Liebherr Component Facility Gets a Lift from Liebherr Crane

Enlarge Image Liebherr crane used at Liebherr components factory.

October 31, 2012—Space is tight between the dozens of gear machining units at the Liebherr-Components Biberach GmbH production site, which manufactures large slewing bearings. During the assembly of a new Liebherr gear cutting machine, the the compact Liebherr LTC 1045-3.1 telescopic crane was used multiple times for lifting the individual components into place.

In mid-October, the 4.2-tonne cutter head was raised into position for assembly onto the main column on the new machine. The counter-column was then lifted into place onto the machine bed. In this process, the LTC 1045-3.1 was required to position a load of 10 tonnes onto a high-precision guide track with exceptional accuracy. The new Liebherr LC 2000 gear cutting machine can machine gears up to a diameter of 2 m, where tolerances of just a few thousandths of a millimetre are critical.

 

Crane rental company ESB, based in Mittelbiberach, Germany, took delivery of an LTC 1045-3.1 in its Ehingen production plant in April, and since then have already had to handle several crane operations where the compact design and maneuverability of the 45-tonne crane were very much required.

 

ESB Managing Director Karl Engeser Jr. praises the new crane: "Our crane drivers are delighted. The crane is highly maneuverable. With the lift cab, the driver is at around eye height at approx. 8m and can clearly see the working area."

 

Around 20 percent of the time, ESB deploys the LTC 1045-3.1 for assembly work in industrial halls. "On a normal construction site, however, such as for steel construction work or the assembly of prefabricated houses, the lift cab offers significant advantages as the crane driver is at the same height as the assembly personnel," Engeser said.

 

Ten mobile cranes with load capacities up to 100 tonnes now form part of the ESB fleet, made up almost exclusively Liebherr equipment. The company also offers lifting platform rental as well as a salvage and recovery service for HGVs.