LR 11000 debuts with an oil change

The LR 11000 was used by Felbermayr to work on a constricted site with a 35m by 35m working area at the Petrom refinery in Plojesti near Bucharest to lift giant steel cylinders, the largest of which measured 58m in length, weighing 335t and with a radius of 27.5m. The erection of the lattice boom and 36m luffing jib had to be completed in a narrow alley just 5m wide.

The manufacturer said that the load handling was exciting as it was not possible to determine the exact weight of the column.

This was due to additional items being fitted to the largest tank. Only when the LR 11000 and an accompanying LR 1750 had fully lifted the load did they realise it was 55t overweight at 335t.

To overcome the slewing process over a high pipe bridge, the column had to be raised to a hook height of 80m, the radius reduced and the crane moved just a few metres.

Without reducing the radius of the suspended ballast pallet by around two metres to 13.5m, the guying roads and ballast would not have cleared the pipes and pillars.

The LR 11000 will continue to work at the refinery until the end of July. Felbermayr has a fleet of around 70 cranes working at the site, which is being shut down for a general overhaul.