Liebherr Biberach will begin production of the larger sibling of the MK 80 self-erecting tower crane on a wheeled mobile chassis in December.
Having first announced plans for the crane at Bauma 2001, it will show the crane at Bauma 2004.
Dubbed the MK 100, the crane will have a maximum hook height of 33m, 5m higher than the MK 80, and a 52m jib, 10m longer than the MK80. The 100tm crane is designed to lift a maximum of 8t, or 1.6t out to 52m. The crane has three mast height settings to make hook heights of 17m, 25m and 33m.
The crane will feature Liebherr’s new FR.Tronic frequency converter system, to give variable speed control for slewing as well as trolleying and hoisting. Like the MK 80, the new model will have an ascending cabin.
The five-axle chassis comes from sister company Liebherr Ehingen.
Unlike the MK 80’s tower sections nesting in a lattice frame, the MK100 will have a three-section rolled steel telescopic mast, as used by main competitor Spierings on recent models. This technology also comes from Ehingen.
Liebherr Biberach sales and marketing managing director Helmut Limberg said the reasons for switching to rolled steel were ‘a combination of stiffness, the material and the strength’.
A particular technical hurdle has been folding the extra jib length into the transport position.
