Hidrokon cranes reach new heights with Strenx® steel

Hidrokon, a Turkish company, has been producing cranes since its founding in 1993. They design and manufacture four main products: their flagship knuckle boom cranes, loader cranes, telescopic boom cranes and marine cranes. Using Strenx^® structural steel has enabled them to make crane components that are lighter, safer and more durable.

In 2015, they introduced Strenx^® high-strength structural steel in their production. They use nearly all the steel’s high yield-strength grades, Strenx^® 700 E, Strenx^® 700MC Plus, Strenx^® 960 E, Strenx^® 960MC, Strenx^® 960 Plus and Strenx^® 1100 E across various applications.

“By specifying Strenx high-strength steel, we’ve been able to produce lighter, higher-capacity machines,” Kütükcü says.

Since mobile cranes are mounted on vehicles, the weight of the crane and the capacity of the carrier vehicle are decisive factors for Hidrokon. As Kütükcü explains, the lighter the structure and higher the capacity of the machine that is placed on a vehicle, the more efficient the project will be. Hidrokon customers also report that machines produced with Strenx^® performance steel last for a much longer time due to a more refined design.

Perhaps most importantly, Kütükcü admits that upgrading from mild steel to Strenx^® high-strength steel has significantly increased the reliability of his company’s products and, when Strenx^® products are combined with Hidrokon engineering, the company can produce high-quality cranes without any safety concerns.

At Hidrokon, recent product development projects using Strenx^® performance steel have shown very promising results when it comes to weight reduction and load capacity.

“Strenx steel is one of the most important factors in the weight optimization of our equipment,” Kütükcü continues. “Plus, we are constantly optimizing our products to make them even lighter. We’ve also been able to reduce the thickness of Hidrokon’s products by using Strenx in production.”

According to Kütükcü, Hidrokon’s customers report a customer satisfaction average of about 95% for its equipment. Many confirm that they are especially happy with the material’s mechanical behavior, in addition to hydraulic capabilities and operator comfort.

For Hidrokon, SSAB is more than just a supplier – it’s a solution partner. Part of the added value they get from collaboration with SSAB lies in the shift towards emissions-free steel production and the shared vision of a more sustainable future for their industry.

“We know SSAB is performing in-depth studies to take it towards fossil-free steel production. For us, as a company that has obtained the zero-waste certificate from the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization in Turkey, we will also be looking to implement similar processes,” he says.

In 2016, Hidrokon became a qualified member of the My Inner Strenx^® program – something Kütükcü says makes good business sense.

“The Strenx^® brand is recognized across the world. So, we of course place the My Inner Strenx^® decal on our products. Thanks to this program, our customers can recognize the features of Strenx^® products and end users can verify authenticity by scanning a QR code,” he says. “In short, our trust in Strenx^® reinforces the trust that customers have in our equipment.”

Customer benefits

• Crane components are both high strength and lightweight
• Crane booms weigh less yet can handle more capacity and improve productivity
• New lightweight design also helps to extend equipment service life
• Branded My Inner Strenx^® certified crane components represent a name that owners and operators can trust
• Improved sustainability profile, with future steel production from clean energy

About Hidrokon

• Hidrokon is a Turkish manufacturer located in Konya, Turkey, producing hydraulic mobile cranes, heavy recovery trucks and aerial work platforms and other custom projects in the lifting industry
• Founded in 1993, Hidrokon is the sector leader in the Turkish domestic market and has been steadily increasing its exports since 1996
• Member of SSAB’s My Inner Strenx^® program since 2016