Transnacional adds used LTM 1500-8.1 to its crane fleet

Transnacional has been in business in Brazil for over 35 years. A wide-ranging crane fleet is enabling the company to expand its areas of work to the wind power industry. Transnational has already had plenty of good experience with Liebherr LTM 1500-8.1 all-terrain crane and was therefore looking for another Liebherr 500 tonne crane to add to its fleet. Liebherr was able to offer a used crane of this type and therefore react quickly to the enquiry.

“Our team has been using the LTM 1500-8.1 in various markets for around 15 years”, says Napoleão Luna, Commercial Director at Transnacional. “We can offer our customers bespoke solutions in view of its wide range of configurations, the ability to move the fully erected crane and its high lifting capacities. That makes the LTM 1500-8.1 an outstanding machine for Transnacional.”

Used crane proves to be a good alternative

When the company contacted Liebherr, it was looking for an affordable LTM 1500 8.1 with a short delivery time. Liebherr therefore suggested the purchase of a second-hand crane that offered the desired performance, durability and reliability and could also be delivered quickly.

Liebherr Brasil then found the ideal crane for its customer at Liebherr-Ibérica S.L. in Spain. “Our aim is to satisfy our customers’ needs. Access to the global Liebherr sales and service network for used machines opens up a whole new range of opportunities”, says Rene Porto, Mobile and Crawler Cranes Division Manager at Liebherr in Brazil.

Liebherr’s global network makes it possible to look for cranes all over the world so that we can offer customers an ideal solution. “The lower cost of a used crane, particularly in view of the current exchange rates in our country, are a great advantage for our customers”, continues Porto. “Not only does Liebherr sell used cranes, but it can also value customers’ existing cranes on site so that they can be used in part exchange for a new crane. We also have a modern and complete service engineering area to serve our customers, prepared to carry out repairs or complete overhauls on the cranes.”

LTM 1500-8.1 is suitable for a wide range of possible uses

Discussing his company’s latest purchase, Napoleão Luna says: “We bought the crane with a complete configuration. We are mainly focused on the market for renewable energies, particularly projects involving the installation of new wind farms and for maintenance and repair work on wind turbines. As our crane operators are already familiar with the LTM 1500-8.1, we are well prepared for these types of jobs. They can be very complex as a result of the altitude, loads and the strength of the wind. Thanks to the machine's versatility, we also already have enquiries from customers in the mining, oil and gas and industrial plant maintenance sectors.”

Napoleão Luna points out that in addition to the versatility of the LTM 1500-8.1 and the company’s familiarity with this crane model, the reliability and safety of Liebherr cranes, the company’s good relationship with the after sales team at Liebherr Brasil and the ready availability of spare parts were also major criteria behind the decision to choose Liebherr. “And our decision has proven to be absolutely correct to date – despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Liebherr Brasil and Liebherr-Ibérica kept all their promises, which always seemed to be in jeopardy, even when faced with a snowstorm which hit Spain very hard right in the middle of the delivery process. Nevertheless, we received the crane and all the equipment in excellent condition. So now we are looking forward to the next step in our partnership with Liebherr, which will probably see us purchase another large crane in the near future.”

Transnacional was founded over 35 years ago in Fortaleza in the north-east of Brazil by Julio Cesar Mourão, the company’s current Chairman. Originally, the company was focused on passenger transport. When looking for ways to diversify the business and put it on a more professional footing, Transnacional also started to invest in crane rental. The company now has a strong presence in both segments and by implementing quality, safety and environmental controls, it has become a benchmark company on the Brazilian market.