Liebherr crowns the world’s best crane operator
In November, the international final of the Game of Cranes took place at the Liebherr plant in Ehingen, Germany, where the operators competed for the title of the world’s best mobile crane operator.
The five best mobile crane operators from across the world demonstrated their skills in five practical and theoretical tasks requiring the utmost precision, technical understanding and strong nerves.
Over two days, they had to calculate load capacities and rigging conditions, configure cranes and transport loads. The crane operators rotated from one stage to the next, completing tasks including correctly attaching various loads such as concrete buckets and blocks to an indoor crane and manoeuvring a container — inside which pylons and a pyramid of cups had been erected — around an obstacle.
Liebherr customer training sales manager Michaela Gogeißl says the finalists also had to calculate the wind load on a steel plate and lifted it over an obstacle using a single hook before pouring a bottle precisely into a beer glass using two hooks.
One of the final tasks was to pick up a 5t load and guide it through an S-shaped course with simultaneous movements — lifting, luffing, turning — without bumping into the obstacles.
“Last but not least, the ‘hot wire’ awaited our professionals,” Ms Gogeißl said.
“They had to guide a slewing ring over a pipe construction using two hooks without touching it.”
Scott White from City Lifting in Great Britain secured the title of World Crane Champion” with 898 points.
“It was a fantastic competition and great fun — I’m over the moon that I did it,” he said.
“The S-course was the biggest challenge, the hot wire was the best station.”
Mr White has already been invited to defend his title in 2027.
Australian national Joey Fisher from Johnson and Young Cranes took the title of second place with 861 points.
“To be honest, I was pretty nervous — there were so many people watching,” he said.
Titan Cranes operator Kirk Smith from New Zealand took home third place with 811 points.
“It was a very challenging competition — and a great experience,” he said.
“The sportsmanship of my fellow competitors was incredible, but I still had a few sleepless nights.”
Mountain Crane Service operator Nick Jackman from the US was awarded fourth place with 756 points.
“It was a great competition — very well thought out and perfectly organised,” he said.
With 690 points, WWN Guindastes operator Leonardo Navarro from Brazil claimed fifth place.
“All stages of this competition required a lot of knowledge and skill. In addition to the professional organisation, which included a factory tour and the opportunity to operate the largest crane — the LR 13000 — at the crane acceptance,” he said.
Liebherr received around 200 applications from mobile crane operators from all over the world to take part in the Game of Cranes.
Liebherr reached a major milestone in Ehingen in November — the delivery of its 50,000th mobile crane. The LTM 1300-6.4 was delivered to BKL Baukran Logistik GmbH to replace an older LTM 1300-6.2.
Since the plant was founded in 1969, Liebherr has continuously increased its production output. In 2006, the 20,000th crane left the plant, followed by the 30,000th just eight years later. The Ehingen-based company needed just six years to produce the next 10,000 cranes, and another five years later, the 50,000-vehicle-crane mark was reached.
