Following its recent arrival in South Africa, manufacturing company Liebherr’s LICCON3 crane technology has generated strong interest from the heavy lifting industry.

Two of the country’s leading crane hire companies, Concord Cranes and Marlboro Crane Hire, are among the first to receive the new 100 t LICCON3 cranes, the LTM 1100-5.3.

To date, Marlboro Crane Hire has operated a 125-strong fleet, offering professional lifting solutions with a maximum lifting capacity of 1 200 t. The latest purchase is part of a larger fleet replacement programme targeting cranes over 80 t.

Meanwhile, Concord Cranes offers a range of heavy lift solutions, including crane hire, expert rigging services and specialised transport solutions. It is part of the larger Bud Group, a diversified manufacturing and distribution group.

Concord Cranes CEO Wayne McCullagh, expresses excitement at the expected seamless transition to the new LICCON3 crane control system, as the crane is designed to limit teething problems.

“With the new LICCON3 system, one will experience the same familiar simplicity of LICCON2, now enhanced with a modern interface and the practical engineering excellence that Liebherr is known for,” McCullagh states.

Moreover, according to Marlboro Crane Hire MD Kathleen Dias, several factors influenced its decision to buy the LICCON3. These include the “technically advanced concept” – particularly the upgrades in computing power, software and data handling, designed to improve efficiency and safety across sites – as well as the “eye-catching” design.

“The first thing that attracted us was the aesthetically pleasing design of the LICCON3 cranes. For me, details matter, and this crane boasts a sleek, modern and high- quality appearance . . . It is one of the most beautiful cranes that I have ever [seen],” Dias explains.

In addition, she mentions that the advanced technology on the crane is key to improving safety performance – a key parameter in lifting operations. Dias adds that safety is the foremost priority in lifting operations, driven by the need to prevent fatal injuries and the high cost of downtime.

She notes that Liebherr’s LICCON3 technology increases safety through a combination of enhanced, real-time load monitoring, advanced driver assistance systems and improved, intuitive operator control.

As the third generation of this system, it provides faster data processing and better visualisation of critical safety data, helping to prevent accidents caused by human error or unforeseen site conditions.

Additionally, the LICCON3 works with Liebherr’s VarioBase – a variable supporting system for mobile cranes that enables each outrigger to be extended independently to any length, enhancing safety and capacity in constricted spaces. The improved interaction between the crane and the VarioBase system helps to measure the extension length and support force of each individual outrigger.

When combined with the crane controller, the system helps calculate the maximum permissible lifting capacities in real-time for that specific, potentially non-symmetrical setup, preventing overloads in tight spaces.

Key Improvements

Commenting on some key improvements on the LICCON3, Liebherr-Africa mobile and crawler cranes sales manager Francois Pretorius highlights its enhanced operational efficiency, improved safety systems and a redesigned interface for easier operation.

“The overall design has been refined for better performance, reduced maintenance requirements and increased reliability. These upgrades collectively provide a more advanced and user-friendly solution that meets the growing demands of our customers such as Marlboro Crane Hire,” explains Pretorius.

Additionally, the touchscreen function on the larger, new display in the superstructure cab makes the crane easier to control, and the way in which the information is displayed has been revised and simplified.

One of the major advantages is the RemoteDrive, which when combined with Liebherr’s BTT-E remote control, allows the driver/operator to position the crane from outside the cab, while observing the surroundings.

Reliable Support

Apart from the product itself, Dias stresses the importance of strong aftermarket support – spare parts availability, technical support and service networks – when buying cranes because, in the heavy-lifting industry, downtime is the primary driver of financial losses.

As Liebherr cranes are known for their durability, with a typical operating life of over 30 years, Dias states the service reliability largely swayed her company’s decision to buy the new crane.

Liebherr is Marlboro Crane Hire’s preferred supplier in the large crane range, with it supporting about 30% of Marlboro’s overall crane fleet, she adds.

“As a lifting company, we treat aftermarket support as a critical factor in ensuring that our investment remains operational, safe and profitable throughout its [life]. With Liebherr-Africa, we have quick access to technicians and spare parts, thus maximising equipment uptime,” Dias states.

She points out that Marlboro Crane Hire appreciates the partnership it has with Liebherr-Africa, noting that her company is treated with the “utmost respect”, in addition to having direct access to all decision- makers, which facilitates tailored solutions that meet Marlboro Crane Hire’s specific requirements.

Pretorius adds that Concord Cranes is excited about the opportunities that the LICCON3 technology brings to the region and is confident that it will set new benchmarks for performance, reliability and efficiency.

“As Liebherr-Africa, our commitment is to provide the highest level of support and technical expertise to our customers, ensuring long-term value with every investment” he concludes.