Colonia Selects Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 for High Performance, Flexibility and Mobility

Colonia Spezialfahrzeuge Gottfried Schönges GmbH & Co. KG has taken delivery of a Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 mobile crane. With the new crane, the Cologne-based company replaces a 15-year-old 500t crane and strengthens its fleet in the range between 400t and 750t lifting capacity. In addition to the high performance, the flexibility and mobility of the Liebherr 8-axle crane were important decision criteria. Colonia ordered the 54m and 80m telescopic boom as well as equipment to be able to remove the telescopic boom easily, quickly and without an auxiliary crane.

Crane handover at the Liebherr works in Ehingen: (from left) Erich Schneider (Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH), Nico Oprée, Thorsten Titz (beide Colonia Spezialfahrzeuge), Florian Maier (Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH). Photograph courtesy of Liebherr

For optimised transport logistics, Liebherr has designed a solution to enable the telescopic boom to be fitted and removed quickly and easily: The LTM 1650-8.1 can be driven without its boom with a total weight of less than 60t. This significantly increases mobility on public roads. The reduced total weight means that more bridges can be crossed, for example, which saves detours and time. Colonia sales manager Thomas Reuther explains: “We have to face the difficult infrastructure problems especially here in the Cologne area. For this reason, we were the first in Germany to tackle the issue of detachable booms. The LTM 1650-8.1 is now the fourth large crane with this system in our fleet. More will follow in the future.”

Photograph courtesy of Colonia

Colonia’s main areas of operation are in the chemical sector. The LTM 1650-8.1 will also find its work mainly in the Cologne chemical belt, in addition to many other applications and activities. “The LTM 1650-8.1 was the only reasonable alternative for us to close our gap between the LTM 1400-7.1 and LTM 1750-9.1. In order to take full advantage of all the technical possibilities of the LTM 1650-8.1, we opted for the 54m and also the 80m telescopic boom. The variable support base VarioBase® and the hydraulically adjustable ballast radius VarioBallast® are Liebherr innovations that we no longer want to do without. They were also reasons for us to opt for the new Liebherr 8-axle crane,” says Reuther.

Photograph courtesy of Colonia

Colonia Spezialfahrzeuge celebrated its 75th anniversary two years ago. It all started in 1945 with a self-built trailer and a towing vehicle. In the 1960s, the first truck-mounted cranes were acquired. In 2020, Colonia entered the crawler crane class with the Liebherr LR 1800-1.0. Today, with around 220 employees, the company offers industrial assembly and towing services in addition to heavy-duty and crane rental.

Photograph courtesy of Colonia

Featured Title Photograph courtesy of Colonia

Source Liebherr