The components of a Liebherr 172 EC-B Litronic tower crane had to be hoisted to a height of 82 metres during its erection in a cement plant in Erwitte. This was a perfect job for the new Liebherr LTM 1450-8.1 mobile crane owned by Franz Bracht Kran-Vermietung GmbH. Its 85-metre telescopic boom meant that there was no need to install the otherwise standard lattice jib as an extension. The fast set-up time was an important criterion for Bracht when deciding to buy the LTM 1450-8.1.
Company owner Dirk Bracht explains: “Not only do we save time because we don’t have to do add a lattice jib, but we don’t even have to transport it to the site. Moreover, we don’t need a set-up crane to install it on the telescopic boom. This means significant savings in time and cost for erecting and dismantling tower cranes.” The Liebherr 450-tonne crane can hoist a remarkable 20 tonnes on the fully extended 85 metre boom. That makes it ideal for erecting large tower cranes.
The LTM 1450-8.1 crane features the longest telescopic boom in the world that can be carried on public roads with a 12-tonne axle load. There is no need to remove supports. The crane design allows hoisting work to be carried out flexibly and quickly with two different jobs per day certainly being possible. For a wide range of work, the crane can operate with just one additional transport vehicle to carry attachment equipment, support plates and adequate ballast.
Wide range of uses
Bracht is completely convinced by the flexibility and performance of the new crane: “The LTM 1450-8.1 is the most innovative crane in its class. We mainly use it to erect tower cranes, but it also carries out work at chemical plants and refineries. Since those sites are often very constricted, VarioBase® and VarioBallast® are very valuable functions. Furthermore, the crane will also be used at bridge construction sites which often involve two 500-tonne telescopic cranes working together. This is because the LTM 1450-8.1 can replace a 500-tonne crane as a result of its very good close-in lifting capacity values.”
The new LTM 1450-8.1 will add to the range of large LTM cranes operated by Bracht, which already includes cranes with lifting capacities of 300, 400, 500 and 750 tonnes. The Bracht Group, comprising Franz Bracht Kran-Vermietung GmbH, Hofmann Kran-Vermietung GmbH & Co. KG and Wilden Kran-Vermietung GmbH employees 740 people and operates around 250 cranes. The majority are supplied by Liebherr.
The group’s main areas of business are the provision of crane services of all types, particularly in the lifting capacity range above 500 tonnes. The company also provides heavy haulage services. Hofmann Kran-Vermietung GmbH & Co. KG also has 200 work platforms for rental.