The LR 1400.1 SX crawler crane from the Liebherr Group will be presented for the first time with derrick equipment and a suspended counterweight at this year’s Conexpo in Las Vegas.
The new derrick equipment is designed to expand the range of applications for the LR 1400.1 SX. It improves lifting capacity, especially for heavy lifts when the crane is set up with long booms and luffing jibs. This allows the crane to handle more demanding lifting tasks across different types of projects.
The suspended counterweight system includes a main and an additional counterweight. It can be adjusted using an infinitely variable hydraulic extension device. With the VarioTray system, the additional counterweight can be increased or reduced using counterweight slabs weighing 22,250 lb each. This can be done depending on job requirements and without using an auxiliary crane.
Position monitoring of the suspended counterweight helps improve safety during operation. If the counterweight is placed on the ground, the crane cannot turn, travel or move the counterweight.
The LR 1400.1 SX is designed as a multipurpose crane. It can be used on a wide range of projects, including infrastructure works such as bridges and tunnels, stadium and factory construction, energy sector projects, high-rise building work and barge applications. The Crane Planner 2.0 lift planning software can be used to select the right boom combination for a jobsite and simulate the lift in advance.
Safety was also a key focus in the design of the crane. One feature is the gradient travel aid, which helps the crane move safely on slopes. The control system calculates the centre of gravity and warns the operator before the crane leaves the safe working area. While travelling, the operator can see the permitted and actual gradient, as well as the crane’s overall centre of gravity. The boom angle can also be adjusted if needed to keep the machine within the safe range.
Another safety feature is ground pressure visualisation. The system calculates the crane’s ground pressure in real time and compares it with predefined safety limits for the jobsite. The information is displayed in the operator’s cabin so the operator can see if the crane is approaching a critical area. Ground pressure can also be reduced using ground pressure reduction plates. During lifting work, the operator can lower these plates to increase the crane’s ground contact area, which can reduce ground pressure by more than half. This is particularly useful when lifting long booms from the ground.
The crane is also equipped with a boom up-and-down assistant. When raising or lowering the boom, the system shows when the crane is approaching the tipping limit and stops operation before the operator enters an unsafe zone. The operator does not need to move the winches of the main boom and jib separately. Controlled folding of the jib begins with the press of a button, and the laying down process is controlled using a single joystick while the system selects the safest method.