Liebherr LR 1500 crawler crane dismantles tunnel drilling machine on Sicily

Ehingen / Donau (Germany) March 2018 – Strong, compact and simple – the perfect description of the Liebherr LR 1500 in three words. And it was precisely these features which were required to dismantle a large tunnel drilling machine on Sicily. The 500-tonne crawler crane operated by Italian crane contractor Gradito completed the dismantling of this enormous drilling machine as part of a two-month contract for widening a major road.

The A19/N.640 road at the “Porto Empedocle” port on Sicily has been widened to four lanes. Once it had finished its work, the tunnel drilling machine used for this contract then had to be dismantled in restricted conditions. “The LR 1500 was ideal for this job as a result of its compact dimensions and remarkable flexibility”, says company proprietor Angiolino Gradito. “The constricted working conditions made moving and positioning the components, which weighed up to 370 tonnes, a real challenge. The sensitive Liebherr crane control was invaluable for this work.”

During the development of the LR 1500, Liebherr focused on making it compact and powerful with a simple overall concept. The crawler crane delivers the lifting capacities expected from a 500-tonne class crane throughout its operating range whilst having the dimensions and component weights which to date have been normal in the 400-tonne class. It can be transported around the world without restrictions with a transport weight of just 46.7 tonnes. In addition the set-up processes and crane operations have been designed to be simple and economical.

Angiolino Gradito founded his crane service company Gradito Oleodinamica Srl based on Sicily in 1988. In addition to the LR 1500, the 19 cranes in its fleet include an LTM 1400-7.1, an LTR 1100 and an LTM 1100-4.2. Gradito undertakes hoisting work of all types, mainly in industry, in petrochemical plants, for infrastructure work and public construction projects.