Scholpp MK 140-5.1 replaces antenna above Mannheim’s Rosengarten

The Rosengarten in Mannheim is one of Germany’s best-known conference and event venues, a listed Art Nouveau building that sits directly opposite the city’s landmark water tower. On the roof of an extension to the complex, an ageing mobile communications installation had to come down and a new one go up — a lift that combined long reach, tight city-centre access and neighbours who did not want to hear it happening.

For the job, Scholpp’s Mannheim branch rigged its MK 140-5.1E in luffing jib mode with the full 13.3 tonnes of counterweight on board. At a reach of 64.2 metres, the new antenna system was set down precisely on the rooftop.

Cheaper than a 350-tonner

The choice of a mobile construction crane rather than a conventional large all-terrain was a deliberate one, driven by cost.

“For this job, I opted for the MK 140-5.1 mobile construction crane. Alternatively, a 350-tonne mobile crane could have been used, but to achieve the required reach, we would have had to fit a luffing jib. This solution would have been considerably more expensive for our client.”

— Florian Schmid, branch manager, Scholpp Mannheim

The five-axle MK 140-5.1E can be set up in minutes, and its Vario Jib system allows the crane to be converted from a trolley jib into a luffing jib configuration in a short space of time. In luffing mode it reaches a hook height of up to 94.4 metres and carries 1 tonne at a 65-metre radius — figures previously associated with larger crane classes.

Electric operation kept the venue running

Because Liebherr’s mobile construction cranes use fully electric drives and winches for crane operation, the lift was carried out on electric power. Events inside the Rosengarten and in the surrounding hotels carried on undisturbed, with the crane working low-noise and locally emission-free. The vertical telescopic tower and variable boom angles let the machine work hard up against the building, while the infinitely height-adjustable cab gave the operator a clear view of the rooftop work area.

Double anniversary for Scholpp

The Mannheim lift comes in a milestone year for the contractor. Scholpp is marking its 70th anniversary in 2026 and at the same time commemorating the 100th birthday of founder Alfred Scholpp. From its first mobile crane in 1956, the company has grown into one of south-west Germany’s leading heavy-lift providers, today running around 80 cranes with some 230 employees across eight locations.

Source: Liebherr — Photos: Liebherr