New 150 tonne telecrawler from Liebherr

Liebherr has expanded its range of telescopic crawler cranes with a new 150-tonne machine. The LTR 1150 is positioned between the LTR 1100 and the LTR 1220. Although the new crane offers around 50 per cent more lifting capacity than the LTR 1100, Liebherr says it can be transported just as easily and economically as its 100-tonne sibling – complete with crawler carriers on low loaders with a total weight of 60 tonnes and a transport width of 3.5 metres, or optionally without crawler carriers at a total weight of just 38 tonnes and a width of only 3.0 metres.

The LTR 1150 is the first telescopic crawler crane to be equipped with the Liebherr’s VarioBase system, which enables the crane control to determine the optimum load capacity depending on the track width and angle of rotation.  

With the launch of the LTR 1150, Liebherr says it is responding to the requirements of crane operators faced with lifting jobs that are beyond the LTR 1100, but for which the LTR 1220 is overkill.

To transport the crane without the crawler carriers, which gives a total transport weight of 38 tonnes, a jack-up erection support consisting of four swivelling cylinders is required. This support the crane on the ground while the tracks are removed and the low-loader positions itself under the crane. This method is tried and tested with Liebherr’s 100-tonne LTR 1100.

The LTR 1150 also has a new automatic support system to assist the operator. Liebherr says this was developed to allow faster and easier (dis)assembly of the crawler carriers.

The two crawler carriers, each weighing 11 tonnes, can be transported together on a standard semi-trailer with an economical width of 2.55 metres. The integrated access steps are folded in during transport.

In terms of ballast distribution, with only four lifts, the entire counterweight can be ballasted on the crane: two lifts for the two 11-tonne central ballasts and two for the maximum slewing platform ballast of 41 tonnes. As with the Liebherr LTM cranes, this is attached to the slewing platform using a hydraulic ballasting device. Liebherr-AutoBallast is designed to support the crane driver during this process. The support for the slewing platform ballast is integrated in the central ballast.

The LTR 1150 is the first telescopic crawler crane to be equipped with Liebherr’s VarioBase variable supporting base system which determines the optimum load capacity in real time depending on the fixed track width and the variable rotation angle. The company says that not only does it provide greater safety for telescopic mobile cranes, but also allows significantly higher load capacities, especially for lifts directly over the supports.

With the VarioBase system Liebherr says the greatest advantages in terms of load capacity are achieved when performing lifts over the corners of the tracks, especially with reduced track widths. The maximum track width of 5.8 metres, a reduced width of 5.0 metres, and a narrow 3.5-metre track width are available.

As with the other Liebherr LTR cranes, the LTR 1150 is also equipped with load charts for slopes up to a maximum of 4° – in gradations of 0.3°, 0.7°, 1.5°, 2.5° and 4°. For the first time for its telescopic crawler cranes, Liebherr has also calculated "WindSpeed Load Charts" for the new LTR 1150, which make it possible to work safely and flexibly even at higher permissible wind speeds of up to 15.6 m/s – even with the full load capacity in many boom positions.

Liebherr believes the crane will particularly appeal to users working in the wind farm erection and construction industries thanks to its performance and pick & carry characteristics. It is capable of assembling crawler cranes up to the 1,000-tonne class and can move components weighing over 60 tonnes.

Liebherr says the crane’s short, powerful erection jib and additional hoist gear mean the LTR 1150 can move loads of up to 34.6 tonnes into position. The range of working equipment for the 52-metre telescopic boom also includes a hydraulically adjustable double folding jib and telescopic boom extensions that allow hoisting heights of up to 83 metres to be achieved.