Liebherr has announced the industry’s first hydraulic hybrid drive for mobile harbour cranes. The new Pactronic^® - hybrid drive system increases handling performance while reducing fuel consumption.

Liebherr Pactronic^® is an innovative hydraulic hybrid drive system. It is characterized by an energy storage device (accumulator) which is charged by regenerating the reverse power and using the surplus of the prime mover during lowering. Energy is stored in this compressed gas to be released upon demand.

The hydraulic accumulator is based on proven energy storage technology and allows fast charging and discharging of the accumulator. It serves as a pressure storage reservoir incorporating a gas in conjunction with a hydraulic fluid. The system is virtually maintenance free and just needs visible inspections every 10 years and in addition, it is 100% recyclable.

Pactronic^® is most useful in situations where peak power is required, such as dedicated bulk handling for example. In comparison to Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes with a conventional drive system and identical turnover in terms of tonnes per hour the Pactronic^® hybrid version needs 30% less fuel.

When an application is started that requires the additional power, Pactronic^® can transfer power back to the system and increases the hoisting capabilities of the crane.

Pactronic^® will be introduced to the market on the new LHM 550, it will then be gradually rolled out on more crane models and by 2013 Pactronic^® will be offered on Liebherr’s entire mobile harbour crane range.