Liebherr Portal Crane awarded Crane of the Year

 This is the third year in the row Liebherr has pocketed the award for its flexible designs, Liebherr said.

In 2009, Liebherr’s LHM 280 mobile harbour crane won the category.

Again in 2010, Liebherr’s LHM 500, a crane dedicated to bulk handling, took home the award.

During the ceremony at the Hilton in Antwerp, Belgium, IBJ officials handed the award over to the Liebherr executive who masterminded Liebherr’s mobile harbour crane concept, senior manager, design, Walter Mietschnig.

Liebherr explained that the LPS 600 can be constructed to meet client requirements for certain quays by altering rail spans, wheel configurations, power supply and portal heights.

The company said, “For specific requirements in certain markets, it is necessary to replace the conventional undercarriage through a portal to comply with the most stringent quay load restrictions or areal limitations of narrow quays.

“With the LPS-series, Liebherr is presenting a portal based solution. Due to a flexible portal construction regarding rail span, number of wheels, power supply and portal height, individual customer needs can be met,” Liebherr said.

Flexibility in construction of energy components means the crane can run on either a diesel or an electric engine (prime mover), or combine the power of each system with Liebherr’s Pactronic hybrid drive, which can save fuel costs and increase hoist speeds.

Liebherr says its typical LPS 600 is configured for dedicated bulk handling, uses a four-rope set up, has two 72USt winches, and reaches a boom height of 50m.

Of the 10 LPS 600s already in operation, two are currently working in Zonguldak, Turkey, for the energy and investment company Eren supporting a coal handling operation.

An additional four LPS 600s are now installed for Indian Adani Group after being delivered in 2010. One pair of gantry cranes is working at a multi-purpose terminal in Dahej and the other pair is working at the coal-handling terminal at the port of Mormugao.

Liebherr’s port crane markets remained steady this year, in which time it has delivered 49 mobile harbour cranes in four-rope configuration for dedicated bulk handling.

Liebherr has delivered 216 bulk-handling units in the past five years, it said.

Liebherr Portal Crane awarded Crane of the Year