July 8 - The compact new Liebherr LTC 1045-3.1 mobile crane operated by Berlin crane specialists M

The new 45-tonner provides added strength to the company's fleet, which offers a total of 15 cranes from 30 tonnes to 200 tonnes lifting capacity.

"We ordered the new LTC 1045-3.1 (pictured below) even before we had seen it. The concept was what convinced us", explain company owners Harry and Christian Müller. The decision regarding the black paint finish with the panther on the cab was taken spontaneously at the Bauma 2010, because this was the design chosen by Liebherr in which to present the new crane at the fair.

One major advantage for the Müllers is the lift cab of the LTC 1045-3.1, with which the crane driver can be raised to an eye height of nearly eight metres. The direct view of the installation situation and eye contact with the person directing the work makes matters much easier for the driver, as well as providing additional safety during crane operations.

With the variable single-cab concept of the LTC 1045-3.1, Liebherr says that it has created something entirely new among mobile cranes. The crane can provide the excellent travel performance of traditional all-terrain cranes but its its compact design means it is a good solution for lifting operations in extremely confined spaces, such as crane work in industrial halls.

For road travel, the crane cab is pushed to the front of the vehicle on a telescopic arm and secured in position mechanically. This provides optimum viewing conditions for the crane driver, and with the entirely new concept of the movable cab Liebherr have solved the problem of restricted view which is a disadvantage with city cranes. Nor is the view obstructed over the right side of the vehicle, because the lower edge of the telescopic boom remains below the driver's line of sight.

The LTC 1045-3.1 is designed as a taxi crane, which means that its total weight of 36 tonnes and axle load of 12 tonnes includes the complete counterweight of 6.5 tonnes, the double swing-away jib, 16 tyres, Telma eddy-current brake, 6 x 6 drive, and a hook block. And all this means that the new 45 tonner is ready for work immediately after it reaches the site.