Liebherr MK 88-4.1E Moves Canopy Sections Roof to Roof in Sweden
- Meagan Wood
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
30-Second Takeaway
Swedish crane contractor Pontáns Kranar used a Liebherr MK 88-4.1E mobile construction crane to relocate nearly 20 aluminium canopy sections between two six storey residential buildings in Uppsala. The crane’s compact setup, 45 metre reach, luffing jib and electric operating mode allowed approximately half of the sections to be transferred directly from one roof to the other.
Canopy Sections Relocated Between Residential Buildings
Pontáns Kranar has completed a roof to roof lifting project using a Liebherr MK 88-4.1E mobile construction crane in Uppsala, Sweden. The project involved removing and repositioning nearly 20 aluminium canopy sections between two six storey residential buildings.
The individual sections measured up to 20 metres long and weighed approximately one tonne. Some of the sections remained covered with fabric during the lifting work.
Pontáns Kranar was able to transfer around half of the canopy sections directly from the renovated building to the neighboring residential block, eliminating the need for intermediate storage.
“The direct transfer from one roof to the next saved us a lot of time,”
said crane operator Henri Haandrikman.
The remaining sections were temporarily placed on a nearby lawn. After the MK 88-4.1E moved to its next operating position, the crane lifted the stored sections and placed them on the destination roof. The full lifting operation was completed within the day.
Restricted Access Influenced Crane Selection
Limited space around the residential buildings played a major role in the crane selection.
Trees, scaffolding and other obstacles made it difficult to position a conventional telescopic mobile crane close enough to the buildings.
A conventional crane with comparable lifting performance would have needed to set up farther away on the road. The additional working radius would have required a substantially larger crane to complete the same lifts. The compact MK 88-4.1E could instead be positioned directly beside the scaffolding, allowing the crane to reach the canopy sections without occupying a remote setup area.
The four axle crane has a slewing radius of 3.55 metres and an operating weight of approximately 48 tonnes. Its compact carrier and tower crane style upper structure are designed for work in urban areas, confined construction sites and locations where long outreach is required from a limited footprint.
Jib Luffed to Reach 30 Metre Hook Height
The project required a hook height of approximately 30 metres to clear the buildings and position the canopy sections on the prepared scaffolding. Pontáns Kranar operated the MK 88-4.1E with its jib luffed to 15 degrees.
According to Haandrikman, the 15 degree position provided approximately ten metres of additional hook height at the jib tip while causing only a limited reduction in horizontal reach.
“The 15 degree angle is simply perfect for this job,”
Haandrikman said.
“This jib position reduces the reach only minimally, but gives me an extra ten metres of lifting height at the end of the jib.”
The MK 88-4.1E can operate with its jib positioned at zero, 15, 30 or 45 degrees, allowing the crane to adapt its lifting height and reach to surrounding buildings and other site restrictions.
Height Adjustable Cab Improves Load Visibility
The crane’s continuously height adjustable operator cab gave Haandrikman a direct view of the load and installation crews working on the roof. Direct visibility helped the operator control the long canopy sections as they moved between the buildings and were lowered into position.
“For installation work like this, precise manoeuvring is no problem because I have a direct line of sight to the load and to the fitters on the roof,”
Haandrikman said.
Although crane cameras and radio communication can support blind lifts, direct visual contact provides the operator with immediate information about load movement, clearances and the position of the installation team. This was particularly valuable when handling long, lightweight canopy sections that could be affected by wind or begin rotating during the lift.
MK 88-4.1E Provides 45 Metres of Reach
The Liebherr MK 88-4.1E provides a maximum lifting capacity of eight tonnes and a maximum jib radius of 45 metres. At its maximum radius, the crane can lift up to 2.2 tonnes, providing sufficient capacity for the approximately one tonne canopy sections at extended reach. The crane offers a maximum hook height of 59.1 metres, depending on its jib configuration and luffing angle.
Its primary lifting specifications include:
Maximum lifting capacity: 8,000 kilograms
Capacity at maximum radius: 2,200 kilograms
Maximum radius: 45 metres
Maximum hook height: 59.1 metres
Jib positions: Zero, 15, 30 and 45 degrees
Operating weight: 48 tonnes
Additional ballast: Two tonnes
Number of axles: Four
Maximum road speed: 80 kilometres per hour
The crane’s horizontal jib and trolley system allow loads to follow a direct path into the building footprint while maintaining a relatively constant hook height.
Variable Ballast Supports Confined Setup
Pontáns Kranar also used the MK 88-4.1E’s variable ballast system during the project.
The system allows the crane configuration to be adapted to the available operating space and required lifting capacity.
Reducing the ballast radius helps the crane work closer to buildings, scaffolding and other obstacles. A larger ballast radius can be selected when the lift requires additional capacity.
This flexibility supports the use of MK mobile construction cranes on residential and urban construction sites where the available setup area can change between lifting positions.
Electric Mode Reduces Jobsite Noise
The MK 88-4.1E can perform crane operations using an external electrical power supply.
Pontáns Kranar used the crane’s electric operating mode to reduce noise while working between the occupied residential buildings.
Electric operation powers the crane’s hoisting, trolley and slewing mechanisms without requiring the carrier’s diesel engine to run continuously.
This can reduce operating noise and local exhaust emissions, making the configuration suitable for residential areas, indoor projects and locations with environmental restrictions.
The crane’s hoist mechanism uses a 24 kW frequency controlled drive. Its slewing and trolley mechanisms also use frequency controlled electric motors to support smooth load movement.
Lighting Extends Working Hours
The MK 88-4.1E’s integrated lighting system provides illumination across the crane and working area. Haandrikman said the lighting is particularly useful during the long Swedish winter, when limited daylight can restrict operating hours.
The lighting system helps illuminate the crane structure, hook path and surrounding work area, allowing lifting operations to continue safely as natural light decreases. Lighting does not replace project specific illumination requirements, but an integrated system can reduce the amount of temporary equipment needed around the crane.
Crane Supports Multiple Construction Applications
Pontáns Kranar regularly operates the MK 88-4.1E across Uppsala, Enköping and Stockholm.
The company uses the crane for concrete construction, including lifting formwork, reinforcing steel and concrete buckets.
Other applications include structural steel erection and the installation of prefabricated timber buildings. Mobile construction cranes combine the mobility of a road going crane with the vertical tower and horizontal jib arrangement of a tower crane. They can be transported between short duration projects and repositioned when lifting requirements change. Pontáns Kranar uses the MK 88-4.1E where restricted space, long reach, direct load placement and rapid repositioning are central to the project.
About Pontáns Kranar
Founded in 2014, Pontáns Kranar is a Swedish crane contractor providing lifting services across Uppsala, Enköping, Stockholm and surrounding areas.
The company operates All Terrain mobile cranes and mobile construction cranes for projects across concrete construction, structural steel, prefabricated timber buildings and other building and industrial applications.
Pontáns Kranar is led by Stefan Pontán, who has operated cranes since 2006. Co-owner Niclas Törnqvist brings experience operating cranes in capacities reaching the 500 tonne class and managing lifting work during outages at Sweden’s Oskarshamn nuclear power plant. The company provides cranes and trained personnel based on the capacity, reach and site requirements of each project.
Company website: www.pontanskranar.se
About Liebherr
Founded in 1949, Liebherr is a family owned technology and equipment manufacturer operating across construction machinery, mining, mobile and crawler cranes, tower cranes, maritime cranes, aerospace and transportation systems, components and other product sectors.
The Liebherr Group consists of more than 150 companies and operates more than 40 production companies worldwide. At the end of 2025, the Group employed 55,963 people and reported annual revenue of €14.772 billion.
Liebherr’s mobile construction crane range combines a mobile crane carrier with a tower crane upper structure. The cranes are designed for short duration lifting work in urban areas, industrial facilities and restricted construction sites.
The MK range can travel between projects as a self-contained unit and is designed for rapid setup with a small crew.
Company website: www.liebherr.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Liebherr MK 88-4.1E lift in Sweden?
The crane moved nearly 20 aluminium canopy sections between two six storey residential buildings in Uppsala.
How large were the canopy sections?
The sections measured up to 20 metres long and weighed approximately one tonne each.
Why was the MK 88-4.1E selected?
Its compact dimensions allowed it to set up directly beside the building despite trees, scaffolding and other obstacles. Its long jib also provided the required reach without using a much larger telescopic mobile crane.
What is the lifting capacity of the MK 88-4.1E?
The crane has a maximum lifting capacity of eight tonnes and can lift 2.2 tonnes at its maximum 45 metre radius.
What is the maximum hook height?
Liebherr lists a maximum hook height of 59.1 metres, depending on the selected jib position.
Why was the jib luffed to 15 degrees?
The 15 degree position provided the approximately 30 metre hook height required for the project while retaining sufficient outreach to move the sections between the buildings.
Can the MK 88-4.1E operate electrically?
Yes. The crane can use an external electrical supply for quiet crane operation with no local exhaust emissions from the lifting mechanisms.
