A 330-ton Liebherr crawler crane is now strengthening the fleet of Crane Service Inc., Albuquerque, N.M. The LR 1300 SX, equipped with carbon fiber components, will be mainly used for lifting jobs in the wind industry.
It is the first time that Crane Service Inc., with more than 55 years of experience in rigging and heavy hoisting, has opted for a Liebherr crawler. “The LR 1300 SX is a highly versatile crawler crane,” says Bob Warianka, business development manager for Crane Service Inc., in explaining some of the reasons for the purchase.
The LR 1300 SX is equipped with pendant links made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Besides being basically maintenance-free, another benefit of these carbon fiber pendant links is increased load charts, as Bob Strohacker, Crane Service Inc.’s Sweetwater, Texas, branch manager, emphasizes: “A key reason for purchasing the LR 1300 SX was the opportunity to upgrade the crane with CFRP pendant links. They further increase the lifting capacity of the crane, thus providing an even better lifting solution especially for operating in wind parks.”
In the specific combination with carbon fiber pendants the crane is able to self-erect 282 ft. of main boom and a 23-ft. heavy-duty wind jib. In this configuration the LR 1300 SX is able to lift a maximum of 83 tons at a radius of 50 ft.
The premiere jobsite of the LR 1300 SX is in a wind park in Nolan, Texas. The crane is being used for hoisting and installing the rotor of five 263-ft. tall wind turbines for maintenance works. Each of the rotors has a weight of approximately 152,000 lbs. The rotors have to be removed in order to replace the gearboxes and main shafts in the wind turbines.
The LR 1300 SX is powered by a 523 hp Liebherr diesel engine. Another distinguishing feature of this LR-series model is its enormous number of boom and jib configurations, and potential applications. The combined length of main boom and luffing jib can be as much as 555 ft., comprised of 184 ft. of main boom and 371 ft. of luffing jib.