Secondhand LR 1400 SX for Delden: lifting capacity and logistics gains for projects
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan
First reported on The Construction Index
30 Second Briefing
Delden Cranes has expanded its fleet with a secondhand 400‑tonne Liebherr LR 1400 SX crawler, sourced via Liebherr Great Britain, raising its previous 300‑tonne capacity limit set by an LR 1300.1. The LR 1400 SX offers up to 173 m hoist height and 124 m radius, and with an 86 m main boom can share luffing equipment with Delden’s LR 1300.1, simplifying logistics and spares. Its modular, self‑erecting design is intended to cut rig/derig time and transport costs for long‑term hire projects in a growing UK market.
Technical Brief
- LR 1400 SX is a Nenzing-built multipurpose crawler, distinct from Ehingen heavy-lift-optimised models.
- Straightforward, non-heavy-lift-focused design was a key selection factor for Delden’s long-term hire work.
- Faster self-rigging directly lowers Delden’s mobilisation, demobilisation and inter-project transport costs.
- Delden explicitly targets long-duration hire contracts rather than one-off mega heavy-lift campaigns.
- Acquisition aligns with Delden’s 50th anniversary, signalling continued investment in its established client base.
Our Take
The step-up from a 300‑tonne to a 400‑tonne class crawler gives Delden Cranes access to heavier bridge, rail and wind components that previously would have required subcontracting to competitors, which typically improves utilisation and margins on complex infrastructure jobs in the UK.
In our Infrastructure database, Liebherr and Liebherr Great Britain appear frequently in higher-capacity crane upgrades, suggesting that Delden’s secondhand purchase aligns with a broader pattern of UK operators standardising on Liebherr for the upper end of their lifting portfolios to streamline spares and operator training.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
Related Articles
Related Industries & Products
Construction
Quality control software for construction companies with material testing, batch tracking, and compliance management.
CMRR-io
Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.
HYDROGEO-io
Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.
GEODB-io
Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.