MEC Aerial Work Platforms has announced its entry into the carry-deck crane segment with the debut of its new CD-9T diesel model at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026. The launch marks a significant expansion of MEC’s product portfolio, building on its five decades of expertise in lifting solutions.
The CD-9T has been engineered to address long-standing operator challenges, with a focus on improved visibility, enhanced comfort, and precise control. Designed in response to feedback from rental fleets and jobsite professionals, the crane introduces a modern approach to a category that has seen limited innovation in recent years.
According to Gary Crook, Vice President of Engineering at MEC, operator input played a central role in the development process. He emphasized that visibility and cab comfort were identified as critical factors influencing both safety and productivity. The CD-9T responds with an open design that improves sightlines, a larger cab environment, and simplified service access, while maintaining familiar controls for ease of adoption.
Key features of the CD-9T include 360-degree jobsite awareness enabled by a chassis-mounted engine and streamlined boom design, reducing visual obstructions. The enclosed cab offers 25% more interior space than comparable models and comes equipped with air conditioning, heating, and a suspension seat to reduce operator fatigue during long shifts.
Maintenance efficiency is enhanced through ground-level engine access, while a hydrostatic four-wheel-drive system and responsive controls allow for smoother maneuverability in confined areas. The crane delivers a maximum lifting capacity of 18,000 pounds, a sheave height of 46 feet 8 inches, and a horizontal reach of 40 feet with a standard boom extension. Additional features include an electronic load management system, integrated camera system providing a bird’s-eye view, perimeter laser lighting, and four steering modes for improved mobility across jobsite conditions.
With a compact transport width of 6 feet 6 inches and a gross vehicle weight of 19,800 pounds, the CD-9T is designed for easy transport and deployment. Powered by a 74-horsepower Deutz turbo diesel engine, it achieves a top drive speed of 15 mph. The CD-9T will be available across North America starting in Q3 2026, with additional configurations planned. Attendees at CONEXPO-CON/AGG can experience the model firsthand at Booth F42072.
