Listicles | 22/09/2026

Five questions that show why planning a tower crane deployment is more complex than you might think

On spectacular construction sites, it's the structures that take the spotlight. But building bridges, tunnels or skyscrapers in the first place often demands equally extraordinary crane concepts. From the Sagrada Família in Barcelona to the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel in Denmark, Liebherr supports demanding tower crane deployments worldwide. Max Widder, Head of Project Planning at Tower Crane Solutions, gives insight into the challenges behind some of the most complex crane projects in the world.

Max Widder, Head of Project Planning, Tower Crane Solutions bei Liebherr.

1. Why isn't the strongest available crane simply enough for a record-breaking structure?

“I hear this question a lot, and I understand it. From the outside, a tower crane looks like a large but simple machine. The real work, however, begins long before the first crane is even on site. Together with specialist engineers, we assess the load-bearing capacity of the ground, the access routes, weather factors such as wind loads at height, snow and ice loads, potential seismic effects and, for example, the effects of a marine environment, the clearance to existing structures, and how the crane will eventually be dismantled. At the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, for instance, we planned a 710 HC-L 32-64 Litronic positioned directly above the basilica’s nave, with visitors passing through below throughout. Simply choosing the strongest crane isn’t enough. What matters is finding an overall concept that works across the entire construction sequence.”

The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel between Denmark and Germany: at around 18 kilometres, the longest immersed tunnel in the world. More than 20 Liebherr tower cranes are in operation here, many of them rail-mounted.

2. Over 50 cranes at Istanbul Airport, a two tower cranes at the Sagrada Família: which projects present Tower Crane Solutions with the greater challenge?

“For us, complexity has little to do with the number of tower cranes deployed. A single crane at a difficult location can be more demanding than a large site with numerous cranes. At the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, for example, more than 20 of our tower cranes are in operation, many of them rail-mounted so they can move flexibly between the production and assembly areas. It really gets demanding once climbing tower cranes come into play. Crane positions, climbing sequences, ties to the building, overlap zones, the construction sequence and coordination with other trades all have to be aligned precisely. The real engineering achievement, therefore, doesn’t lie in the number of machines, but in bringing all these factors together into a solution that actually works.”

Sagrada Família in Barcelona: a Liebherr 710 HC-L 32-64 Litronic with a load capacity of 64 tonnes is supporting the completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ, which has now reached its final height of 172 metres.

3. Liebherr cranes supported the completion of the Sagrada Família’s Tower of Jesus Christ, one of the most famous buildings in the world. What makes this project so special for you personally?

“Hardly any other project brings so much history face to face with so much of the present. The basilica’s construction began back in the 19th century, using the materials and methods available at the time. Today, our crane stands directly above the nave and has helped bring the Tower of Jesus Christ up to its planned final height. It’s the first use of a luffing jib crane of this kind in Spain. It’s precisely this contrast between historic architecture with a load-limited supporting structure and modern lifting technology that makes the project so special to me.”

The Çanakkale Bridge in Türkiye: with a span of 2,023 metres, the longest suspension bridge in the world. Two Liebherr 357 HC-L 12/24 Litronic luffing jib cranes were used on the pylons, each erected at a height of 318 metres.

4. How does crane planning actually come together, and how does TCS provide support throughout the entire project?

“Crane planning begins long before the first crane is even on site, whether it’s a new-build in the neighbourhood or a once-in-a-century project like the Çanakkale Bridge. It starts with an analysis of the tender documents, followed by feasibility studies, 2D and 3D CAD planning, and structural calculations that take local conditions into account. On larger projects, we frequently take on complete project management, from this initial analysis through to commissioning and, where necessary, dismantling at the end, as was the case with the pylons of the Çanakkale Bridge. Our great advantage here is our close collaboration with our development and design teams. This allows us to respond early to special requirements and align the crane, accessories and site logistics optimally with one another.”

Filstal Bridge on the Wendlingen–Ulm high-speed line: four cranes from the EC-H series, including a 630 EC-H 40 Litronic, were deployed on the roughly 500-metre-long, 85-metre-high bridge.

5. What sets Tower Crane Solutions apart from a classic external planning consultancy?

“The decisive difference lies in our access to the knowledge behind the machine. We don’t just know the load chart. Where needed, we can assess the underlying engineering together with the relevant specialist departments. That doesn’t produce an automatic solution, but it does give a far more robust basis for decision-making. What we learn on site, for example during the construction of the MoMA Tower in New York or the Filstal Bridge, feeds directly into the next generation of tower cranes. An external planning consultancy can propose a solution. With a manufacturer behind us, we can also think it through to the end, both technically and economically. In the end, though, what matters most to me is that, for all the complexity, the work is enjoyable.”

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Contacts

Shannon Korff

Marketing Specialist

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

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