From left to right: Wolfgang Sailer (Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH, Jörg Hegestweiler (BKL Baukran Logistik GmbH).

• 350-tonne crane adds to the top end of the fleet

• Good experience with the LTM 1350-6.1, high performance and the very latest crane technology are the main reasons behind the decision

• BKL commits to special campaign for culture and artists

BKL Baukran Logistik GmbH has taken delivery of a new Liebherr LTM 1350-6.1 mobile crane. This is the third crane of this type in the company’s fleet. The new purchase will support BKL’s strategy of keeping its mobile crane fleet up with the state of the art. Currently, its fleet has an average age of around just 3.5 years.

Jörg Hegestweiler, BKL Director of Sales, Marketing, HR and IT, came to the Liebherr Plant in Ehingen to take delivery of the new 350-tonne in person. He commented: “We regularly invest in new cranes to ensure we keep up with our claim to offer our customers state of the art machines at all times, and therefore to have one of the most modern rental fleets in Europe. We decided to buy a new LTM 1350-6.1 as we have been extremely satisfied with the two previous models, which have now been part of the BKL mobile crane fleet for more than a decade. One of the good things about the brand new crane is the fact that it includes technological improvements such as engine emissions stage V, which fits in well with our concept of sustainable management.”

The very latest crane technology

In addition to its existing SCR technology, Liebherr has introduced a sealed particulate filter system, which removes soot particles from the emissions, to achieve the new emissions stage V.

BKL also says that the high performance of the Liebherr 350-tonne crane, whilst still having compact dimensions, was another major reason behind its purchase decision. The 70 metre telescopic boom delivers particularly high lifting capacities. That means, for example, that the LTM 1350-6.1 is ideal for erecting tower cranes. Additional lifting capacity increases can be achieved using the Y guying, which often doubles the crane’s performance. Its luffing jib is up to 78 metres in length, which enables the crane to achieve hook heights of up to 134 metres.

The new 6-axle crane will add to the top end of the fleet, with the 350-tonne crane and an LTM 1450-8.1 also being complemented by an LTM 1650-8.1. “The LTM 1350-6.1 has proved to be very versatile. That applies to erecting our top-slewing cranes and for jobs for our customers in industrial construction work or the assembly of prefabricated parts,” says Hegestweiler.

5+50 Cultural Friday

The new crane will also support the “5+50 Cultural Friday” campaign. With the slogan “Move something together”, BKL has created a campaign to benefit cultural buildings and artists. The crane specialist has done so to support those people who are particularly badly affected by the current exceptional situation as they are unable to work, unlike many of those in the construction industry. The “5+50 Cultural Friday” campaign will see BKL customers receive a five percent discount and a 50 euro voucher for a theatre ticket each time they use a mobile crane on a Friday.

“Cultural buildings and artists are particularly badly affected by the general restrictions and are not really on anybody’s radar when it comes to support. By buying vouchers, we at BKL would therefore like to help to get them over the time when they have absolutely no income,” says Hegestweiler to describe the campaign which is also very much supported by Alexander Volz, the owner of BKL.

BKL Baukran Logistik GmbH specialises in the sale and rental of cranes and services. The company has around 300 employees in Munich, Ingolstadt, Rosenheim, Frankfurt am Main, Hanover and Hildesheim, making it one of the largest suppliers of crane solutions in Europe. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019. The BKL crane fleet comprises more than 500 construction cranes with radii of 22 to 90 metres, over the 100 mobile cranes with lifting capacities ranging from 30 to 500 tonnes and ten mobile construction crane with radii of up to 65 metres.