First New Liebherr Mobile Crane For Specialist Crane Hire

Specialist Crane Hire, has taken delivery of a new 40 tonnes capacity Liebherr LTM 1040-2.1 mobile crane. This is the first new Liebherr all-terrain crane the company has bought and joins a fleet of around 35 truck and AT cranes operating from Specialist’s four depots.

Specialist Crane Hire has grown both organically and through prudent acquisitions over the past few years. Concentrating initially on nuclear power station work, the company’s fleet content has expanded to allow general crane hire to become a "bread-and-butter" activity. However, Specialist Crane Hire continues to provide their considerable experience and expertise to the power generation industry with numerous long-term hire contracts and still look upon this market to be very much a core part of their business.

This is not actually Specialist’s first Liebherr, as an 18-year-old 35 tonner was included when they took over an existing crane fleet during one of their acquisitions. Specialist’s Managing Director John Chappell commented "It was our experience with the old Liebherr crane that convinced us to purchase the new one. The 35 tonner is still performing extremely well, is a thoroughly productive machine, hasn’t given us any trouble whatsoever and the operator loves it! This obvious reliability of Liebherr cranes was a significant factor for us in making our buying decision for a new 40 tonner".

The LTM 1040-2.1 is a two-axle machine (4x4x4 drive/steer), with excellent lifting capabilities right through the duties chart. Equipped with a four-section 35m main boom, this crane has a maximum under-hook-height of 34 metres with a 7.4 tonnes capacity and a 1.1 tonnes capacity at 31 metres working radius. The crane has a 9.5m folding fly-jib which can be offset by 0°, 20°, 40° and 60°, producing a maximum 44m under-hook-height and a working radius of 39m lifting 0.4 tonnes. This model has also been supplied with working area limitation.

The Liebherr LTM 1040-2.1 is powered by a single engine developing 205kW and features modern databus technique for the electronics. The carrier has ZF automatic transmission with 6 forward and two reverse gears. The hydropneumatic suspension guarantees smooth road travel and excellent all-terrain capabilities; the axles are hydraulically lockable. The carrier cab is typically comfortable and functional for road travel. Steering can be also carried out from the crane cab which, again, is a superb work station for the operator, with full instrumentation, multi-directional control levers, Liebherr’s own state-of-the-art LICCON 2 safe load indicator and crane control system and BTT unit.

The LICCON 2 generation of Liebherr’s mobile crane control systems takes operational efficiency, equipment performance and safety to new heights with even more innovative technological developments. A sophisticated yet user-friendly on-board computer system, LICCON 2 computing power and capacity have been optimized. The colour data display on the LICCON 2 monitor in the crane cab enhances readability and clarity; indications, warning displays and crane utilization are easy to view. Below the joysticks, touch-screen displays are provided for comfortable and easy activation of the different operational functions. Amongst these are the carrier drive and steering programmes, the suspension system, setting up of the crane on outriggers, adjustment of the working floodlights as well as the cab’s heating and climate control.

The LTM 1040-2.1, as with all new generation Liebherr cranes, is equipped with the latest GSM module technology. This provides a direct on-board link between the customer and Liebherr’s after-sales engineers, both in the UK and the European factory where it is made, to assist in diagnostics and fault-finding should the need arise.