TWO specially adapted Liebherr excavators have been proving their worth for Bethell, a UK-based excavation and shaft sinking specialist.
The business recently expanded its fleet with two Liebherr R 930 crawler excavators and a Liebherr LTR 1060 telescopic crawler crane. Bethell relies on machines that are equipped to meet the technical challenges of working in dense urban areas and underground projects.
After an 18-month rental period, the firm decided to purchase its own specialised equipment in order to be able to respond more flexibly to increasing order volumes.
“We were very impressed by the quality of the complete package offered by Liebherr,” said operations manager Ronan Kilroe. “Everything went smoothly. And the fact that a single manufacturer is responsible for production, delivery and warranty gives us great peace of mind.”
The two crawler excavators delivered to Bethell are based on the standard R 930 model and each have an operating weight of approximately 40 tonnes, compared to 30.4 to 36.3 tonnes for the standard version. They are equipped with an extended chassis and a hydraulically liftable driver’s cab, which gives the driver a viewing height of up to five metres.
The working attachment includes a two-part boom and a telescopic stick for increased reach. For safety, the machines have rollover protection with an optimised field of vision and ring-shaped lighting that delineates the work area.
Liebherr explained that the development of these special excavators was made possible by the expertise of the Liebherr Application Centre at the Liebherr-France SAS site in Colmar. This department is dedicated to customising crawler excavators in accordance with customer requirements. A detailed analysis is carried out for each project, taking into account practical conditions and operational requirements.
In Bethell’s case, technical consultations led to a configuration with working equipment specially adapted to the requirements of excavation and shaft work.
“It was a long process, but it paid off. We have received three excellent products that will serve us well for many years to come,” Ronan Kilroe added.
