27.07.2005

Liebherr Launch Telescopic Crawler

Later this year, Liebherr Ehingen, will launch its first telescopic boomed crawler crane to go into standard series production. Liebherr has built a telescopic crawler crane before, it produced a one off special version of its 800 tonne, LTM1800, using the crawler base from its LR 1550 lattice crane, for a Japanese company in 1990.
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The new Liebherr LTR 1100 is currently on test at Ehingen

The new model came into being by a very similar route, a request for a one off unit, combining the LTM1100 All Terrain crane superstructure with the crawler undercarriage from the lattice boomed LR1100.

This time however the company considered that the resulting product might have a much wider appeal, particularly given the increasing popularity of telescopic crawler cranes in Europe.

The first LTR1100 is already built and going through a full test programme in Ehingen, given its unpainted prototype look, Liebherr has refrained from releasing any photographs.

We do though have the full specification of the new crane. The six section 52 metre main boom uses the same Telematik boom pinning system as the LTM1100. A two section Swing-Away extension provides 10.8 or 19 metres of additional reach and can be offset hydraulically by up to 40 degrees.

The counterweight on the LTR is the same as that used in the lattice LR, In addition to 15 tonnes (2x7.5t) of carbody counterweight; there are two upper counterweight configurations, the basic 26.3 tonnes with a six tonne addition for a total superstructure counterweight of 32.3 tonnes.

The LTR1100 can handle 10 tonnes on the fully extended 53 metre main boom to 12 metres radius and lift 1.8 tonnes at the maximum radius of 48 metres.

The 100 tonne maximum capacity rating is at 2.5 metres, at three metres the rating is reduced to 80 tonnes with the full counterweight but strangely, 92 tonnes with the smaller counterweight!
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The Liebherr LTR 1100 is very compact

The fully rigged crane weighs 102 tonnes. When all counterweights are removed the base unit weighs 54 tonnes. If the optional jacks are specified, the two track assemblies can be quickly removed, reducing the transport weight to 34.5 tonnes.

The LTR1100 will completely assemble itself in an hour or so. The most likely strip down configuration will require three delivery trucks.

The crawler chassis extends hydraulically from a travel width of 3.5 metres to just over five metres. The standard tracks use 900mm wide grouser plates.

Liebherr say that the advantage of such a crawler crane is its manoeuvrability, particularly on rough terrain and of course it can pick and carry its full capacity.

Compared to a lattice boom crawler, the telescopic boom is more flexible, has shorter rigging times and is easier to transport. It also has the benefit of being able to stow the boom in minutes, either for overnight security or for passing under overhead obstructions..

The LTR also has the option of 2.9 metre short assembly jib and second winch to allow the crane to be used for two line lifting operations for applications such as the assembly of prefabricated building components.

The crane can be used to unload heavy concrete sections from the trailer, turn them, if neccessary, and then travel with the load to the assembly area.

Depending on how it is specified, the LR1100 is likely to come in at a similar price to the LTM1100 All Terrain and LR1100 lattice crawler.

Vertikal Comment

The LTR1100 looks like a very useful crane, while the capacities in the mid range of the chart are only half that of its lattice cousin, it compares more favourably at longer radii and of course it is a lot easier to handle. Compared with the All Terrain version it is not quite as strong but then it is a lot more compact and has slightly less upper counterweight.

One concern will be the boom telescope system, how will it cope with the dynamic loading of pick and carry applications and the side loadings that occur in typical crawler type work.

In the UK, the possible ending of rebated, “red” diesel use in cranes, could well make telescopic crawlers more attractive for mid to longer term work as once on site they are more compact, and can pick and carry their load chart.

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Oveall width extends from 3.5 to 5.05 metres

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Liebherr LTR 1100 plan view