Two powerful Liebherr cranes are being used to build the 200 metre high NKT Tower 3 in Karlskrona, southern Sweden, and are ensuring rapid construction progress.
A shift work system saw the tower rise by 2.6 metres a day, meaning that it reached its full height after just 90 days. Liebherr supported the project with specially calculated, custom crane solutions designed to maximise efficiency.
An impressive structure has emerged at remarkable speed in Karlskrona. Standing at a height of 200 metres, the NKT Tower 3 is the second tallest tower in Scandinavia. Two Liebherr cranes, a 542 HC-L 12/24 Litronic and a 258 HC-L 10/18 Fibre, are a key part of this ambitious construction project.
The tower which is built by Skanska will be an integral part of the world’s largest high-voltage submarine cable factory, which will supply wind turbines and solar parks with essential components. Weighing 28,000 tonnes in total, the NKT Tower 3 is a feat of engineering.
Liebherr Tower Crane Center and Tower Crane Solutions provide implementation support
A high-performance crane solution was needed to meet the exceptionally tight construction deadline of just 90 days. The Liebherr Tower Crane Center (TCC) provided the Liebherr 542 HC-L and 258 HC-L cranes from its rental fleet to facilitate rapid construction progress.
“To secure 24/7 operation, we moved key spare parts such as a new fibre rope and various modules directly onto site in advance so that time isn’t lost if these are needed,” says Stefan Gröber, Head of TCC Used & Rental.
In addition, Tower Crane Solutions (TCS), Liebherr’s project department for large and special projects, provided detailed calculations for optimal tie-in geometry and made the required tie bars available through the Tower Crane Center.
The climbing steps were also carefully planned beforehand to ensure an efficient construction process. An optimal crane configuration, including hoist rope lengths, power supply and tower bracing, was put together specifically for the project. TCS also provided the structural data for foundation loading and tensioning forces and worked closely with the Tower Crane Center to coordinate tie-in geometries. This custom solution successfully met the project’s challenging requirements.
The project was successfully completed within the timeline because of the excellent collaboration between TCC, TCS and the corresponding side in Sweden, Head Of Tower Cranes Skanska South District, Fredrik Funke and Project Specialist Anders Ekström from company Ekström Lyftkonsult AB.
Fast construction progress with a four-shift system to achieve spectacular heights
Two luffing jib cranes, a 258 HC-L 10/18 Fibre and a 542 HC-L 12/24 Litronic, were used on site and reached a final tower height of 213 and 210 metres respectively. The tower was constructed at an extraordinary speed. In just three months, the structure grew by an average of 2.6 metres per day thanks to a four-shift system and round-the-clock operation. The entire structure covers an area of 23 x 23 and will boast a total volume of 112,445 m³, roughly the equivalent of 45 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
About the Liebherr Tower Cranes Division
More than seven decades of experience have made Liebherr a recognised specialist for lifting technology on all types of construction sites. The range of Liebherr Tower Cranes encompasses an extensive selection of high-quality tower cranes that are used worldwide. This includes fast-erecting, top-slewing, luffing jib and special-purpose cranes as well as mobile construction cranes. In addition to these products, Liebherr also offers a wide range of services that complete the company’s portfolio: Tower Crane Solutions, the Tower Crane Center and Tower Crane Customer Service.
About the Liebherr Group
The Liebherr Group is a family-run technology company with a highly diversified product portfolio. The company is one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers in the world. It also provides high-quality, user-oriented products and services in a wide range of other areas.
The Liebherr Group includes over 150 companies across all continents. In 2023, it employed more than 50,000 staff and achieved combined revenues of over 14 billion euros. Liebherr was founded by Hans Liebherr in 1949 in the southern German town of Kirchdorf an der Iller. Since then, employees have been pursuing the goal of achieving continuous technological innovation, and bringing industry-leading solutions to its customers.
