Katherine Gotthardt, author
That is exactly how the story starts in which a small boy meets his new best friend – Steve the Crane. Steve tells a boy about his family and the work that they all do – in wind farms and building motorways and bridges. Finally, the boy is lifted back into his bed by Steve where he can finally relax and go to sleep. That is because he now knows that Steve will soon end his work and the traffic will then be able to move freely again. And then his father will be able to drive to work again with no traffic jams and the family will not have to move house.
Having a crane as a friend sounds like a great children’s story. And it really is. Nevertheless, the story is based on reality – in parts at least. The LTM 1500-8.1, which is the hero of the story, belongs to the American contractor Digging & Rigging, Inc. This family-run company is based in Maryland and serves the East Coast region from its six outlets. Digging & Rigging uses the very latest technology in superbly maintained cranes. It currently operates over 30 Liebherr cranes. And Steve is one of them.