Bigge expands rental fleet with acquisition of Liebherr's newest crawler crane at bauma 2022

On the first day of bauma 2022, Liebherr handed over two new crawler cranes to Bigge – an LR 1400 SX and an LR 1700-1.0. These new models are joining Bigge's rental fleet, which includes over one hundred crawler and mobile cranes from Liebherr.

As the demand for lifting heavier loads continues to grow, Liebherr's LR 1400 SX is the resulting crane that excels due to its ease of operation and load capacity of 440 tons. During the handover of the LR 1400 SX crawler crane, Bigge emphasized that the crane on display at bauma is one of many more models that will be added to their fleet, with three more units already on order. The purchase represents Bigge's commitment to offering an ideal fleet to contractors and partners everywhere.

The LR 1400 SX has several features that make it stand out – including ease of transport and assembly. The heaviest part of transport is the uppercarriage. It includes the carbody centre section and the A-frame – parts that never need to be disassembled. Even the walkways and railings can easily be folded up and remain on the crane for transport.

Thanks to the crane's self-assembly system, it is easy to assemble and disassemble the hoist winches, crawlers, carbody counterweight, and boom sections without a service crane. The crane can even lift, lower, and secure the 165 tons rear counterweight hydraulically. The rear counterweight itself is modular and can be equipped with 5.5 or 11-ton counterweight slabs, depending on the requirements.

The LR 1400 SX is equipped with a powerful 450 kW Liebherr diesel engine. The crawlers are now equipped with four drive motors that make it easier to maneuver on construction sites with difficult ground conditions.

Bigge currently operates two LR 1700-1.0 crawler cranes and has ordered a third for delivery in 2023, intended for use in industrial construction and wind power. Bigge will then operate, what the company claims is, the largest fleet of this type of crane in the U.S.

The LR 1700-1.0 combines the benefits of economical transport of 660-ton class crawler cranes with the performance of 825-ton class lattice boom cranes and also features all the innovations of Liebherr's crawler crane developments from recent years.

The boom of the LR 1700-1.0 can be raised to a height of up to 650 ft, comprising the main boom at 334 ft and a luffing jib at 314 ft. These lattice sections enable the crane to be used in purely main boom mode with a length of up to 531 ft. Minimal wear is becoming more and more important for moving the crawler travel gear, particularly during jobs at wind farms. Liebherr engineers have made the structural steelwork for the crawler carriers strong and increased the size of the rollers. The four-fold drive for the travel gear is standard.

Two more LR 1500s and LTM 1230-5.1s on order for delivery in 2023

Bigge operates one of the largest fleets of LR 1500s in the U.S. Two more LR 1500s are on order for delivery in 2023. For the first of these, Bigge has ordered equipment for wind power and industrial applications.

Bigge will also expand its fleet of all-terrain cranes with an order of two LTM 1230-5.1 cranes from Liebherr to be delivered in 2023.