Three trade show premieres from the Liebherr Mobile Crane Division – innovations for efficient crane jobs

Two of the new cranes have already been shown by Liebherr at open days during 2015 at the Ehingen production plant: The 5-axle 250-tonne LTM 1250-5.1 mobile crane and the LR 1500 crawler crane with a maximum load capacity of 500 tonnes.

An 8-axle mobile crane with a very long telescopic boom and whose design focused on high economy and easy set-up on site is completely new.

LTM 1250-5.1 mobile crane – designed for maximum performance

The LTM 1250-5.1 is the most powerful mobile crane on five axles on the market. It is the third crane model on which Liebherr has used its innovative single-engine concept. In addition to a multi-functional folding jib, a 50m hydraulically adjustable fixed jib is also available. The Liebherr VarioBase® and ECOmode innovations mean that crane operators can use the new LTM 1250-5.1 with even more safety and economy.

VarioBallast is an innovation from Liebherr to make crane jobs particularly efficient in practice. For example, the crane can be operated with two different ballast radii: 5.58m or 4.78m. Liebherr has designed a solution to adjust the ballast radius particularly quickly and easily. The ballast radius can be changed by 800 mm using standard mechanically adjusted ballasting cylinders. The large ballast radius delivers maximum load capacities whilst the small ballast radius allows the crane to be used in constricted site conditions were otherwise only a significantly smaller and therefore less powerful mobile crane could be used.

LR 1500 – compact crawler crane with very high performance

The crawler crane LR 1500 delivers the load capacities of the 500-tonne crawler crane class throughout its operating range whilst having the dimensions and component weights which have previously been normal in the 400-tonne class. It can be transported around the world without restrictions with a transport weight of just 45 tonnes. The overall concept of the new crane is designed for simplicity in all areas and great economy.

The criteria of simplicity and economy also had the highest priority in the development of the LR 1500. The new Liebherr crawler crane cannot just be transported easily and at low cost, but is also simple to set up and operate. The powerful main hoist gear with its line pull of 180 kN can handle all hoists up to the maximum load capacity. This makes crane operation easier since it means that there is no need for a second winch for dual operation for heavyweight hoists. Another winch with a rope hoist of 125 kN is only needed if the crane is operated with a runner.

The entire lattice boom system is also notable for its simplicity. The number of parts and parts range on the new LR 1500 have been reduced by deliberately not using the otherwise standard divisions of lattice sections. That makes the transport and erection of the lattice boom simpler and therefore more economical. The designers have come up with a particularly smart solution to increase economy with the central ballast. It consists of just a few concrete sections which can be set up quickly and easily and whose top section forms a safe catwalk for the undercarriage.