Two Liebherr R 976 crawler excavators in S.C. Grandemar’s quarries in Romania

With matching configurations, the two R 976 crawler excavators of S.C. Grandemar S. A. are deployed in the Bologa and Morlaca quarries, close to Cluj. Following blasting, the machines load the mined material, in this case, diorite and andesite rocks, into the buckets of the rigid dumper trucks which feed the crusher.

With an operating weight of 90 tonnes, these excavators have been developed and manufactured at Liebherr-France SAS in Colmar, France. They have a Liebherr diesel engine with capacity of 400 kW / 544HP, which complies with the emission standards of stage IIIB / tier 4i.

In terms of add-on tools and implements, the R 976 excavators have hydraulically elevating cabs and are both equipped with a Liebherr HDV backhoe bucket with a capacity of 4.7m³, a 7.20m mono boom, a 2.90m stick.

R 976: Optimum performance levels and ideal weight

Satisfied with the purchase of an R 974 crawler excavator with shovel attachment in 2007, S. C. Grandemar S. A. decided to reinvest in the European manufacturer.

The two R 976 machines with backhoe attachments won over the Romanian company with their cost-effectiveness and productivity. With an average fuel consumption of 40 to 45 litres per hour and an ideal bucket capacity of 4.7 m3, these machines are proving even more cost-effective than the version with shovel attachment used previously on this site.

The R 976 deployed at Bologa achieves a production rate of 400 tonnes per hour, ideal for the volume of the crusher. Although similar productivity would have been possible with a lighter crawler excavator this application, along with the hardness of the rock, demanded an excavator of significant weight to guarantee optimum performance. Their new Liebherr machine provides the perfect balance between operating weight and engine output for the company’s field of application.

S. C. Grandemar S. A. specified the two new excavators with multiple protective elements on the rotating mechanism and the pipes, on the piston rods of the boom and bucket and on the bottom of the stick. The machines also have floor plates for the undercarriage and the middle part of the undercarriage. This additional protection ensures maximum durability of the machine components.

The large, comfortable and ergonomic cabs provide idesl operating conditions in a difficult work environment. Besides a 7" high-resolution colour touch screen, the R 976 crawler excavators are equipped with an impact-resistant front window and roof window as standard, as well as front guard protection structure (FGPS) and falling objects protection structure (FOPS). Lastly, a cab elevation ensures optimal visibility of the working zone.

Liebherr-Romania S.R.L: A quick and efficient local connection

As well as the technical solution proposed by Liebherr-France SAS, the local support provided by Liebherr-Romania S.R.L also played a major role in the final decision.

Liebherr-Romania S.R.L. was founded in 2005 and is responsible for the sales and maintenance of Liebherr construction machines, crawler cranes and mobile cranes in Romania.

With a branch located in Cluj-Napoca, this local presence of Liebherr ensures the quick response of service technicians and fast supply of spare parts: key reasons for the largest quarry operator in the country.

S. C. Grandemar S. A.

Active in quarrying since 1873, S. C. Grandemar S. A. is currently the largest company in the sector in Romania.

With its head office in Cluj-Napoca, the company has approximately 140 employees and owns 7 quarries, 5 of which are actually operational: Poieni, Bologa, Pietroasa, Morlaca and Moigrad.

Whether it is in Romania or abroad, the quality of the aggregates extracted in the region, diorite and andesite, are particularly sought-after by numerous companies in the railway industry and for road construction.