Ainscough adds 700 tonne crawler crane

Handover of Ainscough’s new Liebherr LR 1700-1.0 on 30 October at Ainscough’s Leyland depot in north west England. Left to right: Mark James and Peter Gibbs from Ainscough, Richard Everist from Liebherr, Andrew Spink and Lee Sixsmith also from Ainscough. Photo: Ainscough

Crane rental specialist Ainscough Crane Hire in the UK has expanded its fleet with the addition of a new Liebherr LR 1700 1.0 lattice boom crawler crane.

The new crane will strengthen the expanding projects division at what is already the UK’s largest crane rental house.

The LR 1700-1.0 is said to combine the lower transport cost benefits of a 600 tonne capacity crane with the lifting performance of a 750 tonner. It shares a large number of components with the smaller LR 1600/2.

Options selected by Ainscough include the HS boom and derrick plus the folding V-Frame. There is also the VarioTray option to increase efficiency on site. An additional power unit (APU) was specified to power the cabin, the air conditioning and the hydraulic oil pre-heating system, without having to run the main engine. The Liebherr LICCON control system also remains active. Running the engine for less time saves fuel and reduces the maintenance requirement.

Commenting on his new acquisition Peter Gibbs, Ainscough CEO, said, “The Liebherr LR 1700 1.0 represents the latest design technology within the heavy crane industry and by adding one to our fleet it will give us the flexibility to undertake a wider range of projects with a single crane. Our recent open day to showcase the crane’s abilities to our existing customers has been a huge success with many clients expressing an interest in utilising its outstanding performance on their projects.”

Aerial view of Ainscough’s new Liebherr LR 1700-1.0 lattice boom crawler crane in company livery. Photo: Ainscough