Liebherr Delivers First LTC 1050-3.1 Compact Cranes With Rope-Pull Boom Mechanism

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Liebherr’s 50-ton, three-axle LTC 1050-3.1 compact crane is now available with a rope-pull boom as well as a Telematik boom. (Photo courtesy of Liebherr.)

A couple of contractors approached Liebherr at the bauma trade show in 2019, asking the manufacturer to develop a version of its 50-ton (50-metric-ton) LTC 1050-3.1 telescopic boom truck crane with a rope-pull boom. They argued that some users who use the compact crane inside buildings prefer a familiar, speedy rope-pull mechanism over the newer Liebherr Telematik boom.

After Bauma, Liebherr’s design team in Ehingen, Germany, set to work. In December 2020, Liebherr debuted the new rope-pull LTC 1050-3.1, and in October 2021 the company delivered the first models to the crane rental contractors who requested it, namely Wasel in Bergheim near Cologne, Germany, and Felbermayr in Wels, Austria.

“Today, customers can choose between the powerful, long Telematik boom and the high-speed, familiar rope-pull mechanism,” says Liebherr Engineering and Development Director, Ehingen facility, Dr. Ulrich Hamme. “Depending on the applications for which the compact crane is needed, one or the other variant is better-suited.”

Matching The Application

“The LTC 1050-3.1 is a good compact crane, which particularly comes into its own when used inside buildings,” says Felbermayr’s Magister Peter Stöttinger. “However, Telematik was not really a familiar technology for our crane operators in the compact crane segment. The rope-pull mechanism has been in use for decades on small cranes and is very widespread. Our operators are very familiar with it and have come to appreciate it over many years.”

“It also takes slightly longer to extend and retract the boom using Telematik,” says Matthias Wasel of Wasel. “Particularly when we are working inside buildings, where production often has to be stopped, every minute counts. Fast telescoping with a high load is worth its weight in gold in these situations, which is why we directly approached Liebherr with our experience at the bauma.”

“We are always delighted when our customers come to us with valuable insights and requests, regardless of whether they refer to crane jibs, technologies, or complete booms,” says Dr Hamme. “This is yet another great example for our view that we should drive forward developments together in partnership. So it is a great pleasure for us to be able to hand over the first cranes featuring this boom technology.”

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The LTC 1050-3.1 also now comes with more storage space, including a new side compartment between the axles. (Photo courtesy of Liebherr.)

Boom Options

The new boom with the rope-pull mechanism is 102 feet (31 meters) long. It can extend quickly and provide high lift capacity during the telescoping operation. The maximum hoist height for the rope-pull boom is 141 ft (43 m), while its maximum radius is 125 ft (38 m).

The rope-pull boom consists of a pivot section and four telescoping sections. A dual-action, two-stage hydraulic cylinder actuates the boom extension. The first stage extends the first section, and the second stage uses a two-way pulley block to simultaneously extend sections two, three, and four.

The original boom for the LTC 1050-3.1 crane, the five-section Telematik unit, extends from 27 to 118 ft (8.2 to 36 m). It can extend its telescoping sections independently of each other, providing greater lifting capacities and a wider radius. With a lattice jib, the Telematik boom can attain a maximum hoist height of 157 ft (48 m) and a maximum radius of 130 ft (39.6 m).

The Liebherr LTC 1050-3.1

The LTC 1050-3.1 is an all-wheel-drive, all-wheel-steer taxi crane that can carry all of its equipment and ballast at an axle load of 13.2 tons (12 metric tons). The truck crane can reach 53 mph (85 km/h) on the way to the jobsite.

The operator can get a better view of the worksite in the optional telescoping elevating cab or outside of it with the optional RemoteDrive system. RemoteDrive controls the driving of the LTC 1050-3.1 as well as crane operations.

A single 326-horsepower (243-kilowatt), six-cylinder Cummins diesel engine powers the crane. Liebherr’s VarioBase option allows the LTC 1050-3.1’s outriggers to extend to different lengths in constricted areas. A new side camera supplies a view of the right-hand side of the vehicle, which is most important when the boom has been luffed down for the lowest clearance height.

Find The Right Liebherr Crane

You’ll find hundreds of new and used Liebherr cranes for sale on CraneTrader, including telescopic boom truck cranes like the LTC 1050-3.1.

Source: Liebherr