Liebherr’s New 400-Tonne LR 1400 SX Crawler Crane Impresses Early Customers In Germany, The U.S.
Liebherr’s new LR 1400 SX lattice boom crawler crane is already impressing customers in various parts of the world. The 400-tonne (441-U.S.-ton) crane offers a maximum hoist height of 178 metres (584 feet) and a maximum radius of 130 m (426 ft). It features a Ground Pressure Visualization system, modular counterweights, a variety of boom configurations, and a self-assembly system.
The new LR 1400 SX is manufactured by Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH in Austria. “This is a big step for our location,” says the facility’s Managing Director for Sales, Gerhard Frainer. “The request for a larger crane came from the market.”
Customer Feedback
The first German customer for the Liebherr LR 1400 SX was Stemwede-based construction group Depenbrock. “Specifically, the wide crawlers and the (optional) ground pressure reduction plates convinced us,” to buy, says Technical Director Ludger Holtmann. “The free-fall winches, which are required for some applications, were also decisive for the purchase.”
The LR 1400 SX’s Ground Pressure Visualization feature continuously consults safety parameters for the crane’s position in real time. Inside the cab, the ground pressure is displayed for the operator. The system notifies the driver when the crane is in or is approaching a sensitive area. “This is a super feature,” says Paul Belcher, co-owner and managing director of Mountain Crane Service in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the U.S. “We have to constantly observe and monitor the ground conditions.”
“For barge operation, the available barge load charts for any configuration and any possible counterweight combination are crucial,” says Andreas Handel, Depenbrock’s Head of Mechanical Engineering Hydro Construction. “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.”
Clever Transport Aids
The LR 1400 SX can adjust its track width for narrow roads and sites. The crane can be transported at just 46 t (51 U.S. t) on standard low-loader trailers at a maximum transport width of 3 m (9.8 ft). Its platform and railings can be folded down and can remain connected to the uppercarriage for shipping.
The self-assembling LR 1400 SX allows for fast, independent assembly of its crawler side frames, carbody, rear counterweights, two hoist winches, and boom components. The crane’s Gradient Travel Aid assistance system monitors its centre of gravity and alerts the operator when it’s approaching a tipping point on a slope or grade.
A 603-horsepower (450-kilowatt) Liebherr diesel engine powers the LR 1400 SX and has the latest emissions controls in place. An active Load Moment Limiter maintains safety while driving with a load on the hook.
The crane’s cabin is air-conditioned and insulated from noise. A heated and cooled orthopaedic seat maintains driver comfort in all working conditions.
Among the LR 1400 SX’s options is a radio remote for out-of-cab operation. “You can operate the whole crane with the remote control,” says Belcher. Other options allow the crane to lift personnel, posit the tip of the boom precisely over a load before lifting to avoid sway, and maintain a load’s vertical height as the boom lowers to move the load forward horizontally.
Find The Right Liebherr
CraneTrader showcases many new and used Liebherr cranes for sale, including scores of lattice boom crawler models like LR1400-series cranes.
Source: Liebherr