaching its maximum lifting capacity.
The launch extends Potain’s flat-top, or topless, range into heavier lifting applications and marks the beginning of the manufacturer’s new Maxi-MDT crane line.
40-Tonne Capacity and an 80-Metre Jib
The Potain MDT 1609 combines a maximum lifting capacity of 40 tonnes with jib configurations extending to 80 metres. At the end of the full 80-metre jib, it can lift up to 14.1 tonnes. Those figures describe different points on the crane’s operating envelope. Its 40-tonne maximum capacity is available at shorter working radii under the specified configuration, while the jib-end rating defines its capability at maximum reach.
At Karl Bachl Betonwerke, the crane has been erected to a height of 40.2 metres. This is the height of the installation rather than a stated maximum height for the model. The crane operates across two daily shifts. Manitowoc says its reach helps the company use more of its storage yard and organise loading and pre-loading for outbound shipments.
Energy Recovery During Load Lowering
The MDT 1609 incorporates an energy storage system that captures energy as loads are lowered and stores it for reuse. The arrangement reduces overall electricity consumption by recovering energy from a movement that occurs repeatedly during material handling. For a precast yard moving heavy components through regular lifting cycles, this provides an opportunity to reduce energy demand over the working day.
The manufacturer has not specified an energy-saving percentage for the installation.
Crane Control System and Potain CONNECT
The new model features Potain’s Crane Control System, or CCS, for controlled load handling and crane setup. Manitowoc states that CCS allows crane operating parameters to be configured in approximately 15 minutes after installation. This refers to the control setup stage, rather than the complete erection or commissioning process.
Karl Bachl Betonwerke is also using Potain CONNECT, the crane’s onboard telematics system. It provides remote diagnostic and maintenance support, helping service personnel assess the crane’s condition and plan interventions.
Custom Adapter Retains the Existing Circular Mast
The installation required the new MDT 1609 upperworks to connect to the circular mast left in place by the site’s previous tower crane. Potain dealer Moser Baumaschinen worked with Manitowoc’s Lift Solutions team to develop a purpose-built adapter for the connection. The adapter measures 3.2 metres in diameter and 1.55 metres high, and weighs 7.5 tonnes.
This engineering work allowed the new crane to integrate with the existing support structure at the facility.
Bernard Ecabert, Manitowoc’s Lift Solutions manager for tower cranes, said:
“For the MDT 1609, we required all our engineering know how and close cooperation with Moser Baumaschinen, with whom we've worked for over 30 years as a Potain dealer.”
Ecabert described the MDT 1609 as the first model in a new line of Maxi-MDT cranes.
Heavy Lifting for Precast Concrete Production
The first installation places the MDT 1609 in a materials-handling environment where both lifting capacity and coverage matter. Precast concrete components must move between production, storage and dispatch areas. The crane’s capacity supports the handling of heavy segments, while its long jib provides access across the yard.
At Karl Bachl Betonwerke, the new machine brings together heavy-load capability, energy recovery and remote service support within an installation adapted to the facility’s existing crane mast.
About Karl Bachl Betonwerke
Karl Bachl Betonwerke is the concrete products division of the family-owned BACHL Group. Its portfolio includes precast concrete components, ready-mixed concrete, building and civil engineering materials, and concrete paving and landscaping products. The business serves residential, agricultural, industrial and commercial construction applications.
Founded in 1926 as a brickworks in Deching, near Röhrnbach in Lower Bavaria, the wider BACHL Group produces insulation, plastics, building elements and concrete products. Its construction activities include industrial and commercial building and road construction, with production and sales operations across Germany and several European markets.
Website: www.bachl.de
About Potain and Manitowoc
Potain is Manitowoc’s tower crane brand, with a manufacturing history dating back to 1928. Its portfolio includes self-erecting and top-slewing tower cranes, encompassing flat-top, luffing-jib and hammerhead designs for residential, commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects.
Manitowoc supports Potain equipment through its dealer network, parts and service operations, training, connected diagnostics and Lift Solutions engineering services. These resources support standard crane applications and projects requiring customised configurations or structural integration.
Website: www.manitowoc.com/potain
FAQ
What is the Potain MDT 1609’s maximum lifting capacity?
The crane has a maximum lifting capacity of 40 tonnes, subject to its configuration and working radius.
How much can it lift at maximum jib length?
At the end of an 80-metre jib, the crane can lift up to 14.1 tonnes.
Who received the first Potain MDT 1609?
Karl Bachl Betonwerke received the first unit for its facility in Bavaria, Germany.
How high is the crane at the BACHL facility?
The crane has been erected to a height of 40.2 metres.
How was it installed on the existing mast?
Moser Baumaschinen and Manitowoc’s Lift Solutions team engineered a custom adapter connecting the new crane’s upperworks to the existing circular mast.
