COMPANY PROFILE Ӏ CRAWLER CRANES
j upper reaches at around 300 cranes per year – double the 2015 volume. Narrowing the focus to cranes of 500 t capacity and larger, demand has more than doubled from around 130 units in 2015 to approximately 300 units including large numbers of cranes of 800 t and greater capacity. Certainly it appears that
this growth trend was noticed by Liebherr influencing the development of the 800 t LR 1800.1.0 and new 700 t LR 1700.1.0, not to mention the soaring sales of the 1,000 tonne LR 11000. Introduced in 2013, sales of the 1,000-tonner started relatively slowly – mainly involving ‘the usual suspects’ (Felbermayr, Weldex, Mammoet and Buckner). That was until 2015-16 when ‘wind’ demand really hit. At the last Bauma the Dutch bare-rental specialist Van Schaften ordered an additional three LR 11000s to add to its existing five cranes. Meanwhile Buckner expanded its 1,000 t fleet from seven to around 20 units. Felbermayr also increased its fleet to three cranes. So at this rate Ehingen should be producing at least one LR 11000 per month and may well be looking at another plant expansion? As the height of the new
Colonia's 800 t LR 1800.1.0
generation wind turbines extended beyond the performance of 600 t cranes like the LR 1600/2 Terex-Demag responded with their 650 t SL 3800-1 which became a runaway success. Introduced in 2013 within five years sales exceeded 100 units worldwide with the majority employed at least partially on wind farm projects. In part this may have helped spark the developments at Liebherr. Closing the gap between the LR 11000 and the former LR 1750/2, its successor – the 800 t LR 1800.1.0 features a hydraulic erection support facility which levels the central crawler section using the outrigger cylinders before the superstructure is added and is hydraulically-controlled from the turntable. This means that it does not require a special unit for this purpose according to Thomas Reuther, sales manager of Colonia Spezialfahrzeuge who took delivery of one of the first LR 1800.1.0 when the machine was erected for the first time with 171m main boom and 12m jib. Reuther also appreciated the fact that the superstructure can be bolted to the central crawler section quickly and safely and felt the Vario Tray saved “a massive amount of time”. Colonia sales manager
Thomas Reuther said it was the crane’s wind power equipment that convinced them to buy the crane. “We only required seven hours to erect the basic machine for the first time,” said Colonia’s Wolfgang Winkler. “It’s great that all the connections are bolted hydraulically during the erection process. Above all the detachable ballast pallet (Vario Tray) saves an enormous amount of work. The 400 t of derrick ballast is only required to lift the main boom. After that we simply unbolt the central ballast with the remaining 80 t of suspended ballast, plus the central and turntable ballast being easily enough for the hoisting work. No restacking and no ballast addition or removal.” Succeeding the LR 1600/2 was
always going to be a challenge after some 12 years and sales of over 220 units. However, the singular performance needs of the ever-escalating wind power market demanded a stronger solution. That challenge meant developing a crane with capacity increased by 10-15% – especially at height but without sacrificing transportability and on-site versatility. At the same time employing parts and components already proven on the LR 1600/2 offered existing customers economies and familiarity. The new LR 1700.1.0, rated
700 t @ 8.5m, is that crane which offers 3m transport width (3.5m maximum equipment width), reach to 198m (102m boom, plus 96m luffing jib) and 170-tonne fixed jib capacity. With an outstanding load moment of 9,650 tm and innovative features such as VarioTray and V-Frame ballast handling, early orders came from Bigge, Wasel, Hofmann and Eurogruas 2000 - with an obvious attraction being component versatility and operating similarities between Liebherr’s ‘family’ of 700 and 1,000 tonne cranes.
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