The Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 is a powerful 700-tonne mobile crane built on an eight-axle chassis, designed to be the maximum-capacity machine on this axle configuration. It features a versatile boom system with a base telescopic boom available in two variants: the T3 with a 54-meter boom and the T5 with an 80-meter boom. For additional reach, the crane can be equipped with a luffing lattice jib (the N variant) that extends from 21 to 91 meters. A key innovation is the optional NK system, which uses a folding mechanism to split the luffing jib into two parts for transport, significantly reducing space requirements on the road. The crane’s maximum system length, combining the 80-meter telescopic boom with the 91-meter luffing jib and auxiliary equipment, reaches an impressive 152 meters.

The LTM 1650-8.1 is equipped with several advanced technologies designed to enhance safety, flexibility, and efficiency on the job site. The VarioBase® variable support base allows each outrigger to be extended to individual lengths, which is crucial for working in constricted areas and can increase lifting capacities. The VarioBallast® system provides a choice between two counterweight radii—6.4 meters with 155 tonnes or 8.4 meters with 175 tonnes—allowing for almost identical lifting capacities with a smaller ballast radius for tight spaces. Powering the crane is a single 8-cylinder Liebherr diesel engine producing 505 kW (686 PS). This engine drives both the carrier and the crane superstructure through a mechanical shaft, an efficient system known as the Liebherr SingleEngine concept. It also features ECOmode, which automatically disengages the pump drive when idling to reduce fuel consumption and noise.

For transport, the crane is optimized for efficient road travel. Its total counterweight of 175 tonnes is made up of a 155-tonne basic ballast and an optional 20-tonne additional counterweight, with individual ballast plates weighing between 5 and 10 tonnes for flexible transport logistics. The crane is designed for quick and safe setup, with features like self-installation of the rear outrigger box and quick-release couplings for hydraulic and electrical connections. The LTM 1650-8.1 also comes with the WindSpeed load charts, which provide different lifting capacities based on maximum permissible wind speeds. This makes it exceptionally well-suited for demanding applications like the erection of wind turbines, where it can lift components up to 56.3 tonnes to significant heights, as illustrated in the brochure’s wind power application section.