Borger Crane Hire and Rigging Services has been working in the wind farm construction and maintenance sector for well over a decade. Recently, the business took delivery of a second Liebherr LG1750 lattice boom mobile crane which is ideally suited for wind farm construction and maintenance.
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Borger Crane Hire and Rigging Services General Manager Shawn Borger explains more about Borger’s wind farm construction capabilities in the renewable sector.
“We first started working in the wind farm sector over a decade ago and back then we were focused on the maintenance of the turbines. 2019 saw our first installation project of a new wind farm which was the Cattle Hill farm in Tasmania. That was quite a logistical challenge for us, as we had to deploy our 500-tonne capacity all terrain and our 600-tonne Demag crawler with assist cranes to install 30 turbines,” said Shawn.
“Over the last four to five years the wind farm sector has become a significant focus for our business, and we have been engaged on a number of successful projects. As a result of this, we have invested in new equipment which has furthered our expertise and capabilities in this sector. This includes the purchase of two Liebherr LG 1750s which are ideal for the construction of wind farms and large infrastructure projects,” he said.
According to the manufacturer, the Liebherr LG 1750 combines the best of two worlds. The Liebherr LG 1750 lattice boom mobile crane has the flexibility of a 750-tonne crawler crane combined with the mobility of a high-speed mobile crane. That means it combines the benefits of these two crane types in a single concept. This makes it the largest and strongest lattice boom mobile crane in the world and unrivalled in the market.
With a maximum hoist height of 193 metres, its high mobility and carrying capacity were decisive factors for Borger Crane Hire and Rigging Services in purchasing the LG 1750. Having the chassis of an all-terrain crane, the bottom part of the 8-axle crane is self-driving to any application site. Compared to a crawler crane, this reduces transport vehicles, thereby saving times and costs. Its vehicle width of less than three metres is a great advantage. This chassis, combined with a strong lattice boom of a crawler crane, makes the crane particularly powerful. The components can also be transported economically thanks to its transport weight of less than 45 tonnes.
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That makes the compact lattice boom mobile crane ideal for fast erection work for wind farm construction, industrial construction or infrastructure work. There is a large selection of boom configurations for the LG 1750 which have been specially enhanced for deployment in the wind industry. The latest generation of wind turbines with hub heights of up to 170 metres can be erected using the SX system. For Borger Crane Hire and Rigging Services, the main areas of application for the new eight axle will be in the wind segment and also infrastructure projects.
From an operations perspective, the wind farm sector is challenging the crane sector, said Shawn.
“The remote locations of many of the wind farms make for a unique set of logistical challenges for our business. We are continually investing in dedicated support equipment for our crane fleet, including trailers, and with hub heights increasing we have to be sure we are investing in the right cranes to keep up with our customers’ requirements. Today, cranes need to have large lifting capacities at increasing heights, and so we meet regularly with our suppliers to ensure we are ordering the right equipment – which in some instances secures the project for our business.
“Meeting regularly with the Crane OEMs also ensures we are across delivery times which can be critical for our customers. We have kept pace with the changing demands of customers by being quick and nimble with our business, enabling us to react to the changing demands,” said Shawn.
Borgers recently took delivery of the second Liebherr LG 1750, another significant investment by the business. Shawn explains the reasons for the continued investment in large capacity cranes.
“The construction industry is changing and evolving all the time and we have to keep up with these changes. The way we construct infrastructure projects is a good example, engineers are designing larger components and heavier loads to be lifted at greater heights and distances, therefore we need to ensure we have the equipment to service these requirements,” he said.
Shawn and his team have been impressed with the performance of the Liebherr LG 1750s.
“The Liebherr LG 1750s have been a game changer as far as wind farms are concerned. We have successfully completed two projects and both LG 1750s will be onsite in mid-April. But the cranes are also great all-rounders and will be available for all types of construction work. Although we primarily purchased them for windfarm work, we are looking to mobilise the Liebherr LG 1750 on a bridge construction project in South East Queensland,” said Shawn.
The LG 1750s are another significant investment in the latest technology by Borger Crane Hire and Rigging Services, which continues to invest in the fleet, said Shawn.
“Our continued investment in today’s crane technology is critical to our business. By investing in the latest technology, we are able to provide our clients with a complete package of cranage options. We see this as critical for our clients.
“We also invest in the latest and safest cranes for the benefit of our employees. Our operators and operational crews love the new equipment and always look after the gear as if it were their own. Our investment strategy also helps to attract new staff and retain existing crews,” said Shawn.
“With the new technology, our crews are confident of completing the task safely because new equipment minimises breakdowns, eliminating the frustrations of not finishing the job on time,” he continued.
“Wherever possible, our crews take pride in delivering our projects on time and in full.”
