06.07.2026

A first for Kuiphuis

Dutch crane rental company Kuiphuis has taken delivery of the first 450 tonne Liebherr LTM1400-6.1 to arrive in the country.

The six axle crane features a six section 70 metre main boom with Y-Guy Superlift, along with numerous lattice extensions and jib options, including a 45.5 metre luffing extension for a maximum tip height of around 120 metres or an 80.5 metre luffing jib for up to 140 metres.

(Lifting the 73 tonne basement module)
The new crane is signwritten for both Kuiphuis and van.Marwijk, which Kuiphuis acquired in March - fleets. Shortly after it arrived, while the operators were in the middle of their familiarisation training week, they were called upon to carry out a major lift.

The job involved the installation of a large, prefabricated basement weighing 73 tonnes. A perfect job for the new 400 tonner.

The Kuiphuis/Marwick team immediately started planning the job, mapping out the entire operation down to the last detail using Liebherr’s Crane Planner 2.0. advanced 3D planning software. It allowed them to simulate the crane’s configuration, ground pressure, and exact lifting radii before the crane left the yard. The total weight of the load with blocks and rigging etc.. was 75 tonnes, and the radius required -13.48 metres. The boom was extended to around 18 metres, which provided a tip height of just under 17 metres, while the crane was equipped with 130 tonnes of counterweight.

The company said: “The LTM1400-6.1 demonstrated why it is the new standard in the six axle class. Thanks to its compact design and quick setup time. The basement was positioned with extreme precision and ease. It was a flying start for our operators, who immediately got to experience the finer points of this crane in practice.”

The Kuiphuis family began their business with a grocery and cigar store in 1908 and gradually moved towards machinery and rental. The company was acquired by the current owners, the Bruijsten family, in 1985 and has grown steadily and substantially over the past 10 years or so, both organically and through acquisitions. Today it runs a mixed fleet including a large number of mobile self-erecting tower cranes.