In August 2022, Liebherr delivered a new LHM 550 to the Port of Arendal in Norway. The main commercial terminal for the port is located at Eydehavn, just outside the city of Arendal. Eydehavn is a harbour that offers cranes and handling equipment for bulk loads, project cargo, offshore equipment, and containers. With a lifting capacity of up to 144 tonnes, this LHM 550 offers the port the ability to support larger project and special cargo, as well as optimised bulk operations. Another distinguishing benefit sought by the Port of Arendal is Liebherr’s extensive and high standard of service. Besides remote technical support and local field service, a large selection of original parts will help keep the LHM 550 running over many years.

Options for Improved Bulk Processing, Handling Larger Cargo and Supporting More Customers

The four-rope version of the LHM 550 that was delivered to the client in Arendal will provide flexible applications for cargo and material lifting. For increased efficiency in handling bulk cargo, a suitable grab that is coupled with Liebherr’s SmartGrip technology was part of the crane’s delivery. This feature can optimise the filling rate of the grab in a self-learning manner. In this way, SmartGrip learns after just a few lifting cycles how to optimise capacity utilisation of the grab. This reduces overloads to a minimum, increases the material handling rate and, at the same time, alleviates crane operator stress. Bulk material such as salt and sulphur will be among the main resources that will be handled by the LHM 550.

A forthcoming project in the area that will benefit from the crane’s optimisations is a new battery factory by Morrow Batteries.

Rune Hvass, Port Director at Arendal Havn, notes: “After deliberations about which LHM model fits our logistical needs the best, we ultimately decided on the LHM 550. An increasing number of customers are demanding capacity for larger and heavier project and general cargo. To also provide better support for a new battery factory that will be built locally, the choice for a larger mobile harbour crane made most sense.” Rune Hvass continues: “The high-quality level at which Liebherr is building its cranes, and especially the service concept Liebherr provides, were some of the main reasons why we decided to purchase a Liebherr mobile harbour crane.”

Located in the southern part of Norway between Larvik and Kristiansand, the Port of Arendal is the biggest bulk port in Norway that uses mobile harbour cranes. The new LHM 550 joining the port is equipped for a variety of cargo applications. Liebherr’s own SmartGrip assistance system will optimise bulk handling for a battery factory in the region.