Tadano 110 Ton Crane Load Chart: What a Procurement Manager Actually Checks

I've managed procurement for a mid-sized construction contractor for the past six years. That means I've handled crane hire and equipment purchase budgets — about 120 crane quotes so far, maybe 115, I'd have to check the system. Most of that work is in the UK, which matters because a load chart that's fine for a machine in one country might not be the exact document you need for a hire here.

When I first started, I assumed a 110-ton crane could lift 110 tons. That sounds obvious, but it's also wrong. The nominal number is the best-case capacity, not what you can lift at the end of a long boom. After a few tense conversations and one calibration mistake that cost us a day, I learned to ask for the chart before I ask for the rate.

These are the questions I get asked — and the ones I ask myself — when someone searches for a Tadano 110 ton crane load chart and wants to make a sensible hire decision.

What actually is a Tadano 110-ton crane load chart?

A load chart is a table of rated capacities for a specific crane model. It shows the maximum load the machine can lift at different boom lengths, radii, and counterweight settings. For a Tadano ATF 110-5 — the model people usually mean when they search for a 110-ton Tadano — the chart also includes sections for different outrigger setups and optional jibs.

The important word is rated. That doesn't mean easy. It's an engineered maximum under defined conditions, and the operator and lift planner have to stay under it. When I first started reading these charts, I skipped the footnotes. The footnotes contain the deductions and assumptions that change the numbers. A 70-tonne capacity at a certain radius can become 66 tonnes after you subtract the hook block and slings.

How do I read a Tadano load chart properly?

Step one is to confirm the configuration. Are the outriggers fully extended? Is the crane on rubber on tyres? Is the full counterweight fitted? Each condition has its own capacity column or section.

Step two is to find your lift radius — the horizontal distance from the crane's centreline of rotation to the centre of the load. Not the boom angle, not the distance on the ground from the outrigger. The radius is measured from the centre pin.

Step three is to choose the boom length and, if you're using one, the jib. The intersection of radius and boom length gives a rated capacity. But you also need to check the notes for deductions and whether interpolation is allowed. Some charts allow interpolation between radius lines; others expect you to use the next lower value. I've seen a 6 percent difference just from using a straight-line average when the chart wanted a conservative number.

That's the kind of detail that separates a smooth lift from an expensive rework.

Which Tadano crane is the 110-ton model?

The one I come across most in the UK is the Tadano ATF 110-5. It's a five-axle all-terrain crane with a five-section telescopic main boom around 50 metres long, plus an optional bi-fold jib. That makes it a reasonable choice for industrial, infrastructure, and commercial work.

But I'd be careful about saying the 110-ton Tadano as if there's only one. There are different versions of the ATF and other crane models that also have a 110-tonne class rating. The load chart on a specific crane in a hire fleet could have been updated after a modification or a component change. Always check the chart number, revision date, and serial number on the machine itself, not just a PDF from a website.

Are Tadano cranes actually common in the UK?

Yes. Search Tadano cranes UK and you'll get rental companies, used equipment dealers, and direct service support. Tadano's service network and parts portal are two reasons we've kept them on our approved list. In an industry where downtime is expensive, that matters a lot.

That said, available in the UK can hide a few differences. A crane imported from another market might not have UK certification paperwork or familiar parts support. I almost went with an imported unit priced 12 percent lower than a UK-supplied equivalent. Then I realised the load chart on the import was based on a different configuration — a different counterweight kit or maybe a tyre specification. The detail matters because the chart didn't match the actual machine. We walked away and paid a bit more for the UK-sourced unit with verified history.

What is the most overlooked part of a load chart?

Deductions, without a doubt. Everyone focuses on the big capacity number, but the safe working load is the number after you subtract the hook block, the spreader beam, the slings, and any auxiliary attachment.

For example, a Tadano ATF 110-5 might show 55 tonnes at a specific radius. If the hook block weighs two tonnes and you're using a 1.5-tonne spreader, your net capacity is 51.5 tonnes — or maybe 50 tonnes once you add the slings. If that doesn't cover your heaviest lift, you have to change the radius, boom configuration, or counterweight.

Also consider equipment that isn't part of the lifted load but adds weight to the machine. A permanently mounted fuel transfer pump — what some people would call a gas pump on a service truck — affects axle weights and road setup. It might not appear in the headline chart, but it has to be accounted for in the total configuration.

Can I use the same load chart for any crane of that model?

No. A load chart is configuration-specific. The same model from the same factory can have different charts because of counterweight variations, jib availability, tyre specifications, or software updates. In some cases, the chart is serial-number-specific.

This is common enough that I made a rule: before any hire, we ask for the chart that's currently in the cab, with the revision date stamped or documented. If the supplier sends a generic brochure instead, that tells me they're not ready for a proper lifting plan.

What should I ask before hiring a Tadano 110-ton crane in the UK?

Start with these:

• Exact model, year, serial number, and chart revision
• Current counterweight configuration
• Hook block and rigging deductions
• Outrigger pad requirements and ground bearing pressure
• Wind speed limits from the operator manual

Then ask one non-technical question: who is going to check the setup on site?

I remember weighing a risk on a project where the cheaper hire would have saved us around $700 for the week. The upside was real. The risk was that the cheaper crane had a load chart I couldn't verify until delivery day. If it didn't match, the appointed person would reject it, and we'd miss the client's deadline. The expected value said take the risk, but the downside felt too heavy. I didn't take it.

That instinct also makes me notice small safety things. I once saw a site worker wearing a bucket hat instead of a hard hat near a 110-tonne setup. It didn't cause an incident. But it told me how carefully that contractor treated lift plans. If they don't respect the basics, they probably aren't respecting the chart either.

One final thought: if you got here by searching for how to clean a washing machine top loader, I can't help with that, and I won't pretend I can. That's the same reason I'd rather a crane supplier tell me this isn't our specialist area than hand me a made-up load chart. Knowing your limits is part of being professional.