Knoll GmbH & Co.KG based in Schillingsfürst took delivery of an LTM 1350-5.1 mobile crane at the Liebherr Plant in Ehingen at the beginning of April. The 350-tonne machine will significantly expand the range of services of the Middle Franconian company upwards. After the handover at the manufacturing plant, the new 6-axle crane was driven straight to its first job involving modular apartment construction.
Around two years ago, Knoll added an LTM 1250-5.1 to its fleet. “We always buy the most powerful 5-axle crane on the market”, said company boss Hans-Peter Knoll at the time. The capacity of the 250-tonne crane has been fully tested because it has often been used by Knoll to handle a completely new system of modular apartment construction. Completely equipped room cells made of concrete weighing up to 42 tonnes are assembled with the crane up to five storeys high. Since they often have to be assembled at large radii, the 250-tonne crane has been operating up to its limits. Hans-Peter Knoll explains: “Because of the very good experience we have had with the excellent lifting capacities of the LTM 1250-5.1, we then decided to buy the Liebherr 6-axle crane. Its telescopic boom guying makes it extremely powerful whilst still remaining compact and manoeuvrable for inner city jobs. The LTM 1350-6.1 will be added to our crane fleet.”
This new modular construction method is used throughout Germany for social housebuilding and for student accommodation. The structures are often erected in existing old residential areas where the access roads are generally narrow. That is why the requirements for the mobile cranes to be manoeuvrable are so high. It is also why Knoll decided not to even consider a longer crane.
Knoll has a workforce of around 40 and operates approximately 30 cranes, 90 percent of which are from Liebherr. The company mainly specialises in crane rental. Marlene Knoll explains: “Liebherr is a good, long term partner. The cranes are innovative and deliver high quality whilst also retaining their value. The service is first class. That is why we decided to buy from Liebherr again.”
Source: Liebherr
