The leading southern African crane hire company is the first in its continent to add the LTM 1400-6.1 to its fleet. “It is an incredible honour to have the opportunity to take delivery of the first LTM 1400-6.1 in Africa. The crane’s innovative design and strong performance capabilities made it the obvious successor to our existing LTM 1400-7.1. This crane has served us reliably for many years and was due for replacement,” says Wayne McCullagh, CEO of Concord Cranes.
According to Hendrik Burger, Sales Manager Mobile Cranes at Liebherr-Africa, the delivery represents a major step forward for both companies and the wider African lifting sector. “The LTM 1400-6.1 represents the latest generation of Liebherr large all-terrain crane technology, and having the first unit in Africa operating with a leading South African crane company demonstrates our commitment to bringing innovations to the African market,” he says.
Burger adds that the machine expands the range of high-capacity mobile cranes available locally, giving customers access to a crane capable of undertaking demanding lifts while retaining the mobility of an all-terrain machine.
Proving its versatility
Delivered in February this year, the LTM 1400-6.1 has already been deployed across several applications for Concord Cranes, including extensive port operations, bridge work and infrastructure projects. “The feedback has been very positive, particularly regarding the combination of lifting capacity, reach and mobility,” says Burger. “The ability to move a crane of this capacity between different applications without the mobilisation requirements associated with larger crawler or lattice-boom cranes has provided Concord Cranes with significant operational flexibility.” For a crane hire company, this versatility is a major advantage, allowing the machine to be configured and deployed across different lifting environments.
Capacity and flexibility and a legendary service
The LTM 1400-6.1 combines up to 450 tonnes of lifting capacity with a 70-meter telescopic boom on a six-axle chassis. Depending on configuration, it can achieve lifting heights of 120 meters. “The specification was developed around Concord Cranes’ intended applications and operating environment. A key consideration was finding the right balance between maximum lifting performance and practical transport and mobilisation requirements,” explains Burger. The boom, 140 tonnes of ballast and Y-guying system allow the crane to be configured for individual lifts and changing site conditions.
“The biggest advantage is the combination of capacity, reach and mobility. The LTM 1400-6.1 provides lifting capabilities normally associated with much larger cranes while retaining the mobility of a six-axle all-terrain crane,” says Burger. This combination is particularly valuable in port and bridge applications, where the crane may need to be repositioned or moved between projects.
“Key factors that influenced our purchasing decision included the crane’s advanced technical design and enhancements, such as the improved Y-guying system, VarioBallast® and VarioBase®, as well as its ease of operation. Equally important is the legendary technical support provided by Liebherr-Africa, which is a critical consideration when investing in an asset of this stature,” says McCullagh.
A strong partnership
While the crane’s capabilities were central to the acquisition, the long-standing relationship between Concord Cranes and Liebherr-Africa was also an important factor. “There is a high level of trust between the two companies. Concord Cranes knows the Liebherr products and the level of engineering, reliability and support behind the brand, while Liebherr-Africa understands Concord’s operational requirements,” says Burger. “This allowed us to develop a specification suited to Concord’s business and target applications.”
Support throughout the lifecycle
Liebherr-Africa will support Concord Cranes throughout the machine’s lifecycle, including operator and technical training, commissioning support, technical assistance, diagnostics and planned maintenance. Concord will also have access to Liebherr’s local spare-parts and service infrastructure. “Our objective is not simply to deliver the crane, but to ensure Concord Cranes’ operators and technical personnel have the knowledge and support required to operate and maintain it safely and efficiently,” says Burger.
Positive market outlook
Liebherr-Africa expects continued, specialised demand for high-capacity mobile cranes such as the LTM 1400-6.1 across southern Africa, particularly in infrastructure, energy, ports, industrial construction and major maintenance projects. “We do not expect this to become a high-volume market, as cranes of this size are specialised investments that require high utilisation,” Burger concludes. “However, we expect continued demand from established crane companies looking to modernise their fleets and offer customers greater lifting capacity while maintaining mobility and flexibility.”
