UK crane hire company, King Lifting, has placed an order for 19 new Liebherr cranes – including three 700 tonne LTM 1650-8.1s – as it celebrates 40 years in business.
The order also includes a 350 tonne six axle LTM1350-6.1, two six axle 300 tonne LTM1300-6.3, a 230 tonne, five axle LTM1230-5.1, three 150 tonne five axle LTM1150-5.3, three four axle 90 tonne LTM1090-4.2 and six three axle 60 tonne LTM1060-3.1. Deliveries will begin next month and continue until 2024.
The LTM 1650-8.1s fit nicely between the company’s 500 and 750 tonne Liebherr LTMs. It has an 80 metre boom which can be topped with a 21 to 91 metre luffing jib and Y-guy system for a maximum tip height of 155 metres and a maximum radius of 112 metres. Power comes from a Stage V diesel with EcoDrive and EcoMode systems to help reduce fuel consumption, noise and emissions. Other features include Liebherr’s VarioBase outrigger set up system and VarioBallast adjustable counterweight.
The six axle single engine LTM1300-6.3 have 90 metre main booms and include the updated VarioBase Plus outrigger set-up system. Maximum counterweight is 88 tonnes and the crane can operate with eight tonnes less ballast than the 300 tonne LTM1300-6.2 version without affecting capacities.
The 150 tonne LTM 1150-5.1 have 66 metre booms and bi-fold swingaway extensions that can be extended with a seven metre insert to provide a maximum tip height of almost 95 metres and a maximum radius of 72 metres. They are also equipped with Liebherr’s engine shutdown system for work in oil, gas and petrochemical applications.
Managing director Tristan King said: “We are delighted to place this order with Liebherr in our 40th year of trading to support our continued growth and renewal programme, further strengthening our position in the UK crane rental sector. This latest investment, in addition to our existing fleet, further enables King Lifting to service our clients across all sectors with the latest Stage V power units, whilst ensuring the business meets its ongoing commitment to reduce our carbon footprint. All new cranes will be available to hire throughout the UK.”
Family owned King Lifting is based in Bristol, south west England, and was established in 1982 by Bob King – an experienced crane operator – who is now chairman, having handed over most of the day to day duties to the second generation. The company has grown steadily over the years and now operates from nine locations in England with 200+ staff and runs a fleet of 126 cranes including all terrains, towers and crawler cranes with capacities from eight to 1,000 tonnes, making it the second largest crane rental company in the UK after Ainscough.
The latest order follows an order for nine Liebherr cranes last year and is added to an order placed at the end of 2018 for 22 Liebherr cranes