3 minutes - magazine 02 | 2025
Setup at the press of a button with LIKUFIX
Be it thick steel cables, bolts weighing many kilograms, large hydraulic lines or many other objects – working with mobile cranes means moving heavy loads at some point or another.
This is precisely why our engineers are endeavouring to simplify as many processes as possible and improve their ergonomics. One example of this is the LIKUFIX hydraulic coupling system. Moritz Schick explains how it works. He has worked in the design and development of telescopic booms since 2021.
Moritz Schick, Design and development telescopic boom
LIKUFIX is a technology taken from the world of Liebherr excavators. With the fully automatic LIKUFIX quick coupler, both mechanical and hydraulic attachments can be swapped quickly, easily and safely directly from the driverʼs cab.
The Liebherr plant in Ehingen first used LIKUFIX in an LTM 1750-9.1. During the installation of the counterweight frame, the hydraulic connection is completed with LIKUFIX. This dispenses with the crane operatorʼs need to move lots of heavy hoses manually. The automatic hydraulic coupling system works at the press of a button and is both ergonomical and safe. Since the system has proven its prowess in practice and won significant positive feedback, we have decided to also install LIKUFIX on the LTM 1400-6.1.
The automatic hydraulic coupling system LIKUFIX is taken from the world of Liebherr excavators.
We were able to optimise the setup of the Y-guying on the new 6-axle model thanks to this intelligent technology. The LTM 1400-6.1 positions itself on the construction site, supports itself and then luffs the boom up. With automatic setup, the LTM 1400-6.1 picks up the Y-guying from a flatbed trailer and places it on the chassis. Here, too, all it takes to complete the hydraulic connections is the press of a button: with the BTT, the crane operators luffs the boom down, causing the hydraulic LIKUFIX quick coupling to connect automatically. The crane operator then simply has to establish the electrical connection via a plug and pin the Y-guying to the crane boom by extending the hydraulically actuated pin pulling cylinder. Easy, ergonomical, fast.
LIKUFIX comprises two parts: the lower part is secured to the Y-guying while the upper part is attached securely to the pivot section. Luffing down the boom initiates the connection mechanism – the two halves of the coupling align themselves first via the centring pin before the hydraulics are connected. Since the lower coupling block is mounted on spring bearings, any positioning inaccuracies are compensated for.
This article was published in the UpLoad magazine 01 | 2025.
