Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 reaches 104 metres over European Parliament

The eight-axle crane came from STEIL Kranarbeiten in Trier, while ATS Cranes, the company’s Luxembourg branch, organised the operation. The site could hardly have been more sensitive: the Parliament sits in a densely built-up administrative and financial quarter, surrounded by other European institutions, the international banking district, a medical centre and Luxembourg Airport.

Two roads between the Parliament and the European Investment Bank had to be closed completely for the crane erection and logistics. Because the closure also restricted access to a hospital and a possible air-ambulance flight had to be allowed for, the authorities, the airport, the hospital and ATS Cranes agreed a fixed slot: work could run from 6.00 am on Friday until 10.00 pm on Sunday.

A runner for the last 1.7 metres

To carry the loads across an intervening building, STEIL rigged the LTM 1650-8.1 in its technically longest luffing-jib configuration, with a 91-metre luffing lattice jib on the telescopic boom extended to 28.2 metres. Even that was not quite enough. Only the additional runner at the head of the luffing jib, worth an extra 1.7 metres, allowed the crane to reach the set-down point on the roof.

“This operation demonstrates that when it comes to long reach, every detail counts. The careful preparation and precise coordination of all those involved were crucial to carrying out the lifts safely and within the tight time frame.”

— Christopher Steil, Managing Director, STEIL Kranarbeiten

Head-on jib assembly

Rigging the long luffing jib needed its own choreography. As the auxiliary crane could not work alongside the main boom, the team fitted the lattice jib head-on, with the assist crane shuttling back and forth during the step-by-step build – not unusual, but time-consuming. The heavy-lift crane stood fully erected after seven hours on the Friday.

On Saturday the crews exchanged the six air-conditioning components, lifting the old units off the roof and installing their replacements. Dismantling began on Sunday morning, and by 2.00 pm the crane and all equipment had left the site – a full eight hours before the agreed window expired.

Two companies, one plan

ATS Cranes handled the on-site organisation, permits and liaison with the authorities, while STEIL Kranarbeiten supplied the heavy-lift crane and performed the lifts. STEIL, headquartered in Trier, runs eight sites and a fleet ranging from mini cranes to 800-tonne lattice-boom machines, working across Germany and on international projects throughout Europe.