Listicles | 2026-10-02

More experience, more confidence: six questions on the new period of use for Liebherr fibre ropes

Liebherr is increasing the period of use of its fibre ropes to up to 12 years in temperate climates and up to 8 years in hot climates, while the overall service life is rising from 14 to 16 years. But what's behind this decision, and why do all ropes already in the field benefit too? Six questions for Jochen Huber, Product Manager Fibre Technology at Liebherr, on the tests, the impact for customers on site, and the wider strategy behind Fibre technology.

Jochen Huber, Product Manager Fibre Technology, Liebherr Tower Crane Division.

01. What prompted Liebherr to increase the period of use of its fibre ropes, and how do the long-term tests prove this?

“Through structured ageing trials, we were able to prove the durability of our fibre rope on the test rig. To do this, we exposed several ropes to weathering at different locations worldwide for 2, 4 and 6 years, then tested them to failure under realistic conditions. The results show that, even after 6 years, the values achieved are nearly identical to those of a new rope. Alongside this, we analysed how Fibre cranes are actually being used out in the field. Looking back over the past seven years, the data shows that many ropes are being used well below their previously permitted period of use.”

With fibre rope, most damage can instead be repaired directly on the crane, meaning a rope change becomes unnecessary.

02. Why does the individual stress on a rope vary from site to site?

“A crane's hoist rope is a wear part, much like the tyres on a car. For a hoist rope, factors such as the number of lifts, the weight of the loads on the hook, the shift pattern on site and the ambient temperature all play a role, and that applies to fibre ropes just as much as to steel wire ropes. With fibre ropes, we've only been building up this kind of experience for around 15 years. Evaluations from our own rental fleets, covering almost 200 cranes over periods of up to 13 years, show that steel wire ropes remain in use for an average of 2 to 2.5 years before they need to be replaced due to wear or rope damage. With fibre rope, most instances of damage can instead be repaired directly on the crane. Combined with rope shortening, around 90 per cent of all rope damage can be resolved, meaning fibre ropes can, in the vast majority of cases, be used right up to their discard criterion rather than being replaced.”

The biggest Liebherr Fibre crane, 1188 EC-H.

03. What does the new ruling actually mean for customers?

“The increased overall service life and the increased period of use apply to all new ropes, as well as to all ropes already in the field, regardless of their production date. Customers don't need to do anything, the increase applies automatically. The increased overall service life of 16 years applies worldwide, while the period of use is up to 12 years in temperate regions and up to 8 years in hot regions, depending on the climate. By the turn of the year, more than 400 Fibre cranes will be in the market, and evaluations from the past seven years show that at least half of all cranes benefit significantly from the new ruling. Should a rope be used more heavily, the actual stress it experiences remains the decisive factor. As before, the discard criterion is indicated by the appearance of the red signal layer.”

The overall service life of fibre ropes is being increased from 14 to 16 years, and the maximum period of use is rising to up to 12 years.

04. How does this step fit into the overall strategy for Fibre technology

“The experience we've gathered over recent years, feedback from job sites and the needs of our customers, together with internal optimisations such as how we manage fibre rope stock, have all provided important input for the ongoing development of Fibre technology. A key part of the path we set out on at bauma 2025 towards establishing the technology as the new standard is improving cost-effectiveness. We're now achieving this by extending the period of use by up to 20 per cent, having already cut the price of replacement ropes by 26 per cent back in April last year. We're convinced the technology will win out in the market thanks to its economic advantages.”

The increased overall service life and the increased period of use apply to all new ropes, as well as to all ropes already in the field, regardless of their production date.

05. Which benefits of Fibre technology matter most to customers?

“One standout feature of Fibre technology is the ability to repair fibre ropes directly on the crane. Combined with rope shortening, this resolves around 90 per cent of all rope damage, meaning a rope change can often be avoided altogether and downtime on site is reduced. Further benefits are wide-ranging: easy handling, economical operation, investment security, and efficient, responsible use. The technology saves time and improves comfort and safety on site. Decades of experience on the test rig and in the field confirm the rope's robustness and repairability. Building on existing systems from steel-wire-rope cranes, load capacity increases of up to 40 per cent are possible with efficient use of resources. If I had to highlight one standout feature, it would be the repairability of fibre ropes, which offers a real answer to challenges such as the shortage of skilled labour on site.”

By the turn of the year, more than 400 Fibre cranes will be in the market.

06. What's next?

“The development of Fibre technology is far from finished. We want to fundamentally improve how a new rope is fitted to the crane, much as we've already done with the recoating unit for maintaining and caring for ropes already in the field, which we introduced in the second half of this year. A new rope generation and an improvement to rope shortening are already in the planning stage.”

Contacts

Shannon Korff

Marketing Specialist

Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH Memminger Straße 120 88400 Biberach an der Riß Germany

+49 7351 / 41 – 2436

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