KönningKrane GmbH & Co. KG, a crane rental specialist based in Stadtlohn, North Rhine-Westphalia, has commissioned a Liebherr LTM 1150-5.4 mobile crane, marking the third Liebherr unit to join the fleet. The 150-tonne, five-axle crane fills the capacity gap between the company's 100-tonne and 180-tonne classes and is designed to meet growing demands in the infrastructure and energy sectors. Managing Director Johannes Bendfeld states: "With the new crane we are expanding our fleet sensibly and creating additional flexibility for our customers."

The investment is part of a fleet-renewal strategy that sees KönningKrane add one new Liebherr crane each year. The company's current fleet comprises around 20 units, including a Liebherr LTM 1160-5.2 and a Liebherr LTC 1050-3.1 commissioned in the previous two years. Managing Director Verena Könning explains: "We consciously invest in innovative solutions — this makes our work more efficient and also more attractive for our employees."

VarioBase, AutoBallast and LICCON3 drive investment decision

The decision to select the LTM 1150-5.4 was strongly influenced by the crane's advanced technology package. Key features include:

  • VarioBase® — variable outrigger positioning for flexible site setup
  • AutoBallast — automated ballast calculation
  • LICCON3 — the latest generation of Liebherr's integrated crane control system
  • Windspeed Load Charts — dynamic load capacity adjustment based on wind conditions
  • Intelligent driver-assistance systems — including BSIS (blind-spot/turn-assist) and MOIS (start-information system)

The 66-metre telescopic boom offers a high degree of operational flexibility in daily use. At a gross weight of 60 tonnes and an axle load of 12 tonnes, the crane can carry 9 tonnes of ballast, enhancing transport efficiency on public roads. The cab features modern comforts including a multifunctional steering wheel and integrated coolbox, alongside a comprehensive LED lighting package, telescopic-head camera and reversing camera.

How does the crane perform in infrastructure and concrete construction?

The LTM 1150-5.4 is engineered for versatile lifting operations. Bendfeld notes: "With the new 150-tonner we are expanding our deployment capabilities beyond day-to-day business, particularly in infrastructure and concrete construction." The crane completed its first job immediately after delivery, lifting a 37.5-tonne machine under confined site conditions. The combination of high load capacity, flexibility and modern telematics technology positions the unit for deployment across a range of infrastructure projects.

KönningKrane's service portfolio extends beyond conventional crane rental to include concrete pumps and transport solutions. The company's focus on infrastructure and energy-sector clients reflects broader market trends: rising demand for renewable-energy installations, grid upgrades and high-capacity civil-engineering projects is driving rental firms to invest in mid-capacity mobile cranes for urban logistics that combine lifting capacity with compact dimensions for inner-city access.

What role does Liebherr's service network play?

Service quality was a decisive factor in the purchase decision. Verena Könning emphasises: "Customer service functions exactly as you would wish — fast, reliable and solution-oriented." The proximity of Liebherr's Oberhausen branch provides the Münsterland-based crane operator with additional assurance regarding maintenance and spare-parts supply. Fast-response service networks are critical for rental firms whose business models depend on minimising machine downtime and maximising utilisation rates.

The systematic fleet expansion — one new Liebherr crane per year — reflects a deliberate strategy to maintain a young, technologically current fleet. Second-generation management at KönningKrane is betting that modern control systems, driver-assistance features and automated functions will not only improve operational efficiency but also make the company more attractive to skilled operators in a tight labour market. The LICCON3 control system, introduced across Liebherr's mobile-crane range in recent years, integrates crane, drive and safety functions in a single interface and enables over-the-air software updates — a technology path that mirrors developments in digital site management and BIM-integrated machine control.

What does this mean for the crane-rental market?

KönningKrane's investment pattern — annual addition of one mid-to-large mobile crane with the latest safety and automation features — is emblematic of a broader shift in the German crane-rental sector. Operators are replacing older tonnage with units that offer variable support configurations (VarioBase®), automated ballast management and wind-compensated load charts. These technologies reduce setup time, expand the working envelope on confined sites and lower the risk of operator error — all factors that translate directly into higher daily utilisation and lower insurance premiums.

The 150-tonne capacity class occupied by the LTM 1150-5.4 is particularly well-suited to infrastructure work: bridge construction, precast-concrete erection, wind-turbine assembly and industrial plant maintenance all fall within this weight range. As Germany's infrastructure-investment programmes accelerate — driven by grid expansion, road and rail renewal, and industrial decarbonisation — demand for this tonnage segment is expected to remain strong through the rest of the decade.

From a technology perspective, the LTM 1150-5.4 represents an incremental rather than radical innovation step. VarioBase® and LICCON have been available for several years; what distinguishes the current generation is the integration depth of these systems and the addition of driver-assistance features borrowed from the truck sector. The next technology frontier for mobile cranes — electrification — remains at the prototype stage for this tonnage class, with battery-electric variants unlikely to reach series production before the end of the decade due to weight and energy-density constraints.

For now, diesel-powered mobile cranes with advanced control, safety and automation features represent the state of the art in mid-capacity lifting. KönningKrane's annual investment rhythm ensures the company remains within that leading edge — a competitive necessity in a market where customers increasingly specify equipment age, emission class and safety certification as contract pre-qualifications.