6 Minuten - Magazin 02 | 2026
Off-road power
In Latin America, new mining projects, investments in infrastructure and the expansion of the energy supply are driving demand for high-performance lifting solutions.
In the mining sector in particular, facilities of enormous dimensions are being built: the mines are often located in remote regions with challenging environmental and infrastructure conditions, and their operational life often spans several decades. Durable, robust and powerful, Liebherr mobile cranes play a key role in mining.
Argentina's largest silver mine: the Puna Operations are comprised of the Chinchillas mine and the Pirquitas processing plants. Photo: SSR Mining
Dust hangs in the air as the sun slowly makes its way across the sky. The copper mine in the Antofagasta region is already a hive of activity: dump trucks roll along the conveyor belts, excavators and front-loaders move materials weighing several tonnes – and right in the middle of it all are Liebherr mobile and crawler cranes. In this remote region of Chile, they perform key tasks in the assembly and maintenance of large mining plants and vehicles.
From the pit to the plant: an LTM1060-3.1 from Grúas Moviles Mix is installing water circulation pumps.
Specialists in heavy-duty tasks
MPM Rental has established itself as one of the leading players in Chile’s national mining sector – the company carries out highly complex projects competently, efficiently and reliably, always in accordance with the high safety standards of large-scale mining. These are operations that demand load-bearing capacity, precision and reliability under extreme conditions.
“The Liebherr LTM 1750-9.1 is one of our heavy-duty mobile cranes and is ideal for mining applications,” says Daniel Vega, CEO at MPM Rental. “With lifting capacities of up to 800 tonnes, the 9-axle crane covers a wide range of applications. Its 52-metre telescopic boom and comprehensive modular boom system enable it to handle a variety of lifting operations. With additional extensions, it reaches a maximum hook height of 152 metres.”
An LTM 1060-3.1 is installing water pipes in Las Pirquitas for ore processing.
From crusher to conveyor belt
From Chile’s copper mines, the journey continues to northwestern Argentina. High up in the barren Puna region lie the Chinchillas mine and the Pirquitas processing plants. Here, ore is extracted in open-cast mines, loaded onto dump trucks and transported to the processing plant where silver, lead and zinc concentrates are produced for the international market.
Installation, maintenance, construction
To ensure this process runs smoothly, every component must function reliably. “During planned shutdowns of processing plants and infrastructure facilities, they ensure that components can be safely removed and installed. Mobile cranes therefore help minimise downtime and maintain the reliable operation of mining facilities”, explains Fabrizio Andere, Head of Technical Service for Mobile and Crawler Cranes at Liebherr Chile SpA. However, their use is not limited to maintenance work alone: an LTM 1060-3.1 from Grúas Móviles Mix was deployed at Las Pirquitas to install a water pump running from the shaft to the processing plant. The construction of a training centre for the mine’s workforce and the laying of pipework for the ore purification system were also among the tasks carried out by the 3-axle crane.
Mobile cranes play a key role in mining operations by helping to minimise downtime and ensure the reliable operation of equipment and facilities.
The Argentine company relies on state-of-the-art Liebherr technology such as the BTT-E remote control or VarioBase®. “With the remote control, we can operate the crane from outside the cab and position ourselves where we have the best view of the load and the working area,” explains Sebastian Fernandez, Managing Director of Grúas Móviles Mix. Operations are supported by the LICCON control system. It clearly displays information on the crane geometry and, with integrated load moment limitation and load capacity tables tailored to the current configuration, supports the safe execution of lifts.
Fabrizio Andere, Head of Technical Service for Mobile and Crawler Cranes – Liebherr Chile SpA.
For maintenance and assembly work carried out between plants or on confined workspaces, the variable support base VarioBase® offers additional flexibility: the crane’s lifting capacity is calculated based on the specific support basisn, ensuring optimum use of the available space.
In Peru, Vivargo’s LTM 1650-8.1 is being used for maintenance work at a copper mine.
Suitable for extreme conditions
“Operations at altitudes of over 2,500 metres and the lower air pressure present challenges for both people and machinery alike,” explains Fabrizio Andere. Significant temperature fluctuations and night-time temperatures below freezing, as well as dust, cold and challenging terrain, are part of everyday life. “This makes it all the more important to have machines that operate reliably under these conditions. Robust, reliable and powerful, our mobile cranes ensure that every lift is carried out perfectly, even under extreme conditions,” says Fabrizio Andere.
Huge fleets of vehicles and extensive conveying and processing plants must operate reliably round the clock. Mobile cranes therefore play a central role in maintenance, conversion and assembly work.
Typical mining facilities include:
– Crushing plants, which break down the material
– Conveyor belts stretching for kilometres, which transport the raw material for further processing
– Processing plants that separate valuable minerals from the rock
– Pumping stations, water treatment systems, tanks, workshops and energy infrastructure
Mining vehicles:
– Assembly of large mining equipment such as off-road trucks, shovels, excavators and other production equipment
– Maintenance of heavy machinery including the dismantling and reassembly of hoppers, engines, chassis, transmission systems and other critical components
Transportes Crexell:
for the love of cranes
This article was published in the UpLoad magazine 02 | 2026.