Liebherr duty cycle cranes perform dynamic compaction in Kuwait

In the desert state of Kuwait, the Ahmadiah Group is using dynamic compaction to compact a ground area of 6,500,000 m² for ‟Jaber Al-Ahmad City," a new development that is planned to include 7,000 houses, schools and hospitals. Ahmadiah Group, a leading construction company based in Kuwait, chose to use four HS 885 HD and three HS 855 HD Liebherr hydraulic duty cycle crawler cranes for the project.

During the dynamic compaction process, the sandy clay of the desert land will be compacted to prepare it for construction. The work requires a strong duty cycle crane purpose-built for the application.

The Liebherr units work in two 9-hour shifts per day, 25 days per month, for a total of 18 months. Each unit carries out approximately 600 work cycles per shift. For the difficult application, the HS 855 HD is fitted with two 25-ton winches and the HS 885 HD with two 30-ton winches. The ground is compacted using a drop weight of 25 tons at a dropping height of 29 meters, according to the company.

The Litronic® control system on the cranes carries out the work cycles in fully automatic mode. This electronic system incorporates all control and monitoring functions of the unit and works reliably in extreme temperatures, under humid conditions or vibration, Liebherr said. Specially developed components minimize rope wear, increase the unit's longevity and reduce costs.

Jaber Al-Ahmad City is located about 22 kilometers west of Kuwait City.