New EC-B cranes from Liebherr

Liebherr presented the 340 EC-B of its newest Flat-Top series at Conexpo Con/Agg 2020 in Las Vegas. Three of the eight units are equipped with fibre rope and therefore have ‘fibre’ added to their product title. Fibre rope’s service life is four times longer than steel rope and it enables fibre cranes to work with a signicantly higher load capacity. In addition, handling is noticeably easier compared to steel rope.

The first eight units of the new series already cover a wide range of services – from small city to large handling cranes, it’s all there. As a result, the maximum load capacities range from 13,200 to 35,200 lbs (6 to 16 t) and the maximum jib head load capacities range from 3,500 to 13,200 lbs (1.6 to 2.8 t) – working at a maximum radius. At full jib length, the units are among the largest in their class. The two largest cranes in the series, the 340 EC-B 12 and the 370 EC-B 12 Fibre each have a reach of up to 255 ft (78 m). In addition, all cranes are optimized for assembly

When developing the new series, Liebherr also focused on the comfort of crane operators and safety on the construction site: The new LiCAB cabin is significantly larger and has a greater field of vision. In addition, the new top-slewing cranes have a new, central control element: a multi-touch display. Integrated advertising panels are part of the new design and offer improved promotional visibility.

Fibre cranes – models with fibre rope feature

Particular highlights of the new EC-B series are the 240 EC-B Fibre and 370 EC-B Fibre cranes. These are equipped with soLITE high-tensile fibre rope, which Liebherr and rope manufacturer Teufelberger developed over a period of 10 years.

As well as the fibre cranes offering up to 20 percent more jib head load capacity when compared to cranes using steel rope, the service life of fibre rope is also four times longer than a steel rope. As the fibre rope only weighs around a fifth of steel rope, reeving the hoist rope is also significantly easier in terms of handling. In addition, maintenance is less complicated as the fibre rope needs no lubrication.

Operational safety is also noticeably increased: The different elements of the rope’s outer layer wear out at a different pace – the crane operator knows it’s time to replace the rope when the red layer underneath the sheath becomes visible.

Increased comfort for crane operators

Size matters: With more than 21.5 ft2 (2 m2) of space, the new cabin has more room than any EC-B cabin before. Because of its larger field of vision, crane operators have a better view of the construction site – a crucial aspect of safety.

As well as ergonomically positioned operating elements, crane operators will find a variety of storage options and surfaces – including details like a cup holder. In addition, the new cabin has several electrical power sockets for small electrical appliances and accessories. In addition to the standard 230 V sockets, there are also USB interfaces to provide power for items such as smartphones. Speaking of smartphones: It is also possible to make phone calls via a hands-free system using Bluetooth and to play your own music.

The new display makes the operation of cabin and crane functions much easier and more intuitive: The new 12-inch multi-touch display ensures all cabin control functions are integrated. This means that all control settings, such as scaling via the newly developed scaling assistant, setting the enhanced ABB operating-range limiting system and using the trolley camera can all be done via the display. Comfort functions such as air conditioning, radio, and windshield wipers are also controlled via the new display. Whenever there is an update available for the Tower Crane Operating System, this is indicated on the display and can be loaded with a single tap of the finger. 

The cabin is available in three options: The LiCAB Basic, the LiCAB Air with air conditioning, and the premium LiCAB AirPlus version with air conditioning, double glazing, and tiltable side windows.

Eye-catching and modern: a new design with larger advertising panels

The now widely recognised bi-color design of Liebherr tower cranes is part of the new EC-B series. Upon customer request, the yellow sections can be easily and cost-effectively adapted to the respective company’s colors.

The crane’s advertising panels are twice as large as previous options – without any loss of assembly height. For example, the 340 EC-B 12 and the 370 EC-B 12 Fibre both offer customers an additional 97 ft2 (8.5 m2) of advertising space for company logos and advertising slogans, with the additional option of lighting.

Optimized structural steelwork: smaller, lighter, even more performance

Several details at the top of the crane have been optimized for transport and assembly: The new EC-B’s compact head, jib, and trolley are lighter than their predecessors. In addition, the jib is now so narrow that three jib sections fit onto a truck bed. Compared with similar Liebherr cranes, even the shortest jib requires one whole transport truck less – and at least two less at the maximum radius. This saves both time and money. The new cranes have also been designed with optimized quick assembly connections for jibs and counter-jibs, to make assembly even easier and, above all else, safer.

The new EC-B series makes use of the tower systems’ performance capacity. Even the current largest, new EC-B, the 370 EC-B 12 Fibre, works using the 21 HC 290 tower system with corner posts measuring only 6,900 ft (2.1 m). This is one of the most widely used Liebherr tower systems.

Liebherr has also developed a new tower system, the 12 EC 125, for the 125 EC-B 6 as part of the new series. With its extremely slim corner posts measuring 3,900 ft (1.2 m), the 12 EC tower system is particularly suitable for construction sites where space is very limited. The 12 EC tower system comes in two lifting capacities: the 12 EC 100 and the 12 EC 125. 

The first eight cranes in the new EC-B series are the 125 EC-B 6, the 220 EC-B 10, the 220 EC-B 12, the 240 EC-B 10 Fibre, the 240 EC-B 12 Fibre, the 340 EC-B 12, the 340 EC-B 16 and the 370 EC-B 12 Fibre.

Source: Liebherr