Liebherr LTM 1160-5.2 Constructing Electricity Pylons Near Austrian Alps

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Liebherr’s LTM 1160-5.2 all-terrain crane has played a critical role in constructing pylons for the Salzburg line infrastructure project. (Photo courtesy of Liebherr.)

The Salzburg line is a major Austrian electricity infrastructure project that will improve the security of power supplied to Salzburg and consists of high-voltage cables carrying 380 kilovolts. Austrian crane contractor Prangl GmbH has been working full-time this year on the edge of the Austrian Alps to construct pylons for the line using a Liebherr LTM 1160-5.2 all-terrain mobile crane. Prangl also uses Liebherr’s LTM 1090-4.2 and LTM 1070-4.2 to climb higher-gradient access routes. The three Liebherr cranes have operated at altitudes as high as 1,800 metres (5,905 feet) above sea level.

Lifting High In The Mountains

The LTM 1160-5.2 gives Prangl the flexibility to lift pylons in different configurations, a necessity due to the unique environments and the inconsistent pylon heights. In some cases, the crane contractor needs to configure the LTM 1160-5.2 for its maximum height, which can be achieved with help from telescopic extensions from the firm’s other LTM all-terrain cranes.

“Three telescopic extensions, each measuring 7 metres on the 62-metre boom and the 19-metre double folding jib enable us to reach a maximum hoist height of 99 metres,” says Oliver Thum, technical external services specialist for Prangl. “We bought a telescopic extension especially for this job. We have obtained two others from one of our other Liebherr cranes from our branch in Vienna.”

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The VarioBase support system of Liebherr’s mobile cranes provides the flexible support necessary on the project’s extremely restricted Alpine jobsites. (Photo courtesy of Liebherr.)

Access & Setup On Steep Slopes

“On some occasions, we actually had to put snow chains on our crane to get to the site,” says Thum. “The steepest access route that we had to cover with the LTM 1160-5.2 was around 23%.”

The LTM 1090-4.2 and LTM 1070-4.2, by comparison, were used to climb access routes with gradients of 26%. When the cranes reached the jobsite, Liebherr’s VarioBase support system played a key role ensuring safe lifts in the project’s restricted conditions. In fact, Prangl only sent Liebherr cranes with VarioBase to accomplish mountain installations for this project.

Find Your Next All-Terrain Liebherr Crane

CraneTrader.com.au is a great resource for locating all types of new and used Liebherr cranes for sale, including all-terrain cranes like the LTM 1160-5.2, as well as models in the LTM 1070 and LTM 1090 series.

Source: Liebherr