A Liebherr LTM 1300-6.3 mobile crane recently demonstrated its resilience by replacing a defective gearbox on an 18-year-old wind turbine at the “Steinriegel” wind farm in Styria, Austria. The challenging task took place on a mountain ridge at an altitude of nearly 1,600 meters, where gusts reached up to thirteen meters per second.
Equipped with a 90-meter boom and special “WindSpeed Load Charts,” the mobile crane can operate in higher permissible wind speeds. Despite the adverse weather conditions, the crane efficiently replaced the twelve-tonne gearbox in the turbine’s nacelle, situated at a height of approximately 65 meters.
Crane operator Robert Fuhrmann praised the crane’s adaptability, stating, “As the day went on, the gusts got stronger, and I switched straight to the wind chart.” The crane’s advanced features allowed Fuhrmann to configure load charts that permitted work in wind speeds of up to 13.4 meters per second, well beyond the standard range.
The Liebherr LTM 1300-6.3’s ability to handle windy conditions is crucial for wind turbine operations, where unpredictable weather can disrupt schedules. Fuhrmann successfully navigated the challenging journey to the site, overcoming a six-kilometer gravel track with tight serpentine bends and gradients exceeding ten percent.
With its advanced ECOmode control system, the crane minimizes fuel consumption and noise emissions, automatically disengaging the pump drive when power is not required. The crane’s versatility extends to other applications, including lifting heavy transformer houses and construction crane assembly.
Felbermayr, the company operating the crane, has a vast portfolio covering heavy haulage, large transport, and infrastructure projects. The Liebherr LTM 1300-6.3, in service for around five months, has already proven its capabilities on various wind farm projects in Austria.
Despite the challenging conditions, precise teamwork and the crane’s advanced features ensured the successful replacement of the gearbox. The LTM 1300-6.3’s impressive lifting heights of up to 120 meters, coupled with its mobility and adaptability, make it an ideal choice for wind turbine maintenance and construction crane assembly.
