At the handover of the cranes in Dubai (from left): Keonne and Hillary Pinto (both from Al Faris Group), and Holger Amann (Liebherr Middle East).
Liebherr buoyed by multiple orders
German-Swiss multinational equipment manufacturer Liebherr has recorded orders from leading construction equipment rental companies in the region for scores of its latest cranes, which are being deployed on infrastructure and construction projects as well as in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries.
01 March 2023
Several dozens of cranes from German-Swiss multinational equipment manufacturer Liebherr have recently been supplied to leading construction equipment companies in the region, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The recent bauma, the leading construction machinery trade fair which was held last October in Munich, Germany, provided an ideal platform for the signing of new orders or deliveries of some of its latest cranes to the region.
Among the equipment rental companies that signed up for new cranes from Liebherr was the Dubai-headquartered Al Faris Group of Companies which ordered 27 cranes from the company, some of which will be delivered this year and some next. The new order includes six additional LTM 1300-6.3s.
Commenting on the cranes, Keonne Pinto, an Al Faris shareholder, says: “The concept of the LTM 1300-6.3 with its 90-m telescopic boom combined with compact dimensions is perfect for universal operations here in the Middle East, especially in the energy sector. This type of crane is eagerly awaited in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.”
Last year, Al Faris Group took delivery of 24 mobile cranes ranging from 110- to 700-tonne lifting capacity from Liebherr. With the additional 27 cranes on order, the crane and heavy transport company is well poised for further growth in the region.
The 24 delivered cranes include four LTM 1500-8.1s. These are the last production units of the most successful large crane of all time, of which Liebherr has sold more than 600 units worldwide. Al Faris currently operates the world’s largest fleet of Liebherr 500-tonne cranes – a total of 15 machines. “The LTM 1500-8.1 is my absolute favourite crane from Ehingen,” says Hillary Pinto, the company’s managing partner.
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Rezayat Sparrow took delivery of 16 new Liebherr mobile cranes ... the symbolic handover of the keys took place at bauma. |
The package delivered also includes its successor model, the LTM 1650-8.1, which offers significantly more power with a maximum lifting capacity of 700 tonnes. It also boasts the latest mobile crane technology, such as the VarioBallast and the VarioBase variable supporting base. Al Faris has also received its first LTM 1300-6.3, a 300-tonne crane on six axles which is one of Liebherr’s latest mobile cranes. Its stand-out feature is its 90-m telescopic boom, a world record in its class, according to Liebherr.
Al Faris is one of Liebherr’s largest customers worldwide and currently has 460 Liebherr cranes in its fleet – including mobile cranes ranging from the LTM 1030-2.1 to the LTM 11200-9.1 and crawler cranes from the LR 1350 to the LR 11000.
Hillary comments: “Liebherr has the most comprehensive portfolio of modern and reliable products that represent the benchmark in their class. In addition, Liebherr is continuously optimising its after-sales service, which is so immensely important for crane rental companies. Liebherr is an absolute leader in this field. Therefore, Liebherr is not simply our supplier, but was and is a crucial partner in Al Faris’ long success story. Together we will continue on the path of healthy and successful growth.”
The Al Faris Group, founded in 1992, is now the largest crane and transport vehicle rental contractor in the Middle East – and one of the largest worldwide. Its current fleet includes over 2,600 cranes and heavy haulage vehicles.
Meanwhile, two Saudi-based crane and transport companies are set to expand their fleet with Liebherr cranes.
Gulf Haulage Heavy Lift Company (GHHL) also signed an order at bauma for the delivery of a total of 18 mobile cranes. The new cranes will expand the company’s fleet of cranes of between 100- and 300-tonne lifting capacity. For GHHL, the high quality and the good after-sales service were important decision-making criteria for ordering from Liebherr.
“The requirements in the Saudi market are increasing and we are seeing a growing demand for mobile cranes, especially in the class between 100 and 300 tonnes,” explains company Chairman Hussein Ali Al Anazy.
The order placed with Liebherr comprises six LRT 1100-2.1 rough-terrain cranes, six LTM 1120-4.1 all-terrain cranes, four LTM 1150-5.3 models and two LTM 1300-6.2 cranes.
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Leibherr officials hand over a symbolic key to GHHL executives at bauma after signing an order for the delivery of 18 mobile cranes. |
Until now, GHHL’s primary focus has been on large and lattice boom cranes. “The mobile cranes we have ordered will expand our new class of cranes, which will complement our heavy-duty cranes and enable us to offer complete crane solutions for our customers. Liebherr is a leading manufacturer with top quality products and customer services,” says Sanjay Pachisia, CEO of GHHL.
GHHL uses its cranes in the renewable energy sector, in infrastructure and construction projects, and in the traditional Saudi market for oil, gas and the petrochemical industry. The GHHL group of companies operates more than 90 cranes. Its largest Liebherr crane is a 750-tonne LR 1750 crawler crane.
Meanwhile, another Saudi crane and heavy haulage company Rezayat Sparrow has taken delivery of 16 new Liebherr mobile cranes, including two rough-terrain cranes and 14 all-terrain cranes with lifting capacities of up to 700 tonnes. The symbolic handover of the keys took place at bauma.
Liebherr’s service and support as well as the lead times of the cranes convinced the company to place this major order. The cranes will be added to the existing fleet whilst the LTM 1650-8.1 will expand it with its maximum lifting capacity of 700 tonnes.
The new additions to its fleet include two rough-terrain cranes, an LRT 1090-2.1 and an LRT 1100-2.1, and 14 telescopic mobile cranes comprising five LTM 1110-5.1, two LTM 1110-5.2, an LTM 1150-5.3, three LTM 1160-5.2, an LTM 1230-5.1, an LTM 1250-5.1 and an LTM 1650-8.1.
“The order for the 16 cranes will support the performance of our overall fleet. These new LRT and LTM machines will greatly assist us in meeting our ongoing customer enquiries while maintaining a fleet of modern, reliable machines,” explains Raymond Cron, General Manager of Rezayat Sparrow. “They will mainly be used in the construction, petrochemical, mining and renewable energy industries.”
Rezayat Sparrow already had two Liebherr LTM 1500-8.1 cranes in its fleet. Due to the company’s excellent experience with these two cranes, it decided to purchase their successor, the LTM 1650-8.1.
“The higher capacity of the LTM 1650-8.1 is a logical complement to our two LTM 1500-8.1 cranes, which have proven to be the outstanding cranes in our fleet since 2004. At the same time, the new eight-axle can do even more,” says Cron.
In a lifting capacity comparison, the LTM 1650-8.1 outperforms its predecessor, the LTM 1500-8.1, by 15 to 50 per cent, depending on the equipment. The maximum lifting capacity of the LTM 1650-8.1 is 700 tonnes - 200 tonnes more than its predecessor. The new crane also tops the LTM 1500-8.1 in terms of maximum hoist height by 10 m, reaching up to 152 m and maximum radius by 4 m at 112 m.
Rezayat Sparrow and Liebherr have a long-standing business relationship. The majority of the contractor’s fleet is made up of Liebherr equipment.
“We considered other manufacturers, but the support and service we receive from Saudi Liebherr Company is first class. We wanted to feel confident that we would have reliable support for our investments,” adds Cron.
Liebherr has subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia as part of its worldwide service network. A state-of-the-art service centre was built in Dammam in 2016, offering reliable Liebherr customer service from an experienced service team.
