The first LR 1400 SX have already left the Liebherr factory. With the compact transport weight of 46t, the complete crane can be easily transported between job sites. Platform and railings remain attached to the uppercarriage during transportation and only need to be folded down.
The self-assembly system enables quick assembly. "You can operate the whole crane with the remote control," enthused 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, the unit can also be used on a correspondingly smaller barge. This makes the use of the LR 1400 SX very flexible," said Andreas Handel, head of Mechanical Engineering Hydro Construction.
Just how flexible and mobile the crane is, can be seen when space is restricted. 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 enormously simplified.
The crane designers paid particular attention to the safety concept. 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.
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. The ground pressure is displayed in the operator's cab and the operator is permanently aware of whether the machine is situated in, or is approaching, a critical area. "This is a super feature. We have to constantly observe and monitor the ground conditions," said Belcher.
The ground pressure of the crane can also be reduced using the ground pressure reduction plates. "Specifically, the wide crawlers and the ground pressure reduction plates convinced us," said Ludger Holtmann, technical director at Depenbrock and added: "The free-fall winches, which are required for some applications, were also decisive for the purchase."
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