MSG Krandienst GmbH, a company operating in the Franco-German border region near Strasbourg, is bolstering its fleet of heavy-duty cranes with the addition of two modern Liebherr models. Having received the LTM 1300-6.3 mobile crane a few days ago, the company will expand further in February with the delivery of an LTM 1650-8.1 equipped with two telescopic boom variants of 54 and 80 meters in length. With its signature blue cranes, MSG is positioned to meet the complex needs of infrastructure and energy projects across the Alsace-Baden region.
Björn Jatz, Managing Director of MSG, personally attended the crane handover in Ehingen, marking the acquisition of the 300-tonne mobile crane. “The 90-meter telescopic boom, which can be transported on roads with a 12-tonne axle load, was a key factor in our decision to purchase this crane,” said Jatz. “The addition of this crane completes our fleet of Liebherr large cranes, joining the LTM 1750-9.1 and LTM 1450-8.1, as well as three units of the LTM 1650-8.1. A significant benefit is the compatibility of lattice sections across these models, which we can also use on our new LTM 1300-6.3.”
The new 6-axle LTM 1300-6.3 offers advanced technical features, including VarioBase Plus and VarioBallast, as well as auto-ballast and wind-speed load charts, which enhance its utility in wind turbine maintenance. The crane also boasts versatile lattice jib configurations, ranging from an 11.5 to 20-meter double folding jib to a powerful 39-meter lattice-type fixed jib, and even a hydraulically adjustable 43-meter lattice jib. These features enable the crane to reach lifting heights up to 120 meters.
MSG Krandienst’s expanded fleet will support key infrastructure projects, including the expansion of the Rhine Valley railway line and increased maintenance on wind turbines in the Black Forest. These projects have ensured strong demand for the company, which operates 150 employees across locations in Freiburg, Kehl, and Strasbourg. MSG also anticipates high demand for crane services in the maintenance and repowering of older wind turbines, underscoring the value of their fleet’s large lifting capacities.
The company recently deployed one of its two LTM 1650-8.1 cranes to replace parts on an Enercon E-66 wind turbine at an elevation of 1,100 meters in the Black Forest. In a single day, the mobile crane completed the job, lifting the entire blade assembly in a dual-hook operation, replacing the generator, and reassembling it. For this complex task, the crane utilized Y-guying, a six-meter boom extension, and a small auxiliary jib. The heaviest lift involved 48 tonnes at a 25-meter radius, supported by 155 tonnes of counterweights.
As part of its fleet expansion, MSG will welcome a third LTM 1650-8.1 in early 2025 and an LTM 1230-5.1 in February, growing its collection of Liebherr mobile cranes to 55 units. With these additions, MSG Krandienst is ready to take on the demanding crane requirements of upcoming infrastructure and energy projects in the Rhine Valley and beyond.
