Liebherr LR 1130.1 Unplugged Supports Brouwersdam Sluice Refurbishment
30-Second Takeaway
De Klerk Werkendam is using a battery-powered Liebherr LR 1130.1 unplugged crawler crane to replace sheet pile structures at the Brouwer sluice complex on the Brouwersdam in the Netherlands. The work includes installing 162 new sheet piles, each 23 metres long, in highly compacted sandy soil. Working from an electrically equipped pontoon, the crane positions the piles and loads building materials from shore. Once the new piles are installed, the old ones are removed to help prepare the site for a modern lock system.
Liebherr LR 1130.1 Unplugged Places Sheet Piles from a Pontoon
De Klerk Werkendam is carrying out the work at the Brouwer sluice complex on the Brouwersdam, which regulates water flow between the North Sea and the Grevelingenmeer. The project replaces sheet pile structures that have been in place for about 50 years.
The contractor is installing 162 new sheet piles, each measuring 23 metres. The embankment’s highly compacted sandy soil makes installation challenging and requires a high-performance sheet pile vibrator alongside the crane.
The LR 1130.1 unplugged works from a pontoon. Liebherr says its working radius allows it to position the piles from the water. The crane also loads building materials from shore. Once the replacement elements are installed, the old piles are removed, laying the foundation for a modern lock system.
LR 1130.1 Unplugged Equipment Profile
The LR 1130.1 unplugged is a crawler crane with an electric drive. Liebherr lists a maximum lifting capacity of 137 tonnes at a 3.4-metre radius, a maximum hoist height of 126 metres and a maximum radius of 78 metres. Its main boom can be configured up to 80 metres, with lattice jib options ranging from 22.7 to 78.5 metres.
The crane’s high-performance battery system has a gross capacity of 165 kWh and uses lithium-ion NMC technology. Liebherr lists maximum drive power at 255 kW and maximum charging power at 40 kW using a 400 V AC supply. Depending on operating mode and power demand, the battery can support up to eight hours of operation.
The machine can work on battery power or remain connected to a conventional electrical supply. Liebherr says the crane can operate fully while plugged in, with the battery charging during operation. The company lists a recharge time of up to 4.5 hours. These are manufacturer specifications for the model; the release does not state the crane’s configuration or lifting loads at Brouwersdam.
Electric Crane and Pontoon Work as a Combined System
De Klerk Werkendam selected the battery-powered crawler crane to meet growing requirements for emission-free jobsites. At Brouwersdam, the crane works alongside a pontoon equipped with an electric drive, electric spud piles, battery storage and solar panels.
When shore power is available, Liebherr says the combined system operates locally almost emission-free. The company specifies one diesel-powered component: the hydraulic power unit for the sheet pile vibrator. This distinction matters because the crane’s electric drive and the pontoon’s power system do not make every piece of equipment in the operation electric.
Liebherr reports that project managers and machine operators have highlighted the low noise and emission levels of the electric machines. The company also cites a comparison for three unplugged crawler cranes at idle: at a distance of 16 metres, their sound pressure level is equivalent to that of a normal conversation on the jobsite at one metre.
De Klerk Werkendam describes the electric pontoon and crawler crane combination as unique in the Netherlands and plans to continue using it. The company also plans to introduce additional electric cranes. It reports positive experience with Liebherr’s machine reliability, parts deliveries and on-site technical support.
About the Companies
Liebherr
Founded by Hans Liebherr in Kirchdorf an der Iller, Germany, in 1949, the Liebherr Group is a family-run technology company with a diversified product portfolio. In its release, Liebherr describes the group as one of the world’s largest construction equipment manufacturers, with more than 150 companies across all continents. In 2025, it employed more than 55,000 people and reported combined revenue of more than €14 billion.
The LR 1130.1 unplugged is part of Liebherr’s crawler crane range. The release was issued by Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH in Austria.
View website: https://www.liebherr.com/
De Klerk Werkendam
De Klerk Werkendam is the Dutch contractor replacing the sheet pile structures at Brouwersdam. The company selected the LR 1130.1 unplugged for the project and paired it with an electrically equipped pontoon. Its work at the sluice complex involves installing the new piles, loading building materials from shore and removing the old piles after replacement.
De Klerk says it chose a battery-powered crane in response to growing requirements for emission-free jobsites. Following its experience at Brouwersdam, it intends to continue using the pontoon-and-crane combination and introduce more electric cranes.
View website: https://www.deklerkbv.nl/nl/
Frequently Asked Questions
What is being refurbished at Brouwersdam?
The project is refurbishing the Brouwer sluice complex on the Brouwersdam in the Netherlands. Its sheet pile structures, which regulate water flow between the North Sea and the Grevelingenmeer, are about 50 years old and are being replaced.
How many new sheet piles are being installed?
De Klerk Werkendam is installing 162 new sheet piles, each 23 metres long. After the new elements are installed, the old piles are removed as part of the work to prepare the site for a modern lock system.
What is the Liebherr LR 1130.1 unplugged doing on the project?
The crawler crane works from the pontoon to position the sheet piles. It also loads building materials from shore. Liebherr says the crane’s working radius allows it to work effectively from the pontoon.
What are the LR 1130.1 unplugged’s published specifications?
Liebherr lists a maximum lifting capacity of 137 tonnes, a maximum hoist height of 126 metres and a maximum radius of 78 metres. The model’s main boom can extend up to 80 metres, and its lattice jib range is listed at 22.7 to 78.5 metres. The maximum lifting capacity is a model rating; the press release does not state the loads being handled at Brouwersdam.
How does the crane’s battery system work?
The crane has a 165 kWh lithium-ion NMC battery system. It can operate on battery power or while connected to a conventional electrical supply. Liebherr says the battery supports up to eight hours of operation depending on the work mode and power demand, and the crane can continue operating while connected and charging.
Is the entire work setup emission-free?
No. Liebherr says the crane-and-pontoon system operates locally almost emission-free when shore power is available. The hydraulic power unit for the sheet pile vibrator is diesel-powered during the operation.
What equipment is fitted to the pontoon?
The pontoon has an electric drive, electric spud piles, battery storage and solar panels. It works with the battery-powered crawler crane as part of the project’s electric equipment setup.
What feedback has De Klerk Werkendam shared about the crane?
The company reports positive experience with Liebherr’s machine reliability, parts deliveries and on-site technical support. Liebherr also says operators and project managers highlighted the electric machines’ low noise and emission levels.
