TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
Packing a Powerful Punch
Liebherr’s new piling and drilling rig’s size, stability and high
performance specifications open a new dimension for deep
foundation jobs
Liebherr’s new LRB 355 piling and
drilling rig, first introduced this
spring in Nenzing, Austria, will
be available in Canada later this
year through Liebherr-Canada Ltd. The
latest model in Liebherr’s LRB series
( for “Liebherr Ramm- und Bohrgerät,”
or, in English, “Liebherr piling and
drilling rig”), the LRB 355 has the series’
highest performance specifications so
far, says Tobias Froehlich, marketing
and communication manager at Liebherr
Nenzing, and is unique in terms of
performance.
“The rig’s robust undercarriage has
the longest tracks in its class, which
guarantees a high level of stability
and low ground-bearing pressure, and
the parallel kinematics offer a long
outreach and thus a large operating
area,” he said. The LRB 355 is available
in two different configurations with a
maximum height of 33.5 metres and a
maximum weight of approximately 100
tonnes without attachments.
A powerful 600 kW V12 diesel engine
(approximately 800 HP) drives the rig
with an optional upgrade to 750 kW
(1000 HP), while complying with both
U.S. Tier 4 final and European emission
standards.
“Special consideration was paid
to improving the new machine’s fuel
efficiency in the design stage,” said
Froehlich.
The engine runs at a reduced operating
speed of 1,700 rpm and can
optionally be equipped with an engine
stop control that switches the rig off
automatically during longer work
breaks. With the optional eco-silent
mode, engine speed can be reduced to
a predefined level.
“With this feature, a notable reduction
in diesel consumption can be
achieved without any impact on operational
output,” he said, making it both
more economical and better for the
environment.
Another of the LRB 355’s optional
features is the elevating working platform,
which can be adjusted to various
heights to enable safe and easy access
to the attachments and to the rotary,
making tool assembly and maintenance
work easier and faster.
Easy transport and set-up
The new piling and drilling rig can be
transported easily and set up quickly.
The leader has a maximum length of
31.69 metres, but can be folded to a
length of 20.18 metres for transportation,
says Froehlich, and the whole rig
can be moved with the leader, multisledge
and rope still attached to the
machine. It has a self-assembly system,
so no extra tools or auxiliary crane are
needed for folding the leader, mounting
the counterweight or assembling the
rotary drive. All winches are mounted
directly on the leader, which allows the
operator to see the main winch from
the cab and ensures that the ropes
don’t move during leader adjustment.
The LRB 355 has been designed
specifically for drilling with a full displacement
tool but can also be used
for other drilling jobs such as double
rotary-head drilling, continuous flight
augering, Kelly-bored piles and soil
mixing and for piling jobs using vibrator
or hydraulic hammers. It offers a torque
of 450 kN•m (kiloNewton•metres)
By Barb Feldman
CONTINUED ON PAGE 15.
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