01.04.2013

Four axle 1,200 tonner

Liebherr will unveil a new ultra compact 1,200 tonne All Terrain crane at Bauma later this month.

The crane, the LTM1200-4.1, will be able to travel on roads with its 50 metre boom and some counterweight in place and move around job sites with its longer 100 metre boom and full counterweight installed.

The crane will have the same lift capacities as the original nine axle version the LTM1200-9.1 thanks to a larger counterweight substituting for the lighter weight chassis and smaller outrigger base.
Please register to see all images

The new 1,200 tonne Liebherr LTM1200-4.1

Axle weights will be high with its counterweight installed, meaning that in Europe only UK companies will be able to road it fully rigged. However it will be an easier machine to transport and once on site will offer substantial benefits as well as being less expensive to buy.

In place of the usual diesel engine the new crane will be fully battery electric powered with the massive lithium batteries carried on the superstructure to make act as additional counterweight. The new crane will be able to recharge at the standard street re-charging points that are beginning to appear in major cities.

The manufacturer believes that new hydrogen impregnated steel technology will allow it to reduce the size of all its mobile cranes, with most reverting to two axles once it can incorporate the new steel which has almost no weight, into its designs.

The technology, for which Liebherr has a three year exclusivity deal for crane production beginning April first 2014, when the first LTM 1200-4.1 will be delivered, is set to revolutionise the equipment business. One issue though that is of concern to some crane owners is that the equipment will become so light that it could be blown away in strong or even moderate winds. Liebherr will therefore equip the new cranes with tethering lugs so that they can be secured at night using standard ground anchors or when counterweights are not installed.

Oh…… just in case you are still on-board the date today is April/1/2013 – The photo was sent to us by a reader based in the Netherlands. April Fool!
See you at Bauma