Liebherr LR 11000 Makes North American Debut
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March 11, 2014 - Liebherr first showed its 1,200-ton LR 1000 crawler crane to the North American market last week at ConExpo-Con/Agg. The LR 11000 is ideal for handling offshore wind turbines and foundation structures at ports.
The large number of boom versions means that the Liebherr LR 11000 can cover a wide range of applications. The standard “S” main boom and “W” luffing jib enables the crane to achieve various boom systems, including a strong PowerBoom system with a heavy luffing jib. Only the “P” adapter is required as a supplement for this purpose. Main “S” boom operation is possible with a 2.2 million-lb. head or a 1.4 million-lb. head.
The LR 11000 uses the PowerBoom system as standard and operates with a ballast trailer and all winches to ensure that simple retrofitting is possible. In addition, special equipment with a fixed jib for assembling wind turbines with high towers is expected to be available on the crane.
The “P” boom design has been borrowed from the 3,300-ton LR 13000 crawler. The new LR 11000 includes parts from the luffing jib for the PowerBoom, which means that the main boom sections can be used to ensure a particularly strong luffing jib.
Other innovative concepts have been taken from the 1,500-ton LR 11350 crawler, including infinitely adjustable radius of the derrick ballast, which can be extended to larger radii with fixed lattice guide. The central crawler section including the slewing ring and bottom section of the slewing platform forms a transport unit and can be connected to the slewing platform using just four bolts. This means that there is no need for a quick-release connection. The undercarriage features a 360° platform with railings, which can be accessed from two sides using access ladders. The platform provides safe, easy access to the slewing platform and crane cab.
A large number of details to make transport, operation, and erection easier have also been borrowed from the LR 1600/2. This includes the removable A-frame including reeving system, fall protection equipment and stacking supports for lattice sections. The new crane cab also was originally developed for the LR 1600/2, and the LICCON2 controller provides extended setup facilities and monitored erection for the LR 11000.
The LR 11000 has been designed so that it can be used in constricted areas like refineries. The basic crane is compact and has a track width of 30’2”. The suspended ballast can be moved to a minimum of 39’4” to the basic machine.
The crawler chains are 6’7” wide and there are plans to produce an optional 7’10” version. The crawler chassis features a four-way drive unit as standard.
A 680-hp Liebherr V8 diesel engine is used to power the LR 11000. The hoist ropes are 32 mm in diameter, and the hoist winches perform a line pull of 51,750 lbs.
Crane Transporting
The LR 11000 is designed for a transport width of 11’6” and a transport height of 10’6”. The crawler carrier and central crawler section each weight 132,300 lbs. and are the heaviest transport packages. The individual weights can be reduced to 99,200 lbs. for regions with critical transport infrastructures. As normal on Liebherr crawler cranes, the lightweight lattice sections can be retracted into large heavy sections to reduce transport volume.
The ballasts take the form of 22,050-lb. Liebherr standard cast plates and can be used universally on all Liebherr crawler crane models. The LR 11000 operates with a maximum of 551,250 lbs. slewing platform ballast, 198,450 lbs. of central ballast, and up to 992,000 lbs. of derrick ballast. The derrick ballast is infinitely adjustable up to 66 ft. and with a fixed lattice guide it can be operated at radii of 66 ft., 82 ft., or 98 ft.
