New version of Liebherr’s Crane Planner software offers 3D lift planning and new crane models

Staff Report,

14 Mar 2022

Manufacturer updates 2.0 version with expanded features list, more LTM mobile cranes and centimetre perfect positioning using Google Maps

Liebherr’s new Crane Planner 2.0, the latest version of its crane and lifting planning software, has now expanded its library of Liebherr equipment models to include several of the company’s mobile cranes, all of its crawler cranes with lifting capacities up to 300 tonnes, as well as its hydraulic rope excavators, enabling the simple and professional planning of a wide variety of crane jobs.

The new, improved Crane Planner 2.0 includes an expanded features list, such as three-dimensional lift planning for more LTM mobile cranes from Liebherr. In addition to the LTM 1750‑9.1, which was already included in the program, the LTM 1650-8.1, LTM 1450-8.1, LTM 1300-6.2, LTM 1250-5.1 and LTM 1230-5.1 are now also available for planning work.

Liebherr said that additional telescopic mobile cranes are being added to Crane Planner 2.0 at regular intervals. The LTM 1350-6.1 will be the first of these. Users of the current version will enjoy the benefit of the new crane models and functions automatically and free of charge following the update. This also includes the new distance tool, which enables objects such as machines and buildings to be positioned relative to each other with centimetre precision, said the company in an announcement.

The Liebherr Crane Planner 2.0 helps users to identify solutions and procedures for their lifting work in advance. This enables complicated heavy lifts with crawler cranes as well as supposedly quick and easy taxi lifts by mobile cranes to be completed safely. The tool combines an interactive 3D visualisation of the machines, the loads and surrounding objects with dimensions, a positioning tool and Google Maps, without the need for expensive CAD programs or high-performance computers, says Liebherr. The results of the planning process can be exported in the form of a report and sent to the customer, which the company says, enables even small crane contractors to compete for large tenders.

The combination of an attractive, three-dimensional user interface and the exact machine data of the load moment limitation from the LICCON crane control system is unique, says Liebherr. The data displayed in Crane Planner 2.0 are determined using exactly the same calculation logic as the live data generated by the real mobile and crawler cranes. Key data such as ground pressures, support pressures, lifting capacities and centres of gravity are calculated simultaneously. Each time the configuration, load or geometry is changed, a new calculation is carried out.

Liebherr said that using the ‘Free’ version of the software, challenging planning tasks can be completed professionally in 2D. The range of functions is similar to Liebherr’s time-tested LICCON work planner. The ‘Pro’ version also contains detailed, interactive 3D models of the cranes, as well as a library with various 3D objects such as buildings, roads, machines or load objects. Map views from Google Maps and 3D data can be included in the display in the correct scale.

Ease of use was the main priority during the development of Crane Planner 2.0, said Liebherr, with the result that no special expertise is required to use the program and apart from a standard PC, no additional hardware is required.

The program can be downloaded and installed to a PC from Liebherr’s Crane Planner homepage. A free licence for the ‘Free’ version, or the fee-based ‘Pro’ version can be obtained from the licence shop. Furthermore, there is a ‘Trial’ version available which enables users to enjoy a 30-day free trial of the ‘Pro’ version. Whilst using Crane Planner 2.0, the calculations of the machine planning data, such as lifting capacities, support and ground pressures, are carried out online to ensure that they are always up to date.