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Thu January 23, 2025
Link-Belt Cranes
The Link-Belt HTC-8675 Series II 75-ton truck crane is a mainstay machine at Cutting Edge Welding & Fabricating of St. Augustine, Fla.
Cutting Edge is a family-owned business that's utilized Link Belt's 75-ton cranes for its entire 20-year history, upgrading the cranes every five to six years in accordance with Link-Belt's advancements of the HTC-8675 model.
Cutting Edge operator Martin Leach praised the HTC-8675 II for its performance in setting structural steel as a midsize machine. He said it is perfect for many of Cutting Edge's projects in the northern Florida and southern Georgia region of the southeastern United States.
"It's a fantastic crane, and it's great for what we do," Leach said.
Cutting Edge Director of Operations Randy Mimbs said the company currently utilizes both the HTC-8675 II as well as the Link-Belt 100-ton 100|RT as part of its fleet. Mimbs said the 100|RT is used on longer-duration projects with challenging site conditions on account of its great maneuverability. He said the HTC-8675 II is used as a general taxi crane, as it can move quickly from one project to the next.
As Cutting Edge is currently focused on building hospitals and educational institutions, moving easily across sites is one of the greatest advantages of the HTC-8675 II, Mimbs said.
"That is where the HTC-8675 II can help us," Mimbs said. "If we encounter a problem with supplies, we can move to another site and keep moving or switch tasks."
The HTC-8675 II has been a major asset to Cutting Edge in constructing a 25,000-sq.-ft. single-story medical office facility in Yulee, Fla. Leach emphasized the HTC-8675 II is especially equipped for setting steel due to its tremendous reach of up to 197 ft.
Leach noted the crane worked flawlessly while lifting I-beams averaging 1,400 lbs. (over 2,000 lbs. with rigging) to construct the canopy of the building. According to Leach, about 360 tons of steel were used to erect the facility. Leach also said the crane is easy to operate in multiple locations and drive on the road, as its various cameras increase visibility to the back and sides of the crane as well as to its winches.
Along with this, Leach said the crane's Pulse computer system is easy to operate, and its lighting package is particularly helpful when working in dark environments.
With over 500 hours of operation on the HTC-8675 II, Leach said it is easy to maintain and "smooth and responsive," citing its great maneuverability as one of its many upsides.
"It's good for the type of work we do," Leach concluded. "It's a very nice crane."
For more information, visit www.linkbelt.com.
Photo courtesy of Link-Belt
Cutting Edge has utilized Link Belt's 75-ton cranes for its entire 20-year history, upgrading the cranes every five to six years in accordance with Link-Belt's advancements of the HTC-8675 model.