08.05.2025

New flagship for RT trans

Serbian crane and heavy haulage company RT trans has taken delivery of a new 700 tonne Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 All Terrain crane.

The new eight axle crane takes over as the company’s flagship unit from a 450 tonne Liebherr LTM 1450-8.1, and is the second eight axle crane that RT trans has taken from Liebherr in the last three years. It features a basic four section 54 metre boom which converts to a six section 80 metre boom when required. A 90 metre luffing jib is also available. Other features include the VarioBallast hydraulically variable counterweight system, Stage V diesels and Variobase variable outrigger set up and monitoring.

Co-owner Duško Tadić, the son of company founder Rajko Tadić said: “We decided in favour of the LTM 1650-8.1 because we are seeing increasing demand for higher lifting capacities for crane work in Serbia and the entire region. Another important factor was the high mobility of this large crane with the various options in terms of weight and axle loads. The telescopic boom can be assembled and disassembled very quickly with just a few people. And finally, the trust built up over the years by Liebherr’s local agent D.S. Inženjering."

"While we can use the crane for a wide range of applications, we are planning to use it primarily for the construction of industrial plants, wind farms as well as repair and maintenance work on turbines."

The crane has already been out on its first job at Serbia’s largest wind farm in the town of Kovačica, north of Belgrade, where a blade weighing 14 tonnes had to be replaced. The special lifting frame also weighed 14 tonnes, which added to the lifting tackle took the overall load to 29.5 tonnes, which had to be taken out to a radius of 32 metres and a hook height of 120 metres. The LTM 1650-8.1 was equipped with the 51 metre T3YV2EN main boom with Y-guying, boom extension, eccentric and 59.5 metres of luffing jib.

Liebherr service technicians from D.S. Inženjering were on hand to assist with the RT trans employees during this first job. A 120 tonne Liebherr LTM 1120-4.1 was used as an auxiliary crane. The lift went according to plan in spite of challenges of limited space and the soft ground.

Crane operator Stojadin Jovanovic said: "The LTM 1650-8.1 is excellent to work with. Although it has such a high lifting capacity and a wide range of boom options, it is very easy to set up. The quick dismantling of the telescopic boom is also a breeze."

Founded in 1993 by Rajko Tadić, RT trans is based in Zemun on the north west edge of Belgrade, it employs around 50 people and operates a fleet of 24 cranes, mostly All Terrains along with a couple of Liebherr lattice and telescopic crawler cranes, heavy fork trucks and heavy haulage equipment.