First Liebherr LRT 1100-2.1 in U.S. Speeds Assembly of Mining Truck

Jan. 23, 2023 – The first Liebherr LRT 1100-2.1 rough-terrain crane in the U.S. to be equipped with the new counterweight upgrade recently helped assemble a huge Liebherr mining truck four days faster than scheduled at a mine in Virginia.

In 2022, Liebherr upgraded the LRT 1100-2.1 by switching to lower-profile steel-cased counterweights, adding 1.1-USt to the total amount of counterweight, and adding an inclinometer.

As a result, the LRT 1100-2.1 now can lift more than before, offers inclination charts for up to 2° off level, and gives the operator better visibility through the cab’s rear window.

The upgraded LRT was taken to Virginia to help assemble an on-site mining truck. The rough terrain crane allowed smooth, rapid assembly of the T 264 mining truck.

Safety features and high lifting capacity made the rough terrain crane the top choice for this job. With no down time, the LRT 1100-2.1 also allowed the job to be finished four days ahead of schedule.

“It can be very hard to schedule cranes for builds like this,“ noted Thomas Coenen, Liebherr mining equipment product support representative. “Auxiliary cranes are often shared and used for maintenance of heavy mining equipment and other lifting needs around mining sites. In this instance, I was able to use the upgraded LRT from Prillaman’s crane rental. Using one crane that can lift the truck makes the project easier, and we can complete the build faster. This also meant no downtime or crane changes for different components to be lifted.“

The LRT 1100-2.1 includes many safety features as standard.

One of them is the Variobase variable outrigger system, which allows safe operation with asymmetric outrigger positions integrated into the load-moment indicator.

The crane also offers the LICCON controlled load moment limiter that minimizes accidents and human error as well as monitored two-hook operation, which allows safe rotation of loads.

“At any mine site safety is the biggest concern,” noted Beau Pocock, RT business development manager for Liebherr USA mobile and crawler cranes. “Any operation like this is planned out to use the safest methods possible. That is why the Liebherr LRT is the right machine for the job.”

The LRT also provides safe ascent to the crane with numerous handholds, a flat deck minimizing tripping hazards, as well as a larger cabin that tilts for better vision and ease-of-use on rough terrain.