Colonia Spezialfahrzeuge Gottfried Schönges GmbH & Co. KG has taken delivery of a new Liebherr LTM 1110-5.1 mobile crane. The Cologne-based company will use the new 110-tonne crane to replace an LTM 1100/1, thus closing a gap between 100 and 130-tonne machines in its fleet. The successful combination of performance, compact dimensions and length was behind the decision to buy the LTM 1110-5.1.
Colonia Managing Director Jürgen Oprée explains: “The LTM 1110-5.1 delivers excellent lifting capacity values using the counterweights it carries on the road. That is a major benefit for us because we can obtain annual road licences for our main catchment area for vehicles with a gross weight of up to 60 tonnes.” With a length of 60 metres, the telescopic boom on the LTM 1110-5.1 is one of the longest in its crane class. With a 12-tonne axle load and a gross weight of 60 tonnes, the Liebherr 110 tonne crane can carry up to 13.1 tonnes of counterweight on public roads. That is an outstanding value in the 5-axle class. It means that crane operators can complete the vast majority of crane jobs at a low cost without having to transport additional ballast.
In addition to performance, Oprée also mentions the length of the telescopic boom and the compact design of the LTM 1110-5.1 as the main factors behind his company choosing the Liebherr 5-axle crane. “We are located in the middle of the chemicals belt around Cologne, Leverkusen, Dormagen and Krefeld and our cranes are often used for maintenance work in chemical plants, some of which are rather aged. The LTM 1110-5.1 stands out for these jobs due to its high performance, long telescopic boom and excellent manoeuvrability”, says Oprée.
Details solutions to make crane operator’s life easier are also important to the Colonia Managing Director: “On the new crane, Liebherr has made sure that there is plenty of storage space for fastening equipment and accessories”. Colonia has had a close business relationship with Liebherr for many years and the mobile crane fleet is dominated by the Liebherr brand. “Liebherr cranes are very user-friendly and in addition the support and service are excellent,” continues Oprée.
Colonia Spezialfahrzeuge celebrated its 75th anniversary a year ago. It all started in 1945 with a trailer built in-house and a tractor vehicle. The company bought its first mobile cranes in the 1960s. In 2020, Colonia entered the crawler crane class with the purchase of a Liebherr LR 1800-1.0. Today, the company has a 220-strong workforce providing heavy haulage and crane rental services as well as industrial installation and towing services.
