08.06.2020

Liebherr approved for ECOL courses

Liebherr’s training centre in Ehingen has been certified to train and test crane operators for the new European Crane Operators Licence (ECOL).

Certification company, Lloyd´s Register carried out the audit and inspection of the Liebherr training operation in Ehingen and approved the organisation at the end of March, just as the Covid-19 Pandemic hit. However the first three mobile crane operators have now been trained at the centre and passed the examination to gain their European licences.

The European crane and heavy transport association ESTA has been working on the ECOL project since 2013, supported by the European Materials Handling Federation (FEM), with working groups made up from national associations, manufacturers, rental companies and operators. The Mammoet Academy then carried out the first trials in 2019, becoming the first ECOL training centre, Liebherr the second and EUC Lillebælt in Denmark the third. Other companies, including Sarens, have also applied to become ECOL training and examination centres.

Liebherr is currently offering two of the three ECOL courses – a three week course for mobile crane operators who have at least four years experience and a one week course for mobile crane operators with at least eight years experience – 16 hours theoretical and 16 hours practical - although Liebherr recommends that these operators also take additional training before applying for the one week course. More details on the ECOL courses and certification can be found on the ECOL Foundation website: www.ecol-esta.eu.
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Liebherr says that is Ehingen training centre has “taken steps to meet the challenge posed by the coronavirus pandemic” and that “extensive action has been taken so that courses and training sessions can still be provided.”