Liebherr’s response to Demag’s innovative Sideways Superlift attachment is now on the testbed at its Ehingen factory. It will be offered as standard equipment with the 500t-rated LTM 1500.

Demag launched the original Sideways Superlift attachment (SSL) at the start of the year for the 300t class AC 300, the 500t AC 500-1, and the 650t AC 650. It is aimed at contractors erecting wind turbines who need to maximise lifting capacities with the boom in near to vertical configurations. Both the SSL and Liebherr’s version enhance capacity by providing extra lateral stability with derrick masts going out to each side of the boom as well as behind it.

Demag’s SSL, nicknamed the Butterfly, improves capacities by up to 200% at maximum, but by a maximum 50% in most practical scenarios, according to Demag customers. Though SSL is not offered as standard, almost all customers have opted for it since its introduction, Demag said. Demag also offers its customers flexibility in purchasing regular superlift attachments.

Liebherr has called its attachment the ‘Y-guy’. When operating with telescopic boom and luffing jib, the Y-guy equipment is set at an angle of 10°, 15° or 43°. With luffing or fixed jib attached to the full 84m main boom, the Y-guy gives extra capacity in the region of 20% to 50%, Liebherr says. It says that with the Y-guy the LTM 1500 can now lift 52t at a height of 83m under hook, compared to 35t without it.

Liebherr says that the LTM 1500 can travel with the Y-guy folded into a stowed position and remain within a width of 3m and height of 4.2m. It is not, however, possible to remain within 12t/axle road limits with the Y-guy.

Contractors that previously used an 800t-class LTM 1800 to erect wind turbines will now be able to save money and use an LTM 1500 instead, according to Liebherr.

TheY-guy attachment is available for retrofitting to LTM 1500s already in the field. There are no plans to offer Y-guys with other Liebherr models.

Demag said that it would be checking Liebherr’s designs carefully to enure no patents had been infringed.