R&J Crane Service of Vero Beach, Florida, USA has taken advantage of the new luffing attachments that Link-Belt has produced for the LS-238H crawler. In the built-up areas of south Florida a luffing jib offers an alternative to a fixed tower crane for reaching over buildings. “Luffing attachments are often a more economical use of our resources over a tower crane,” said R&J president Rick Wiebelt. “We can lower the luffing boom and obtain a greater radius than we can using a conventional crane.” He added that with property prices running high in that part of the state, new construction is increasingly only possible between other buildings, or where older buildings are being demolished. “That is where the specialised attachment of a luffing boom is vital,” Wiebelt said.
Link-Belt brought out the luffing attachment for the 130t (150 US ton) LS-238H last year (Product action July 2000, p31). It gives a maximum boom combination of 47.2m main boom, 48.7m luffing jib and 9.1m fixed jib (155ft + 160ft + 30ft). Designed primarily with ease of assembly in mind rather than strength, the luffing jib can still lift a maximum 24.5t (27 US ton). Photo shows R&J’s LS-238H in action on a confined site of an eight-storey, in-situ concrete condominium building in Pompano Beach, Florida.
