Liebherr R 970 SME crawler excavator at Steinexpo 2017

Liebherr presents the R 970 SME crawler excavator at the trade fair which is characterised by increased safety, productivity and efficiency. The undercarriage of the R 970 SME on show is a heavier and more robust S-HD model. The D9G travel mechanism is equipped with 600 mm wide, 2-bar track pads of the larger R976 model for greater rigidity and a longer service life.

A counterweight of 14.5 t increases the stability of the R 970 SME so that it can be equipped with a 5.2 m3 HD backhoe bucket. The boom has a length of 7 m, the stick is 2.6 m long.

New features added to the uppercarriage of the R 970 SME increase safety for the excavator operator and also make it easier to service the machine. Platforms with galvanised surface protection located on both sides of the uppercarriage make the environment safer for the operator when cleaning and servicing the R 970. The maintenance work is also made easier by the large maintenance access with the easy-to-open engine hood.

Première for the motorised folding ladder

The new motorised folding ladder for the cab, which is being unveiled to the public for the first time at Steinexpo, deserves a special mention. It is available as an option. By pressing a switch an additional LED headlight with time-out can be activated over the ladder, which illuminates the area of the ladder, thus guaranteeing optimal and secure access to the cab in the dark. The cab has impact-resistant glass in the windscreen and skylight, which offers a much safer environment in which to work during quarrying.

In addition to the safety aspect, the R 970 SME also impresses with a higher level of efficiency and productivity, which is achieved by the larger capacity of the backhoe bucket, which can hold 5.20 m3, as well as higher digging and breakout forces. The new Liebherr diesel engine with SCR exhaust emissions aftertreatment system also complies with the requirements of the Stage IV / Tier 4f exhaust emissions standard and is powerful yet fuel-efficient at the same time.

The optimised maintenance intervals help lower costs and increase productivity, as downtimes are reduced and operating times are extended. The diverse offer of wear parts also ensures a longer service life of the backhoe bucket. The optimal equipment can be found for every application thanks to the different bucket types, as well as the Liebherr tooth system.

SME crawler excavator for tough operating conditions

The R 970 SME is one of the four SME crawler excavator models from Liebherr which are suitable for quarrying. The models are available with operating weights from approx. 44 t to 102 t. SME stands for "Super Mass Excavation". These versions are equipped with a reinforced undercarriage featuring suspension components from the next model up in the standard range. The R 970 SME features components from the 90-tonne standard model R 976.

Liebherr also uses the counterweights of the larger standard machine for the SME crawler excavators. This improves the stability of the machine and allows larger backhoe buckets to be used. Special hydraulic cylinders give the machine outstanding digging and breakout forces. All-in-all, these measures ensure good performance and economy of the crawler excavator.