Liebherr has set a new world record with its newly launched all-terrain crane, which is the first mobile crane in the world to carry a 90-metre telescopic boom with an axle load of just 12 tonnes.

The new LTM 1300-6.3 is a 300t model that is an addition to the portfolio of Liebherr 6-axle cranes. The manufacturer says it is a “versatile, economical fast-erecting crane with a peerless telescopic boom length”. The latest Liebherr innovations are included to enable the LTM 1300-6.3 deliver economical, safe, powerful crane operation – ECOmode, ECOdrive, VarioBasePlus, VarioBallast, Auto-Ballast, single-engine concept and wind speed load charts. The LTM 1300-6.2 will remain in the portfolio as the entry point model into the class of luffing jib cranes, said Liebherr.

“With its 90m telescopic boom, the LTM 1300-6.3 sets new standards in the 6-axle class and goes well beyond what the current cranes on the market have to offer. It is designed to be used as a fast-erecting crane with a high capacity at great hoist heights with a raised boom. That makes it ideal for erecting tower cranes and antennae as well as for wind turbine maintenance work,” said a statement from Liebherr.

“The LTM 1300-6.2 with 78m telescopic boom, offered by Liebherr in parallel, is the economical entry into the luffing jib class and in this configuration already offers unrivalled load capacities for a 6-axle mobile crane,” it added.

Liebherr said it has made it possible to drive the LTM 1300-6.3 with different axle loads and gross weights, to ensure that it can be driven economically all over the world. Components such as the telescopic boom and outriggers can be installed and removed quickly and easily to achieve axle loads of less than 12t. A feature called tele-separation enables individual telescopic sections to be removed quickly, making it straightforward to set up the crane for the road with a gross weight of less than 60t and axle loads of under 10t, said Liebherr.

The crane can also be had with a self-assembly solution, which enables the telescopic sections to be removed without the need for an auxiliary crane. This is compatible with other models, such as the LTM 1650-8.1 and the LTM 1450-8.1. The flexibility and economy of the crane is increased greratly as a result, said Liebherr.

The record-breaking aspect of the LTM 1300-6.3 is its 90m boom, achieved by using an 8-section telescopic boom – the pivot section plus seven telescopic sections. That is one section more than similar cranes in this class, says Liebherr. To ensure that the complete boom as well as all the outriggers plus the hook block can be carried on public roads with an axle load of 12t, Liebherr said it has optimised the entire steel construction of the crane for lightweight construction.

Although the LTM 1300-6.3 is not designed for use as a luffing jib crane, it has a wide range of lattice jibs available – 11.5 to 20m double folding jib, two 7m lattice sections to extend the telescopic boom, a 39m powerful fixed jib and a 43m hydraulically adjustable fixed jib. These enable the new 300t crane to reach hoist heights of up to 120m. The various lattice sections are also compatible with other models in the Liebherr portfolio.

Load charts for various wind speeds are available for the LTM 1300-6.3. They deliver enhanced safety and longer operating times for crane work in windy conditions. Load charts for cranes are generally only valid for gust wind speeds of up to 9m/s. To ensure that work can continue safely in even higher wind speeds, Liebherr has calculated the load charts for additional maximum wind speeds and programmed them in the crane control system. For the LTM 1300-6.3 it is 11.2m/s, or even 13.4 m/s when using lattice equipment. In pure telescope mode, the tables even allow for a speed of 15.6m/s. If the wind speed measured on the crane’s boom during a job exceeds the set chart wind speed, the crane operator can simply switch to a load chart with a higher maximum wind speed, which will often allow the job to be continued.

Other innovations include the VarioBase®Plus, with which the rear supports achieve a support width of 9.4m, 2m wider than the front supports, to increase capacity over the rear supports. The powerful ECOdrive Liebherr engine is an eight-cylinder diesel in the undercarriage putting out 619bhp and a torque of 3,068Nm. The power is transferred to the crane axles by a 12-speed ZF TraXon torque gearbox.

The maximum ballast on the LTM 1300-6.3 is 88t. The 10t suspended ballast blocks on the right and left are compatible with Liebherr’s LTM 1230-5.1 and LTM 1250-5.1 crane models, which make them another economical solution for operators with these cranes in their fleets, sad Liebherr. The individual ballast slabs have been modified in terms of their weight and dimensions to make them suitable for economical transport and fast, easy set up on site. All the ballast can be placed on the crane with just five hoists.

A new option is the central lubrication system for the king pin bearings on the chassis, delivering grease to 24 lube points on the 6-axle crane automatically. A total of six LED rear lights can also be ordered for better illumination of the job-site.