Liebherr mobile cranes from Riga Mainz are playing a key role in constructing the new FAIR research facility in Darmstadt, Germany, where particle accelerators will be used for major international science projects.
On site, large pipeline bridges made of steel are being installed around the facility building. These structures, almost 20 metres high, will carry supply lines. The modules, weighing up to 87 tonnes, were transported 500 metres across narrow site roads on SPMTs before being lifted into place.
The first section could only be lifted with a Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 mobile crane due to limited space beside the building wall. The crane’s VarioBallast® system allowed it to work in conditions that would not have been possible for larger cranes.
“The installation situation here is incredibly tight,” said Andreas Webler, Project Planner at Riga Mainz. “The building wall means that this crane location is only possible with the LTM 1650-8.1. We only have a ballast radius of 6.40 metres for the pick-up and swinging of the load. To install the almost 87-tonne gross load at a distance of 23 metres, however, we had to increase it to 7.40 metres. That’s the unique thing about this crane: it can adapt to local conditions and use the tiniest corner of available space.”
Andreas said the compact design of the LTM 1650-8.1 was also a major benefit. “The highly compact support base – we had just 9.60 metres from claw to claw – allows us to build up the crane with full support. For me, these dimensions of the support base are a very decisive advantage. The footprint required by this crane, with its load-bearing capacity of 700 tonnes, is almost identical to that of the LTM 1450-8.1. This means that it can handle not just small parking spots, but we also have the option of sending the LTM 1650-8.1 to a job for the 450-tonne model if it’s tied up at another location. This gives our scheduling team maximum flexibility.”
The crane, equipped with a luffing jib and 175 tonnes of ballast, completed the lifting and assembly on 20-metre-tall reinforced concrete pillars quickly and smoothly. An LTM 1110-5.2 was used to set up the luffing boom.
“This mobile crane is our first Liebherr machine with the new LICCON3 control system. And we’ve already ordered more,” said Andreas. “We also recently received one of the first LTM 1100-5.3 cranes. With a width of just 2.55 metres and a basic ballast of 16.9 tonnes with a 12-tonne axle load for on-road driving, it really is fantastic as a setup crane for narrow spatial conditions. It will of course also be used for lots of crane work in halls. LICCON3, together with our in-house CAD planning, offers us many opportunities. We’re able to implement the plans on a one-to-one basis and always guarantee in advance that a crane job can be carried out as planned.”
Riga Mainz operates a fleet of nearly 50 Liebherr mobile and crawler cranes, supported by specialist transport equipment and heavy lifting systems. The company handles everything from refinery installations to bridge projects.
The FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) project is a joint effort between several countries. The facility will accelerate particles to almost the speed of light, helping scientists explore the structure of materials and the origins of the universe.