Liebherr, a global manufacturer of construction equipment, recently launched its new EC-B flat-top tower crane series.

The series comprises 14 new types from 50 tonnes to 280 tonnes, with cranes between 50 tonnes and 130 tonnes being produced at Liebherr Industrias Metálicas, in Pamplona, Spain.
The EC-B cranes from 140 tonnes upwards are manufactured by Liebherr Werk Biberach in Germany.
The company is keen to promote its products in the burgeoning Gulf market and sees a growing market for its quality products in the region.
The central unit of the EC-B series is a newly-developed compact head in which the slewing gear, the complete slewing ring support, the switchgear cabinet containing all the switching equipment and the crane cabin are all integrated. In the crane types of up to 130 tonnes, this is also where the hoist gear is housed. In all types within the series, the compact head is so constructed that it can be transported upright as a complete unit in any truck, says Daniel Minchot of Leibherr Industries’ marketing department.
“The galvanised working platforms and handrails are designed to be durable. The trolley travel gear is located in the jib pivoting section in such a way that all the drive units can be easily and safely accessed for maintenance work directly from the compact head. The linkages with the jib and counter-jib are provided with slotted holes for ease of assembly. Both guying rods were so designed that they can readily be operated by one man,” he says.
The new compact head is supplied fully preinstalled for fitting with one hoist. Immediately after being positioned on the tower, the compact head is already capable of being slewed into the optimal fitting position. A small number of pluggable connectors allow the electrical connections to be quickly established, he continues.

Modular concept
EC-B series flat-top cranes are built according to a modular concept. This ensures that tower systems within the series are compatible. The jibs are designed in such a way that many of their segments can be combined within the individual crane families. Even short jib lengths are not a problem for the new EC-B cranes, says Minchot.
A further innovation of the modular concept is the redesigned crane cabin, which is interchangeable for EC-B cranes up to 130 tonnes and which is attached and detached using quick-release fastenings. With the large EC-B cranes from 140 tonnes upwards, the cabin is configured to be retracted for transport.
The comfortable operator’s position inside the soundproofed and insulated full-visibility cabin provides an unrestricted view of the working area, allowing each load to be positioned optimally, he says.
The control panels for all functions are built into the seat and offer numerous adjustments. EC-B flat-top cranes of 140 tonnes and above are fitted as standard with the EMS electronic monitoring system. Air conditioning can be fitted as an option for the Middle East customers, he says.
Faster assembly
An important aspect of the EC-B flat-top cranes is that they are specially designed for easy and quick assembly, says Minchot.
The newly-designed counter-jib can be pre-assembled on the ground in only a few steps. Auxiliary mounts of a new type are provided for positioning the counter-jib guying. Assembly is also simplified by the guying system, which is already located precisely in the assembly position, as well as the lifting lugs for lifting by the mobile crane. Thanks to the reduced weight of the individual transport units, small mobile cranes can be used for lifting. Quick-release fastenings and/or centre pins also facilitate bolting the jib and counter-jib into position.
With EC-B cranes up to 130 tonnes, the foldable handrails can be quickly erected. To further facilitate assembly, all the jib and type LC tower pins are integrated in a pin magazine.

Ease of transport
The entire EC-B crane series has been designed to be loaded in standard containers. To ensure optimal shipping by truck, new section lengths of 3.9 m, 5.85 m and 11.7 m were developed for the LC tower system. This means that only two trucks are needed for the entire upper portion of the 71 EC-B 5, including counterweights and two tower sections each of 11.7 m length.
A further novelty is the transportation position of the load hook for EC-B cranes up to 130 tonnes, which is now stowed for transport in the jib heel. During assembly, the hook is simply lowered by means of a crank, making cable reeving a very simple operation.
Liebherr Industrias Metálicas belongs to the Construction Cranes and Mixing Technology Division within the Liebherr Group of Companies and is one of Spain’s leading tower crane manufacturers. The company currently employs 240 people and recorded a turnover of 65 million euro ($82 million) last year.
Apart from the new EC-B flat-top series, the factory’s production programme includes Liebherr’s new 30-LC top-slewing crane as well as seven bottom-slewing types of the H, HM and K Series. Last year, the unit produced a total of 738 cranes, and its figure is expected to rise substantially to more than 1,000 this year.
At the moment 35 per cent of the company’s output is exported, the main destinations being Central Europe (65 per cent) and Southern Europe (25 per cent) while the company is exploring markets in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa.
Liebherr cranes are sold in the Gulf countries through its network of dealers and agents. Last year it opened a new customer service centre in Dubai.
“The Arabian Gulf is nowadays one of the most interesting markets for construction technology. For example, some analysts say that Dubai is the world’s fastest growing city and the biggest market for tower cranes. This area should grow even more in the coming years as many new projects are in the pipeline,” says Minchot.
“We offer the customer a product that has gone through a very strict system of quality control. We ensure that our suppliers also strictly follow the quality standards required by us,” Minchot adds.