Sommer Kranverleih GmbH has expanded its fleet in the upper lifting capacity segment by taking delivery of a new Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 mobile crane. This 8-axle powerhouse replaces their previous LTM 1500-8.1, marking a significant upgrade for the Bremen-based company, which ventured into the large crane class in 2017.
Managed by the third generation of the Sommer family, Björn and Hagen Sommer, the company has solidified its position in the large crane segment. Their fleet now includes one LTM 1450-8.1, two LTM 1750-9.1, and another LTM 1750-9.1 set to join in April. The LTM 1650-8.1, with its 54 and 80-metre telescopic booms, is the latest addition, bringing enhanced capability and flexibility.
“We feel comfortable in the large crane class, and demand in the market is good,” says Björn Sommer. He adds, “With the LTM 1650-8.1, we’re boosting our fleet in the upper load capacity segment and extending our LTM 1750-9.1 downwards. It’s more compact and manoeuvrable with one less axle.”
The new crane is set to handle a variety of projects, including industry and infrastructure contracts, as well as the construction and dismantling of wind turbines. Sommer’s acquisition of both boom variants, the 54 and 80-metre telescopic booms, offers significant advantages. Björn Sommer notes, “The wind power configuration with the six-metre-long lattice type fixed jib allows us to reduce the time needed to move the crane in wind farms. It’s much easier to install than a luffing jib.”
Additionally, the LTM 1650-8.1 allows interchangeability of ballast plates and lattice sections with the LTM 1750-9.1, providing logistics benefits. Hagen Sommer highlights, “This interchangeability comes with logistics benefits too.”
Proving its prowess immediately, the LTM 1650-8.1 was used to dismantle six old wind turbines in Schleswig-Holstein on its very first job. Björn Sommer explains, “We used the T5 configuration with the 80-metre telescopic boom. This has huge advantages, reducing set-up and conversion times. Our staff are delighted with its simplicity. The new crane means projects take less time, freeing up capacity for further orders.”
Founded in 1959, Sommer Kranverleih GmbH continues to modernize its fleet regularly. The company operates 25 mobile cranes ranging from 40 to 800 tonnes lifting capacity in Bremen and the surrounding area, with large cranes deployed throughout Germany. In January, they took delivery of two new Liebherr LTC 1050-3.1 compact cranes. Looking ahead, a crane package from Liebherr has been ordered for 2024 to rejuvenate the cranes in the 4- and 5-axle class.
