**Precise Timing at Germany's Most Renowned Lock**
- The LTM 1650-8.1 efficiently assembles 45-tonne gate leaves.
- Liebherr cranes are distinguished by their rapid set-up capabilities.
The Moselle, stretching 544 km, stands as the second longest tributary of the Rhine and serves a crucial role as an international waterway. A network of 28 barrages facilitates the seamless navigation of inland waterway vessels. However, any failure of a lock, as experienced in December 2024, poses a significant disruption to inland traffic. To address such critical situations swiftly and effectively, the Mosel-Saar-Lahn Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA) has maintained a framework agreement with the Trier-based crane rental specialist, Steil, for several years. This collaboration, coupled with state-of-the-art Liebherr technology, enabled the recovery of the damaged gate and the installation of a new one. During this emergency, a Liebherr mobile crane played a pivotal role in the successful lock-out of 74 vessels stranded on the Moselle.
Ehingen (Donau) (Germany), February 17, 2025 - The Moselle, with 384 km of navigable waterway, is celebrated not only for its picturesque landscapes and exceptional vineyards but also for its significance in inland shipping and logistics since December 8, 2024. This prominence was underscored when an inland waterway vessel incurred severe damage to the Müden lock due to a drive failure.
Consequently, 74 vessels found themselves unable to proceed just before the Christmas holiday. The WSA Mosel-Saar-Lahn adeptly resolved this issue in partnership with its long-time crane collaborator, Steil Kranarbeiten GmbH & Co. KG from Trier, who promptly dispatched an LTM 1200-5.1 to the Müden lock. The LTM 1650-8.1 had already successfully recovered the damaged gate. Utilizing a "dam beam," composed of simple steel segments inserted into locks during maintenance, the Liebherr 200-tonne crane executed an emergency lockage. The Steil team worked tirelessly around the clock, ensuring that all barge operators could reunite with their families for Christmas.
Following the closure of the lock, as emphasized by Ulrich Zwinge from WSA Mosel-Saar-Lahn, a replacement gate was refurbished to meet specifications. These replacement gates, maintained in stock in Trier, are customized with hydraulic and electrical components based on their application in the specific lock. This refurbishment process commenced immediately, resulting in the completion of two gates for the Müden lock in an impressive timeframe of just seven weeks.
LTM 1650-8.1
**Installation of 45-Tonne Gate Leaves**
On January 24, 2025, the installation commenced. Steil arrived with the "big equipment," deploying the eight-axle Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 equipped with a 52 m boom, which had previously been engaged at a wind farm just a few kilometers from Müden. The logistics at the site were intricate. The two 45-tonne gate leaves were transported to the top of the lock using a WSV push unit and loaded onto a five-axle platform trailer by a 220-tonne crane.
The articulated lorry then reversed 200 meters to the installation site, where the LTM 1650-8.1 transitioned the gate from a horizontal to a vertical position before lifting it into place. The gate required stabilization until the neck bearings were attached. With a radius of 18.5 m, this task posed no significant challenge for the robust crane. The mobile crane, equipped with 75 tonnes of ballast and a four-tonne hook block reeved five times, operated seamlessly. Crane operator Torsten Schneider efficiently maneuvered the machine to the site, benefiting from the LTM 1650-8.1's availability due to concurrent operations at the nearby wind farm. Schneider commended the crane's ease of set-up and its capability to operate effectively in confined spaces.
The decision by management, consisting of Birgit and Christopher Steil, along with Daniel Gödert, to acquire two of these cranes was influenced by various equipment features. Notably, the VarioBase® variable support base allows for safe operation in tight spaces while achieving impressive lifting capacities. Similarly, the VarioBallast® system facilitates flexible ballasting in challenging spatial conditions. With ample space available at the Müden lock, the maximum support base of 10,531 x 9,578 mm was utilized. Nonetheless, the set-up of the 96-tonne crane presented challenges, as all counterweights needed to be maneuvered over the front, extending the set-up time to 3.5 hours. “Typically," states Torsten Schröder, "the crane is ready for lifting in just 1.5 hours.”
Ultimately, the two lifts, along with all ancillary tasks, were completed by midday, allowing the Steil team to depart for the weekend. Ulrich Zwinge from the WSA estimates an additional week for fine-tuning and programming at Müden. The Müden lock resumed regular operations by the end of the first week of February. Notably, the crane operation even garnered attention in the daily news.
Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH is a leading manufacturer of mobile and crawler cranes. Its range of mobile cranes extends from 2-axle 35 tonne cranes to heavy duty cranes with a lifting capacity of 1200 tonnes and a 9-axle chassis. Its lattice boom cranes on mobile or crawler travel gear deliver lifting capacities of up to 3000 tonnes. With universal boom systems and extensive additional equipment, they can be seen in action on construction sites throughout the world. The Ehingen site has a workforce of 5,000. An extensive, global service network guarantees the high availability of Liebherr mobile and crawler cranes. In 2023, the Liebherr plant in Ehingen recorded a turnover of 2.81 billion euros.
About the Liebherr Group
The Liebherr Group is a family-run technology company with a highly diversified product programme. The company is one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers in the world. It also provides high-quality, user-oriented products and services in a wide range of other areas. The Liebherr Group includes over 150 companies across all continents. In 2023, it employed more than 50,000 staff and achieved combined revenues of over 14 billion euros. Liebherr was founded by Hans Liebherr in 1949 in the southern German town of Kirchdorf an der Iller. Since then, the employees have been pursuing the goal of achieving
continuous technological innovation, and bringing industry-leading solutions to its customers.