First mobile crane for Balmer special transport contractor – Liebherr LTM 1160-5.2

Managing partner Eckart Balmer came in person to the manufacturing plant in Ehingen to take delivery of the crane. The handover of a mobile crane was a new experience for him since to date he has mainly purchased vehicles for special transport work. The family-run company based in Holthusen / Schwerin has 50 employees and operates 32 heavy transport units. It was founded in 1988 and is now active throughout Europe, primarily transporting wind turbine components. Almost all the major manufacturers of wind turbines are clients and the company works with specialist crane service providers for loading and other hoisting work.

Now Balmer has decided to purchase a crane of its own. The LTM 1160-5.2 will be used for loading work and also as an auxiliary crane for the erection of wind turbines. "This will increase our flexibility and independence, enabling us to use our transport equipment more effectively", says Eckart Balmer. The challenges include heavy tower sections weighing up to 80t and gondolas weighing up to 62t. The new LTM 1160-5.2 did not have far to drive for its first job – just one hour's drive from the manufacturing plant to a wind farm on the Swabian Alb.

The LTM 1160-5.2 features a 62m telescopic boom and can reach heights of up to 99m and radii of up to 78m with lattice extensions. VarioBallast® is a new feature on Liebherr cranes. The LTM 1160-5.2 can be operated with two different ballast radii: 5.23m or 4.73m. Liebherr has designed a solution to adjust the ballast radius particularly quickly and easily. The ballast radius is reduced by 500mm using standard mechanically adjusted ballasting cylinders. This solution is a major benefit of the LTM 1160-5.2 for use in constricted conditions.