Stellar, a 100 percent employee-owned and operated manufacturer of high-quality mechanic trucks and cranes, tire service trucks, hooklifts, trailers and service truck and van accessories, was excited to showcase the new 10621 and 12630 Hydraulic Service Cranes at CONEXPO/CON-AGG 2023. Both cranes were introduced, along with four other redesigned cranes, earlier this year. The full line of redesigned hydraulic service cranes includes the 9621 and 9630 (9,000-pound class cranes), the 10621 and 10630 (10,000-pound class cranes) and 12621 and 12630 (12,000-pound class cranes).

With a sleek new design, the Stellar 96 Series, 106 Series and 126 Series Hydraulic Service Cranes feature a reduced weight of nearly 13 percent (330 pounds) for the 30-foot cranes and about 10 percent (210 pounds) for the 21-foot cranes compared to the previous models, while still maintaining the same strength. By reducing the crane weight, Stellar Cranes create more payload for the operator.

Some of the biggest improvements include updating the boom from a hexagonal design to an octagonal design and decreasing the size of the boom tip. The new boom design allows the cranes to maintain strength while the compact boom tip is ideal for operating in tighter spaces.

The newly redesigned cranes come with the most ergonomically correct and balanced crane remote control system available – the Stellar CDTpro with Range Finder technology. This proprietary remote was designed to improve ergonomics and increase usability. The single-hand remote delivers smooth operation with the proportional control for precise placements of loads while allowing for multiple functions to run at once.

The Range Finder feature allows the operator to create a lift plan without ever needing to unstow the crane. This world-first technology estimates distance and calculates crane capacities where the operator is holding the radio remote. With a full suite of feedback screens, the Stellar CDTpro includes current load of the crane and distance to maximum capacity, and it also sends vibratory alerts to inform the operator they are approaching maximum load capacity.

Stellar also featured the latest body in its TMAX Aluminum Mechanic Truck Series, the TMAX 1-13, at the show. The new 13-foot aluminum body offers additional compartment storage and is intended for a 108-inch cab-to-axle chassis with 22,000- to 22,900-pounds gross vehicle weight rating, such as the Ford F600 or Chevrolet 6500.

Similar to other TMAX 1 models, the TMAX 1-13 Aluminum Mechanic Truck is ideal for cranes up to 53,100 foot-pounds, such as the Stellar 86 Series Telescopic Service Crane. The TMAX Series features the crane carrying reliability of the Stellar Torq-Isolator torsion box understructure and crane compartment. This feature isolates the crane’s lifting forces into the stabilizers and chassis frame, rather than into the storage compartment, avoiding unnecessary twists to the truck’s body and doors.

TMAX Aluminum Mechanic Truck bodies feature aluminum extrusion compartment tops with two built-in accessory mounting rails. These mounting rails eliminate the need to drill holes in the compartment tops, allowing for easier and faster mounting and relocating of accessories. In addition to ease of installation, aluminum truck bodies have an overall reduced weight in comparison to their steel counterparts, allowing for more payload for the operator.