Franz Bracht Jr. was one of the first behind the wheel of the new LTM 1030-2.1. He accompanied his father Dirk to collect the commemorative crane and seems to have a fascination for cranes and heavy loads in his DNA. His grandfather Franz Bracht founded the company in 1964.
Two-axle mobile cranes have a future
"Two-axle mobile cranes will continue to play an important role in our fleet in the future, even though competition from heavy lorry-mounted loader cranes and large telescopic forklifts has increased considerably," explains Managing Director Dirk Bracht. "In purely ecological and economic terms, I still think it's better to drive with a total weight of 24 tonnes than with a three-axle crane weighing 36 tonnes." With the new crane, Bracht now operates a total of 15 LTM 1030-2.1 cranes in its group of companies (Franz Bracht, Hofmann and Wilden).
The LTM 1030-2.1, of which Liebherr has built around 2,800 units, is now a historic crane. It was unveiled at the Intermat trade fair in Paris in 1997 and was the world's first mobile crane equipped with modern data bus technology. Since then, Liebherr has consistently kept its smallest two-axle crane up to date with the latest mobile crane technology in order to fulfil market requirements, legal specifications and standards, including aspects such as lighting, ballast monitoring and the latest Stage 5 engine emissions standard. Liebherr also offers its VarioBase® variable supporting base for the 27-year-old crane type.
60 years of Franz Bracht
Franz Bracht Kran-Vermietung GmbH based in Erwitte has been in business since 1964 and currently employs around 800 people. Its fleet includes 1,400 vehicle units with 292 mobile cranes in the load bearing capacity classes from 7 to 1,600 tonnes.
The company has 16 locations in North Rhine-Westphalia and is a competent and reliable partner to wind turbine manufacturers as well as customers in the reinforced concrete construction and civil engineering, industrial buildings, major industry and petrochemicals sectors, as well as many other industries. Quality and safety are always the focal points. Its machines are not only used throughout Germany but also in other European and non-European countries.
Dirk Bracht describes the passion that has made the company what it is today: "For more than half a century, we have upheld a tradition of inspiring designers and engineers in building construction and civil engineering, large-scale industry and petrochemicals – with the expertise, precision and reliability with which we approach our business. No matter how heavy the loads, how large the dimensions and how high and demanding the objects are – we can handle it!"
The company's partnership with Liebherr is also celebrating an anniversary. "In 1974, exactly 50 years ago, we bought our first Liebherr crane, a LG 1130 lattice boom mobile crane. It was the beginning of a successful partnership based on trust, honesty, and loyalty – that has endured to this day," says Bracht.
