01.10.2025

300t LR 1300.1 SX going strong at 18

It is 18 years since Liebherr introduced the 300 tonne LR 1300.1 SX crawler crane, at Bauma 2007. The very first unit went to Maxim Crane Works in the USA, it is still working and the company is still adding more of them to its fleet. In total almost 1,000 units are operating worldwide

The crane was developed at Liebherr Nenzing using design principles from cable excavators manufactured at the site since 1980. The company said that the development team focused on balancing high lifting capacities with practical mobility enabling assembly without auxiliary cranes.

Nenzing managing director for technology Holger Streitz - who was design manager for the product - said: "Crane construction is always lightweight construction. My team and I fought for every kilogram. We work closely together - sales, product management, development, quality management, strategic purchasing, production, industrial engineering, and the test bench."

As we have said, the first LR 1300.1 SX ever manufactured is owned by US rental company Maxim Crane Works, it is currently carrying out maintenance work at the Four Corners power plant in Farmington, New Mexico,

Operator David Ochoa said: "After finding out that this was the very first LR 1300.1 SX that Liebherr produced - number one right out of the factory - I was proud to be one of the select few that have ever sat in it and had the opportunity to operate it. For 18 years old, she's a dream."

Maxim Crane Works vice president Greg Bellcoff added: "We have 38 LR1300.1s in our fleet with an additional 12 on order, and we see significant growth this unit over the next four to five years. Our customers use the LR 1300.1 SX for renewables such as wind, steel erection, petrochemical, refining and any other line of commercial construction."

The crane has evolved over the year with new operator assistance systems including vertical line finder, horizontal load path, boom up and down assistant, various operating modes and ground pressure visualisation.

Liebherr unveiled the LR 1300.2 SX unplugged battery powered version at Bauma earlier this year which maintains capabilities while producing zero local emissions.