Construction has reached new heights in Karlskrona with the completion of NKT Tower 3, now standing as the second tallest tower in Scandinavia at 200 metres. Built in just 90 days, the remarkable speed of the project was made possible thanks to the deployment of two high-performance Liebherr luffing jib cranes – the 542 HC-L 12/24 Litronic and the 258 HC-L 10/18 Fibre.
The tower, constructed by Skanska, will play a key role in NKT’s high-voltage submarine cable factory – the world’s largest of its kind – supplying wind turbines and solar parks with essential components. With a total weight of 28,000 tonnes, NKT Tower 3 represents a major milestone in modern engineering.
Given the ambitious construction schedule, Liebherr provided a tailor-made crane solution through close collaboration between its Tower Crane Center (TCC) and Tower Crane Solutions (TCS). Both cranes were sourced from Liebherr’s rental fleet to meet the tight deadline.
“To secure 24/7 operation, we moved key spare parts such as a new fibre rope and various modules directly onto site in advance so that time isn’t lost if these are needed,” explained Stefan Gröber, Head of TCC Used & Rental.
Liebherr’s TCS team also supplied detailed calculations for optimal tie-in geometries, coordinated tower bracing, and ensured correct power supply and rope length configurations. The solution included pre-planned climbing steps and structural data for foundation loadings and tension forces, ensuring the cranes met all project requirements.
The tower’s rapid construction was driven by a four-shift system that allowed continuous operation. Both cranes – the 258 HC-L Fibre and the 542 HC-L Litronic – climbed to final working heights of 213 metres and 210 metres respectively. Over the course of three months, the structure rose at an average of 2.6 metres per day.
The completed tower occupies just 23 m² of ground space but boasts a total volume of 112,445 m³ – equivalent to 45 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
