05.04.2022

Liebherr announces all-new 2,500t crawler - Updated

Liebherr has announced an all-new 2,500 tonne crawler crane, the LR 12500-1.0 at a press day in Ehingen today.

The new product was introduced with the slogan “Game changer for tomorrow’s energy.” It is currently on the test track and at this point we have only received minimal technical details. It is clear however that it introduces bold new design concepts, for a new line up of big Liebherr crawler cranes.
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The new LR 12500-1.0 on the R&D test track - and in case you ask - that is not the main boom

The all-new superstructure frame and main boom design have been conceived to provide a wide main boom cross section dubbed the “HighPerformanceBoom,” to offer similar stability to its PowerBoom, while keeping individual elements compact enough for economical transport and shipping.

The key to high capacities is wide based lattice booms. The solutions to date have involved a double boom concept such as Liebherr's PowerBoom or SX systems. However, Liebherr engineers have chosen a completely different solution for the LR 12500-1.0 in the form of the “HighPerformanceBoom” which includes a special superstructure frame, the front section of which has a transport width of four metres, while the rear section is 3.5 metres wide.

The new boom sections are 10 metres in length and incorporate a new mechanism to reduce their overall dimensions for transport. A separate device stabilises the lattice section during the erection process on site. Apart from two four metre wide components all the rest had a transport width of 3.5 metres or under.
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A folding boom section

The ‘HighPerformanceBoom’ has a maximum length of 110 metres and can be extended to 155 metres using sections from the luffing jib. The maximum hook height of around 200 metres is achieved with 100 metres of main boom and a 108 metre luffing jib.
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The main high performance boom can be built to 100 metres

The crane’s derrick boom suspended ballast pallet comes from the 3,000 tonne LR 13000 as do most of the counterweight slabs. It also adopts the LR13000’s B0 version allowing it to operate without derrick ballast. When used the suspended ballast is infinitely adjusted by the crane management system.

The LR 12500 will feature two Liebherr six cylinder diesels with a redundant design, in order ensure availability in the case of a breakdown or servicing.

The new model fills the gap between the 1,350 tonne LR 11350 and 3,000 tonne LR 13000 and is aimed at meeting growing demand for large crawler cranes from the renewables, petrochemical and port handling sectors to lift increasingly heavy offshore wind components.
Liebherr would not be drawn on who the lead customer is for the new crane, but it seems that it will be painted blue which suggests either Austrian heavy lift specialist Felbermayr or Belgian heavy lift company Sarens.

Update
We will update when we learn more during the day.
Liebherr and Sarens have now confirmed that it is the Belgian multi-national heavy lift company is the lead customer for the new crane. See: First LR12500 goes to Sarens

Managing director Carl Sarens said: “The high lifting capacity of the LR 12500-1.0 is the outstanding feature for us. The new crane will enable us to close the gap between our crawler and ringer cranes. We are particularly focussing on jobs in renewables for the new 2500 tonne crane. Handling offshore wind turbines at ports is also becoming a much more important business segment and the weights of components continues to rise.”