HIGH-RISE CONSTRUCTION Ӏ SECTOR REPORT


which has 60 m of jib. Spanish-based Comansa has


two new models in its luffing crane range: the LCL 560, of 36 tonne capacity, and the LCL 800, a 50 or 64 tonne capacity machine. The LCL 560 is fully compatible with the existing D35 and D36B tower structures; the LCL 800 uses the D36B structure. They both have a new


132-kilowatt hoist mechanism and a half fall system for high lifting speeds. A new feature is an extra auxiliary mechanism for the fast installation of ropes. The two cranes join the company’s LCH300/16t hydraulic luffer introduced in October 2022, which has a novel luffing system in which jib and counter jib are moved at the same time by a hydraulic cylinder at the cathead/jib hinge assembly.


The modular jib of the LCH300


has a reach of 25 to 60 metres, with configurations every five metres. The minimum working radius is four metres and the minimum radius when out of service is nine metres. This is an important aspect to take into account in places with limited space, which, as Comansa point out, is what luffing jib cranes are designed for. The new LCL560 and LCL800 models also have a reduced out of service radius. And Comansa, like the other


manufacturers mentioned, has its own digital solutions. Crane Mate, presented at Bauma in 2022, is for fleet management. The hardware part of it is a complete kit that is pre-installed in the cranes in turnkey mode and is made up of commercial devices, which makes any replacements,


maintenance, and retrofitting easier. The software is a platform developed in-house by Comansa for online access. It displays the machine’s settings, functions, and other services required by the user, and gives comprehensive crane fleet management. This includes: analysis and verification of hours worked; constant supervision of errors and alarms; real time technical information on location, alerts, crane productivity and maintenance parameters; personalised data reports; and ad-hoc integration with third party information technology platforms. This all leads to enhanced productivity, reduction in operating and service costs, extended life of the crane and general maximisation of fleet efficiency, profitability and safety, according to the company.


Liebherr LTM 1750-9.1 aids renovation of iconic high-rise in Cologne


Once a showcase project and, at the planning stage, even Europe’s tallest residential building the 45-storey Axa high-rise on the banks of the river Rhine in Cologne was completed in 1973 and provides accommodation for around 1,000 people. As the building’s exposed aggregate concrete balconies have been dilapidated for some time, they are now being removed and replaced. An LTM 1750-9.1 and, as an auxiliary crane, an LTM 1150-5.3 were brought in to prepare the work site. Today, the 147-metre high-rise is a listed building. This has made the renovation of its balconies a challenge, as noticeable changes to the building’s appearance are not permitted. To install the new, more weather-resistant balconies made of glass and aluminium, two tower cranes were mounted on the building’s roof last summer. An LTM 1750-9.1 mobile played a key role in this project, using its 52-metre telescopic boom as well as a 15-metre mast extension and a 91-metre luffi ng jib to rise various parts of the two Liebherr tower cranes. “We used the entire ballast of 204


tonnes as well as all available equipment for the mobile crane for this operation,” reports Christian Kühne, project manager at


the crane company Colonia. Thanks to its Y-guying system, considerable load increases can be achieved by combining the crane’s high lifting capacities with the variable jib system, Liebherr claims. The large crane was supported by an LTM


1150-5.3, which was used as an auxiliary and assembly crane on the ground.


The cranes were used in tandem for one


week on the banks of the Rhine in Cologne. The 750-tonne crane was set up in under two days. “With a maximum hook height of 152 metres, a building height of 147 metres and a load capacity of 13.4 tonnes, the constellation for this operation was impressive,” says Kühne.


42 CRANES TODAY


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