The first LR 1400 SX has already left the Liebherr factory. With the compact weight of 46 t, contractors can easily transport the complete crane between job sites. Platform and railings remain bound to the upper carriage during transportation and only need to fold down for use.
The self-assembly system enables quick assembly. “You can operate the whole crane with the remote control,” enthuses Paul Belcher, owner and Managing Director of Mountain Crane Service, USA. This allows for a better overview and increases safety on site.
Despite its size, the LR 1400 SX has a wide range of applications and has already convinced the first German customer, Depenbrock, with its flexibility. “For barge operation, the available barge load charts for any configuration and any possible counterweight combination are crucial. The modular counterweight system is very good. If a smaller counterweight is sufficient, use on a correspondingly smaller barge is possible. “This makes the use of the LR 1400 SX very flexible,” says Andreas Handel, Head of Mechanical Engineering Hydro Construction.
The flexibility of the mobile crane is evident when there are space restrictions. The four crawler drives make it easier to manoeuvre the LR 1400 SX on job sites where space is tight. Thanks to the track width adjustment, access on narrow roads is simplified.
Highest level of safety
The assistance system “Gradient Travel Aid” helps to negotiate slopes and inclines. It displays the crane’s centre of gravity and warns the operator before the crane leaves the safe area.
Also, the Ground Pressure Visualization of the LR 1400 SX calculates the current ground pressure of the crane in real time and compares it with the specified safety limits of the relevant position. Inside the operator’s cab, a display shows ground pressure and the operator is permanently aware of whether the machine is in, or is approaching, a critical area. “This is a super feature. We have to constantly observe and monitor the ground conditions,” says Paul Belcher.
Operators can lower the ground pressure of the crane using the ground pressure reduction plates. “Specifically, the wide crawlers and the ground pressure reduction plates convinced us,” says Ludger Holtmann, Technical Director at Depenbrock and adds, “the free-fall winches, which are required for some applications, were also decisive for the purchase.”
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