Liebherr has been providing the wind energy sector with purpose-designed and manufactured cranes for more than 30 years. As the sector continues to evolve, with turbines adhering to the slogan “Higher, Faster, Further,” cranes must keep pace.
Hans Joerg Nothacker (Hansi), Liebherr Australia’s General Manager of Mobile Cranes, highlights the development and evolution of wind farm-related products and shares insights into future advancements.
The legacy of the “Liebherr Gittermastkran” (LG), which translates to “Liebherr Lattice Boom Crane,” began 35 years ago with the LG 1550. This crane introduced the unique concept of a lattice boom crane mounted on a wheeled chassis.
The LG 1550 initially operated on the PAT system before Liebherr transitioned to the LICCON system. By 2002, Liebherr had delivered more than 50 units of this type. Notably, one LG 1550 unit remains operational in New Zealand with Tim Smith of Smith Cranes & Construction and his team still serving wind projects around the country.
LG 1750
Introduced in 2003 as the successor to the LG 1550, the LG 1750 featured the state-of-the-art LICCON 1 system. Initially designed to cater to hub heights of up to 140 metres – considered cutting-edge at the time – the LG 1750 received a significant upgrade in 2018 with the introduction of the SX-system boom. This enhancement allowed it to reach hub heights of up to 165m, using heavier main boom sections, a longer derrick system, and additional counterweight. By 2024, Liebherr had delivered more than 140 units worldwide.
Hansi explains why the LG 1750 has been widely regarded as the go-to crane for businesses engaged in wind farm construction and maintenance. He also discusses its presence in Australia, performance, and the importance of Liebherr’s support services for such intricate equipment.
“Australia’s wind farms are characterised by narrow connection roads between lift pads, hilly terrain, and steep gradients. The unique wheeled chassis of the LG minimises relocation time between towers, whereas conventional crawler cranes must be completely disassembled and separately transported,” said Hansi.
“Currently, there are over 15 LG 1750 units in the market, with the majority located on the East Coast. For us, possessing the expertise to service such complex and critical equipment is crucial to minimising downtime, which can be costly for our customers. Additionally, we stock critical LG 1750 parts at all our spare parts holdings across the country.”
LG 1800-1.0
Released in 2024, the LG 1800-1.0 succeeded the LG 1750 and introduced several key upgrades, including the LICCON 2 system, improved roadability through a redesigned chassis, and updated boom and derrick systems. These enhancements enable hub heights of up to 180m. The first units have already entered the market, with some expected to arrive in Australia soon.
Development of the LG 1800-1.0 focused on worldwide roadability, accommodating wider tyre sizes to meet road access requirements across Australian states and the United States. Its reinforced chassis and upgraded boom sections allow it to operate at up to 180m with the derrick (15m more than the LG 1750) and up to 120m without the derrick (20m more than the LG 1750).
Suitable for All Markets Thanks to Flexible Driving Modes
A highlight of the new 9-axle vehicle is its unique chassis: Thanks to the special arrangement of its axles, the lattice boom crane is suitable for all markets worldwide. With an axle load of just ten tonnes, the crane can drive on public roads with all four supports and a total weight of 90 tonnes. Alternatively, transport is possible with only two supports and a total weight of 70 tonnes, as well as completely without supports at around 50 tonnes.
In contrast to its predecessor, the 8-axle LG 1750, the folding beams on the new 800-tonne crane are not telescopic. The required support base of 13 x 13 metres is sufficient for the LG 1800-1.0 to achieve enormous load capacities with the derrick system and very good erectable lengths without the derrick system. The benefit: Fixed supports are more stable and save weight. They are also easier to attach and detach as Liebherr has installed a quick coupling system. The new crane has one more axle than its predecessor, and Liebherr uses the standard axles from the LTM crane product portfolio.
Ideal for the Wind Industry
With a chassis width of just three metres, the powerful lattice boom crane can be moved extremely economically both on the road and on construction sites and can even cope with gradients of up to 25 per cent. These properties are particularly beneficial when working in wind farms.
As the mobile counterpart, the LG 1800-1.0 can adopt the familiar boom systems of the LR 1800-1.0. There is both a main boom up to 180 metres long and a main boom-luffing jib combination with up to 108 metres of main boom and 102 metres of luffing jib, allowing for a maximum hook height of 208 metres. Optimised wind power boom systems ensure safe and flexible operation in gusty conditions, with permissible wind speeds of up to 13.4 metres per second.
The Legend Grows – with a Modified Slewing Platform
A further advantage: The equipment of the LG 1800-1.0 is compatible with the equipment of the LR 1800-1.0. All accessories, from the head section to the lattice-type fixed jibs and whip line, are identical. The ten-tonne counterweight plates can also be used for other Liebherr crawler cranes – saving costs and reducing transport distances. The primary difference is the LG 1800-1.0’s modified slewing platform, which allows longer boom systems to be erected without a derrick.
Future Challenges and Solutions
Hansi discusses the challenges posed by the renewable energy sector, including the trend toward taller turbines with modular build systems.
“In Europe, initial discussions about 200m-high hub heights are already on the drawing board. So far, no conventional mobile crane on the market can achieve such heights. However, once these turbines enter the market, Liebherr will have the right lifting solutions to support such wind turbine generators,” he said. “Looking into the future of the domestic Australian wind market, we are anticipating that the current population of LG 1750 cranes will remain busy. Considering all the wind projects slated for the next years, I’m confident the wind sector will keep our customers, and their machines, engaged, which is a positive outlook for our industry.”