Liebherr Delivers LR 1600/2 Crawler Crane To Honduran Renewable Power Provider CMI Energia

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CMI Energia recently acquired a pre-owned, 660-ton Liebherr LR 1600/2 lattice boom crawler crane to erect and maintain wind turbines in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. (Photo courtesy of Liebherr.)

Private renewable energy firm CMI Energia recently acquired a pre-owned Liebherr LR 1600/2 lattice boom crawler crane to help it erect, maintain, and repower wind turbines in Central America. The company operates wind power plants in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

The LR 1600/2 has a 660-ton (600-metric-ton) lift capacity. Its maximum hoist height is 614 ft (187 m) and its maximum radius is 499 ft (152 m). The crane is powered by a 544-horsepower (400-kilowatt), six-cylinder Liebherr diesel engine.

“Being a brand with high prestige in providing perfect solutions for the wind industry, and based on our previous experiences with the Liebherr aftersales in our region, we based our decision on trust and a well-established partnership,” says CMI Energia CEO Jay Gallegos. The crane’s quick setup and flexibility factored into CMI Energia’s decision, as well.

Variable Boom & Derrick Systems

Although CMI Energia owns several Liebherr all-terrain cranes (including two LTM 1050-3.1 models, an LTM 1350-6.1, and an LTM 1500-8.1), the LR 1600/2 is the energy company’s first crawler crane from the manufacturer. CMI Energia purchased the crane with an SL3 boom configuration, described as “a very well-established, flexible, and safe configuration for wind power jobs,” by Liebherr’s Jens Könneker. Könneker is the product manager for crawler cranes at the plant in Ehingen, Germany, responsible for building the LR 1600/2.

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For larger turbines, CMI Energia also bought a 118-foot derrick boom system and an extra counterweight tray for the crawler. (Photo courtesy of Liebherr.)

“With this type of crane, we can react quickly and efficiently to the maintenance needs of our assets in the region,” Gallegos says. “This type of crane has not been easily available to us before, and the costs to ship such a crane in for a job are very high.” Liebherr does try to mitigate the cost of transporting the LR 1600/2 as much as possible through the dimensions of its component parts.

For larger turbines, CMI Energia also bought a 118-foot (36-meter) derrick boom system and an extra counterweight tray for the crawler. “The flexibility of adapting this crane to the different needs of maneuvers with wind turbines and the robustness to safely carry out these maneuvers, even in moderate wind conditions, are most important to us,” says Gallegos. “Therefore we’ve opted for a used LR 1600/2, knowing about the great service and well-established Liebherr people also in the used crane business.”

Source: Liebherr