Liebherr introduces new EC-B series

By MEq March 13, 2019 18:22

Liebherr presents a new Flat-Top series at Bauma 2019. Three of the eight units are equipped with fibre rope and therefore have ‘fibre’ added to their product title. Fibre rope has a four times longer service life than steel rope and enables fibre cranes to work with a significantly 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 6 to 16 tonnes and the maximum jib head load capacities range from 1.6 tonnes to 2.8 tonnes – working at a maximum radius. At full jib length, the units are among the largest in their class. The 125 EC-B 6 itself reaches a proud 58 meters. 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 78 meters. In addition, all cranes are optimized for assembly.

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 has been developed over a period of 10 years by Liebherr and the rope manufacturer Teufelberger.
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 doesn’t need 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
With more than two square meters 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 overview of the construction site – a crucial aspect for site 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. As well as this, the new cabin has several power sockets to plug in small electrical appliances such as a kettle or radio equipment. 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 devices in the cabin are networked together. 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. 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.

Optimized structural steelwork
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 maximum radius. 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.

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 1.2 meters, the 12 EC tower system is particularly suitable for construction sites where a very limited amount of space is predicted. 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.