German crane hire company, Wasel, has purchased a new LRT 1130-2.1 rough terrain crane and immediately deployed the machine to an open-cast lignite mine.
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Crane rental company and open-cast mining specialist Wasel, based in Bergheim, took delivery of Liebherr’s latest rough terrain crane with a 60m telescopic boom in January 2024. The LRT 1130-2.1 had become necessary because the machine components that need to be replaced on open-cast mining equipment and conveyor systems have grown larger and heavier – as an example, the conveyor belt rollers weighing up to 60 tonnes are a major challenge.
“We have already had very positive experiences with the Liebherr LRT 1100-2.1, but our fleet lacked a more powerful rough terrain crane with single tyres for the operator,” said Wasel’s Head of Mobile Cranes Bergheim, Christopher Neuhaus. “When we drive into the open-cast mine, we need a very powerful wheel-mounted telescopic crane.”
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On top of its 130-tonne lifting capacity, the LRT 1130-2.1 possesses a main telescopic boom of 60m that, with fixed jib attachments, can give the crane a maximum hoisting height of 85m and maximum operating radius of 66m. According to Liebherr, the crane was designed with economical transport and safe crane operation at the forefront of mind, possessing the ability to be transported on conventional low loaders anywhere in the world. Coming with Liebherr’s patented VarioBase and Telematik telescoping system that pins the boom fully automatically when the desired length is reached as well as being equipped with the large 29.5 R 25 tyres enabling solid ground clearance and traction, Neuhaus says the crane is in continuous operation at the RWE mine.
“The new Liebherr RT weighs a good 45 tonnes without ballast, and around 60 tonnes when ready for use,” he said. “This makes it relatively manoeuvrable, and it drives at up to 20km per hour with a sensational climbing ability of 60 per cent; this is extremely important in open-cast mining with washed-out roads and steep ramps.
“We take the ‘rough terrain crane’ category literally,” he said. “After all, we must use the large machines in all weather conditions and at all times of the year – so high ground clearance and climbing ability are extremely important.”
Wasel Kranverleih has been operating for 70 years and today possesses a fleet of around 400 employees as well as 150 units, with its flagship machine being the Liebherr LR 11000 crawler crane it uses for wind turbine assembly.
