Crane Spotlight
By Seth Skydel
Tall Order
When high lifts and long reach are called for, lattice boom crawler cranes are up to the task
The list of reasons that lattice boom crawler cranes are the machines of choice for heavy-duty lifting on demanding projects is long. For construction of tall buildings and bridges, on renewable energy installation, especially wind turbine projects, and in industrial plant work their high stability on soft ground and long vertical reach make them ideal.
Key applications for lattice crawlers include lifting steel beams, concrete panels and other heavy materials for skyscrapers, bridges and highways. For installing and maintaining wind turbines their ability to reach great heights is unmatched. The same can be said for projects at plants and other large industrial sites where they often position heavy components with precision. Their high lifting capacity and stability also allow them to lift and position large components in shipyards.
The design of lattice boom crawlers is what makes all that possible. With their weight balanced over a platform on tracks they have exceptional stability on all kinds of terrain. At the same time, that stability transfers to the lattice boom when a long, extended vertical reach, like on tall structures, is required. On various types of jobsites as well, these machines
Liebherr cranes are in use on different jobsites. Recently, the manufacturer added a battery-powered unplugged version of their LR 1300 lattice boom crawler. Depending on the application, the LR 1300.2 SX unplugged can be operated for up to 13 hours without charging.
move with ease over rough or difficult and soft surfaces.
Case in Point
At the University of Kentucky, Superior Steel Inc. of Knoxville, Tennessee, is utilizing a Link-Belt 150-ton 238 HSL lattice crawler crane as part of a $ 70 million campus building renovation. Delivered and set up in early 2025, the 238 HSL is lifting 650 tons of steel into place for the project, which is scheduled for completion in early 2026.
Because of the tight jobsite conditions at the on-campus building, the lattice crawler crane was fitted with 160 feet of main boom
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October 2025 • www. cranehotline. com