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Twins in the Fleet: Völkl Adds Second Liebherr LTM 1150-5.3 Mobile Crane
Construction Equipment

Twins in the Fleet: Völkl Adds Second Liebherr LTM 1150-5.3 Mobile Crane

By Heavy-shift 3 min read
Twins in the Fleet: Völkl Adds Second Liebherr LTM 1150-5.3 Mobile Crane
Twins in the Fleet: Völkl Adds Second Liebherr LTM 1150-5.3 Mobile Crane

Twins in the Fleet: Völkl Adds Second Liebherr LTM 1150-5.3 Mobile Crane

German crane and heavy transport specialist Kran Völkl GmbH & Co. KG has taken delivery of a second Liebherr LTM 1150-5.3 all-terrain mobile crane — an exact twin of the unit it acquired two years ago. The repeat order brings the Straubing-based family firm's fleet to 13 cranes and underscores the LTM 1150-5.3's reputation for combining road-friendly mobility with class-leading payload capacity.

When Kran Völkl purchased its first LTM 1150-5.3 and an LTC 1050-3.1 compact crane in mid-2024, the company replaced an ageing 110-tonne crane and gained a modern, versatile workhorse for construction, industrial, precast assembly and recovery work. That first 150-tonne unit has performed so well that the company's management decided not to shop around — they ordered a second copy with identical specifications.

"We are extremely satisfied with our first LTM 1150-5.3 — the investment has absolutely paid off, both technically and economically," said Daniel Völkl Fischl, deputy managing director of Kran Völkl. "That is why we opted for the same model, with identical specifications."

The LTM 1150-5.3's standout specification is its ability to carry nine tonnes of counterweight on public roads at a 12-tonne axle load. That means a significant share of lifting jobs can be handled without a separate ballast transport vehicle — a decisive advantage for a company that moves its cranes regularly between construction sites across Bavaria and beyond.

At a maximum gross weight of 60 tonnes, Völkl's cranes still have roughly 400 kilograms of payload headroom for accessories — enough for a second hoist, a three-roller hook block, and a full set of support gear. To preserve that margin, the company spec'd aluminium rims on both units.

Spec'd for Maximum Versatility

Both LTM 1150-5.3s are configured with an extensive options package:

  • Hydraulic double-folding jib for extended reach
  • Second hoist with mounting jib
  • Radio remote control with Remote Drive
  • Boom camera and comprehensive LED lighting with ten work lights
  • Aluminium wheels for weight savings

The 66-metre telescopic boom (reaching approximately 75 metres when the double-folding jib is deployed) gives Völkl's operators the reach needed for precast assembly and high-rise construction work. The VarioBase outrigger system — which adjusts support width based on the actual load and working radius — adds an extra layer of safety and flexibility on confined job sites.

A Family Business with Deep Liebherr Roots

Founded in 1932, Kran Völkl is a family-run operation with around 30 employees and a fleet that now numbers 13 mobile cranes ranging from 40 to 500 tonnes. The company follows a disciplined replacement cycle: cranes are typically kept for eight years before being replaced with modern equivalents.

"Over the last two years, we have purchased a total of four new cranes — three of them to replace existing ones, and one to expand our fleet," said Völkl Fischl.

The company's preference for Liebherr equipment is no coincidence. Quality, service, and strong resale value have kept Völkl loyal to the Ehingen manufacturer over several years. "As we are satisfied with the quality and service, we opted for Liebherr," Völkl Fischl explained — a sentiment echoed by owner Rudolf Völkl when the first LTM 1150-5.3 was delivered in 2024.

Market Context

The repeat order reflects a broader trend in the European crane rental market: operators are gravitating toward versatile mid-size all-terrain cranes that offer both road mobility and genuine lifting capability. The LTM 1150-5.3, launched in October 2020, has become one of Liebherr's best-selling models in the 150-tonne class — a segment where the balance between axle load, boom length, and lifting chart performance is especially critical for rental fleets.

For Völkl, the twin LTM 1150-5.3s mean operational flexibility: identical cranes can share spares, operators can be swapped between units without retraining, and customers get a consistent lifting platform across multiple jobs.

Sources

Construction Equipment