Potain IGO Series Guide: Choosing Between the IGO 50 and IGO T130

Self-erecting cranes are the workhorses of residential and small commercial construction, and Potain's IGO series is the most widely used range in Europe for good reason: single-trailer transport, erection in hours rather than days, and no assist crane required. At NIBM we buy, sell, and deliver IGO cranes across Europe, and the two models that dominate demand are the IGO 50 and the IGO T130. This guide covers what each one does best, the key specifications, and how to decide which fits your projects.

What makes the IGO series different

Unlike top-slewing tower cranes, a self-erector arrives on site folded on a trailer, unfolds hydraulically under remote control, and is lifting the same day. There is no separate mast assembly, no assist crane, and no dedicated erection crew. For contractors running multiple short projects a year — housing blocks, renovations, timber-frame construction, prefab assembly — that turnaround time is the whole business case. The trade-off is reach and capacity: self-erectors top out where the smaller top-slewing cranes begin. The IGO series covers that self-erecting segment from compact urban units up to the largest self-erector Potain builds, which is the IGO T130.

A note on the family tree, because the naming trips people up: Potain's current self-erecting line-up includes the Igo range (hydraulic folding mast, which includes the IGO 50), the Igo T range (telescoping lattice mast, which includes the IGO T130), plus the smaller Hup and Igo M ranges. The "T" is not a trim level — it is a fundamentally different mast concept that allows variable hook heights.

Potain IGO 50: the compact all-rounder

The IGO 50 is the largest model in the standard Igo range and, in our experience, the most in-demand used self-erector on the European market. It hits the sweet spot for residential construction: enough reach to cover a typical housing project from one position, compact enough for tight urban sites, and light enough to transport without exotic permits.

Key specifications (always verify against the load chart of the specific unit):

Two details matter more in practice than the headline numbers. First, the jib is configurable down to 14 m, so the same crane works on a cramped infill site this month and a row of houses the next. Second, the variable-frequency drives draw a modest starting current, meaning the IGO 50 runs comfortably on a smaller generator than most cranes with comparable lift charts — a real cost difference on sites without grid power.

Where it fits: single-family and terraced housing, small apartment buildings up to roughly six storeys (with the jib raised), renovation and roofing work, prefab and timber-frame assembly. Where it doesn't: if you routinely need more than 1,100 kg at full reach — think heavier prefab concrete elements at distance — you are in IGO T130 territory.

Potain IGO T130: the largest self-erector Potain builds

The IGO T130 is a different class of machine while keeping the self-erecting logic. Its telescoping lattice mast is the defining feature: instead of one fixed hook height, you set the mast to the height the job actually needs.

Key specifications (always verify against the load chart of the specific unit):

The T130 effectively competes with small top-slewing city cranes — 8 tonnes maximum, 50 metres of reach, up to 61 metres of hook height with the jib inclined — while still travelling on one trailer and erecting without an assist crane. The Power Control system deserves a mention for anyone working on power-limited sites: it lets you cap the power draw in exchange for proportionally slower hoisting, so the crane adapts to the site's electrical reality rather than the other way around.

Where it fits: mid-size apartment projects, logistics halls and agricultural buildings with heavy roof elements, prefab concrete construction, and any contractor who wants top-slewing performance without the erection costs and planning lead time of a top-slewing crane. It is also a common choice as the single "do everything" crane for regional contractors: large enough for the biggest jobs on their calendar, quick enough to redeploy weekly.

IGO 50 vs IGO T130: the practical decision

The honest comparison comes down to three questions. What do you lift at maximum reach — if your heaviest loads at distance stay under a tonne, the IGO 50 does the job at a significantly lower purchase price, transport weight, and ballast requirement; above that, the T130's 1,400 kg tip load is the deciding number. How high do you build — the IGO 50's 23.2 m horizontal hook height covers most residential work, but the T130's variable mast up to 37.3 m (61 m inclined) covers everything from bungalows to serious apartment blocks. And how often do you move the crane — both travel on a single trailer, but the IGO 50 is meaningfully lighter and faster to reposition, which matters if your projects turn over every few weeks.

There is no wrong answer between them; there is only the wrong match with your project portfolio. Our short version after years of dealing in both: contractors buying their first self-erector are usually best served by the IGO 50, while contractors replacing a small top-slewing crane or scaling up almost always land on the T130.

Buying a used IGO: what to check

The IGO series holds its value well precisely because these cranes lead hard, mobile lives — so provenance matters. On any used unit, review the inspection and maintenance history, the condition of the folding hydraulics and mast pivots (the components unique to self-erectors), the hoist rope and hook, and the hour counter in relation to the year of build. At NIBM every crane we sell is inspected and delivered ready for certification, and we supply the load charts and documentation for each specific unit — you can find general spec sheets in our technical documentation library.

IGO cranes currently in stock

We typically hold multiple IGO 50 units and the larger IGO T130 in stock, ready for inspection at our yard in Nuth, the Netherlands, and delivery across Europe. Browse the current tower crane inventory for availability, photos, and unit-specific details, or contact us — a call is the fastest way to check what is available and what is arriving.

Author: Gid Gehlen, NIBM Tower Cranes — buying, selling, and delivering Potain tower cranes across Europe from Nuth, the Netherlands.