First LTM 1100 - 4.2 Mobile Crane in the UK for Bernard Hunter Limited

Bernard Hunter Limited, of Edinburgh, has taken delivery of the UK's first 100 tonnes capacity LTM 1100-4.2 mobile crane. This latest addition continues a 30-year allegiance to the Liebherr marque and the entire mobile crane content of Bernard Hunter's modern fleet is exclusively comprised of Liebherr models.

A family-owned and independent company, Bernard Hunter Limited was formed in 1946. Providing a comprehensive mobile crane hire service to Scotland's central belt and northern England, Bernard Hunter also has interests in ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals, end-of-life vehicles (ELV) processing, machinery movement with a low-loader and lorry-mounted crane fleet and secure storage facilities at their Gilmerton Road premises in Edinburgh. The company is also an expert in glass lifting, with a full range of specialist vacuum lifting equipment. As an adjunct to the crane hire operations, Bernard Hunter also has a wide range of non-mechanical plant available for hire, including man baskets, concrete and tipping skips, lifting beams and forks.

The LTM 1100-4.2 is an extremely compact four-axle all-terrain crane with all-wheel drive and steer. Equipped with a 60m telescopic boom, this model is one of the strongest four-axle cranes on the market and, with the 0°, 20° and 40° offset 19m swing-away fly-jib taken by Bernard Hunter, produces a maximum under-hook height of 79m. A significant benefit to users is that the LTM 1100-4.2 can be road travelled with the 17.20 tonnes basic counterweight in place, which reduces set-up time and costs; 11 tonnes of extra counterweight has also been taken with this crane.

The LTM 1100-4.2 carrier is driven by a powerful 6-cylinder Liebherr diesel engine rated at 350 kW. The automatic transmission has a 12-speed ZF AS-Tronic gearbox and the two rear axles feature hydro-mechanical speed regulated steering, which greatly enhances manoeuvrability and reduces tyre wear. The Liebherr 4-cylinder engine on the crane superstructure develops 129 kW; crane drive is diesel-hydraulic with a servo control system and electric load sensing control — four simultaneous working movements are possible. The crane operator's cab is a typically comfortable and functional work-station with full instrumentation and can be tilted backwards for optimum working visibility during lifts.

The LTM 1100-4.2 purchased by Bernard Hunter features the Liebherr LICCON2 crane control system and the BTT-Bluetooth function, which provides operators with wireless remote control for all superstructure operations, plus outrigger activation and positioning, engine start and stop function and engine speed, electronic inclination display and automatic leveling during set-up. Using the new BTT-Bluetooth system, the crane operator can also attach and detach the hookblock from the front bumper by remotely controlling the hoist winch and the luffing ram on the telescopic boom — all under close view. Another user benefit is that, during road travel, the BTT-Bluetooth terminal can be plugged into the driving cockpit for the display of mileage and working hours information.

Commenting on their new acquisition, Bernard Hunter Ltd director Jim Rafferty said "We chose this particular model because of it's build quality and superb technology. Also, the compactness, agility and excellent main boom duties of this crane are ideal for the large amount of inner city work we undertake, where space restrictions are usual and we need to complete lifting contracts swiftly and with minimum site disruption. Addionally," he continues "we've built up an excellent relationship with Liebherr sales and after-sales personnel over the years, both here in the UK and at their Ehingen factory, and this counts a great deal for us when we make a decision on major investments such as this one".

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