In March 2016, Northern Construction of Palmer Massachusetts will begin phase two of upgrades to a natural gas compressor station in Stony Point, New York. The confined area with various terrain and challenging site-specific obstacles would require a unique piece of equipment to complete the project.
So a Liebherr LTR 1220 was chosen to meet that demand. During phase one of construction during 2015, the project would utilise multiple rough terrain cranes, two telescopic crawler cranes, and four large capacity all terrain truck cranes.
Lattice boom crane’s were not a practical option for this site. The average pick weights were between 10,000lb and 30,000lb, and there were several 65,000 pound picks. One thing that stood out was how versatile the telecrawlers were. The ability to pick and carry large weights and the small footprint the cranes required made them indispensable.
One of the problems faced was the large outrigger footprint the larger capacity all terrain crane needed. Also, the large capacity all terrain truck cranes required the removal of counterweights to set up at the next location. With multiple moves on the site this became time consuming.
After reviewing several manufacturers, the solution chosen was Liebherr’s LTR 1220. This model was chosen for the smaller footprint compared to a truck crane of the same 250USt capacity, its ability to traverse the job site without the removal of counterweight, and the 198ft of telescoping main boom. The other strong point about the LTR 1220 is it required only seven or eight truckloads to mobilize, depending on configuration.
The new crane arrived on site from Liebherr’s Texas terminal and quickly began self-erecting without the need of an assist crane. The main carbody arrived first and, on firm level ground, hydraulically jacked itself up off of the trailer. Next, fore and aft carbody weights were installed. The 41,000lb tracks were then lifted into position and pinned in place. Afterwards, the crane lowers itself onto the ground the jacks are stowed away via Bluetooth controller. Finally the counterweights and auxiliary winch were added to make the unit complete.
The self-erect process only took a few hours and only required an operator and two crew to assist. Because this is a new unit, Liebherr had a factory technician on site to assist and oversee the assembly while providing training for the operator. Everyone remarked how easy the crane went together.
From the operator standpoint the Bluetooth controller was easy to use and convenient while outside of the cab. The LICCON 2 computer system is intuitive and easy to use. Deploying the boom is quick and precise using the dual axis controls that are smooth and exact. Having cameras aimed at a rearview and at the two winches was an added feature.
The LTR 1220 has a Tier 4 diesel motor that requires DEF fluid. Other machines in this category sometimes required downtime to regenerate to meet strict EPA requirements in the United States. The 1220 does not require this, another cost-effective point for this model.
During construction of phase two the 1220 will be working in multiple locations throughout the job site which include two grab and laydown yards, traversing paved asphalt and concrete surfaces, climbing graded hills, and sitting on timber crane mats. The removable composite plastic trackpads and low ground pressure will help protect surfaces. The ability for the crawler tracks to deploy and retract while still having all counterweight installed allows the crane to navigate the job site safe and efficiently.
