Sarens Deploys Liebherr LR 12500-1.0 “Strong Sofie” at INEOS Project ONE Ethane Cracker in Antwerp
- Meagan Wood
- May 19, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
30-Second Takeaway
Sarens has officially commissioned Europe’s largest crawler crane, the Liebherr LR 12500-1.0 “Strong Sofie,” at INEOS’ Project ONE ethane cracker site in the Port of Antwerp. With a 2,500-tonne lifting capacity and 200-metre reach, the crane will handle the installation of massive process modules critical to building one of Europe’s most energy-efficient and lowest-carbon ethane crackers. The milestone underscores the scale, technical complexity, and economic impact of Project ONE, which is set to create hundreds of skilled jobs and redefine sustainable chemical manufacturing in Europe.
On Saturday, May 17, Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele visited the Project ONE site. During this visit, he officially inaugurated Europe’s largest crawler crane, ‘Strong Sofie,’ provided by Sarens. This significant feat is part of the new ethane cracker project by chemical giant INEOS. It is set to create 450 direct jobs in Antwerp, attracting skilled talent and fostering local economic growth.
Introduction to Project ONE
The Project ONE initiative is a groundbreaking venture. It signifies a major investment in Europe’s chemical manufacturing infrastructure. The plant aims to produce ethylene, a vital building block in plastics and chemicals, much more sustainably and efficiently. Furthermore, the completion of this facility is projected to position it as one of the most energy-efficient and lowest-carbon crackers in Europe.
Key Contributors
The project has attracted talented professionals. Dirk van Dessel, aged 54, previously worked at BASF. He shared his motivations for joining Project ON
“After 28 years at BASF, where I gained extensive experience, I was eager to contribute to the realization of Project ONE,” states Dirk. He appreciates the scale and innovation of the initiative. “This project stands out in the Antwerp port area due to its scale and innovation. At BASF, I was part of an established operation. At Project ONE, I have the unique opportunity to help build an ethane cracker from the ground up. This innovation achieves a 50% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to the best European facilities. Being part of this transformative future is invaluable.”
Gilles Vermassen, 30 years old and previously employed at the Gunvor oil refinery, echoes similar sentiments. “The collective dismissal was unexpected, but it opened new opportunities. At 28, I was ready to take on a significant challenge. Project ONE attracted me with its scale and ambition: a state-of-the-art cracker designed to produce ethylene with an exceptionally low carbon footprint. The transition of other Gunvor employees to INEOS made my decision to join feel logical.”
The Heavy Lifting
Sarens, a family-owned heavy lifting and engineered transport specialist, marked a significant milestone with the deployment of its colossal crawler crane at the INEOS Project ONE construction site in the Port of Antwerp. The centerpiece of the project is the 'LR12500-1.0' crawler crane, aptly named 'Strong Sofie.'
This impressive machine boasts a lifting capacity of 2,500 tonnes and an extensive reach of 200 meters. With this capacity, the crane is among the most powerful of its kind in Europe. Its installation is essential for realizing INEOS’s flagship Project ONE a state-of-the-art ethane cracker facility designed to set new benchmarks in efficiency and environmental performance within the European chemical industry.
Precision Engineering
The crawler crane will play a pivotal role in the precise placement of enormous factory modules. These modules form the structural and functional core of the cracker plant. Some units weigh several hundred tonnes each. They must be maneuvered with exceptional accuracy to ensure both safety and structural integrity.
Sarens emphasized the importance of this operation. “This is more than just a lift it’s a highly coordinated feat of engineering. It underscores Sarens’ capability to handle the most demanding industrial challenges,” a company spokesperson remarked.
The Future of Project ONE
Project ONE represents a commitment to sustainable manufacturing. The facility is designed to set new environmental standards, ensuring reduced carbon emissions. The successful operation of the crawler crane signals an important step forward for Project ONE. It shows the commitment to transforming the industrial landscape in one of the continent’s busiest ports.
Once completed, Project ONE is poised to become a beacon of innovation and sustainability. By creating hundreds of jobs and promoting local talent, it aims not only to meet current industrial demands but also to pave the way for future advancements in the chemical sector.
The inauguration of Europe’s largest crawler crane at the Project ONE site marks a significant milestone. The collaborative efforts of skilled individuals like Dirk van Dessel and Gilles Vermassen highlight the human aspect behind this massive project. Their contributions will help bring forth an era of sustainable chemical production while fostering economic growth in Antwerp.
About Sarens
Global Leader in Engineered Heavy Lifting & Transport
Sarens is one of the world’s foremost providers of engineered heavy lifting, specialized transport, and project logistics solutions, supporting some of the most complex industrial and infrastructure projects ever undertaken. Founded in Belgium in 1956, Sarens remains a family-owned company and operates globally across more than 60 countries, with a strong footprint in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific.
Sarens is internationally recognized for its ultra-heavy lifting capabilities, operating one of the world’s most advanced fleets of crawler cranes, including Liebherr LR-series cranes, SGC ring cranes, and custom-engineered lifting systems. The company also maintains a vast fleet of self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs), gantry systems, and auxiliary transport equipment, allowing it to deliver fully integrated lifting and transport solutions from engineering to execution.
In large-scale petrochemical, energy, offshore, and infrastructure projects, Sarens provides:
Lift engineering and feasibility studies
Crane configuration and modularization strategies
SPMT transport and load-in/load-out operations
On-site execution of record-breaking heavy lifts
Decommissioning and sustainability-driven dismantling solutions
Sarens has played a pivotal role in some of Europe’s most demanding industrial developments, including ethane crackers, refineries, offshore wind infrastructure, and large-scale decommissioning projects. Its deployment of the Liebherr LR 12500-1.0 (“Strong Sofie”) at INEOS Project ONE further reinforces Sarens’ position as a benchmark contractor for ultra-heavy single-crane lifts in Europe.
Website🔗 https://www.sarens.com
About Liebherr Mobile & Crawler Cranes
Engineering the World’s Most Demanding Lifts
Liebherr is a globally respected manufacturer of mobile and crawler cranes, widely regarded as an industry benchmark for engineering quality, reliability, and lifting performance. Within the Liebherr Group, the Mobile and Crawler Cranes divisions primarily based at Liebherr-Werk Ehingen (Germany) and Liebherr-Werk Nenzing (Austria) design and manufacture cranes used on the most challenging construction, energy, and industrial projects worldwide.
Liebherr’s crawler crane portfolio includes some of the world’s most powerful lifting machines, such as the LR 12500-1.0, which offers:
Lifting capacities of up to 2,500 tonnes
Modular boom and superlift configurations
Exceptional stability for large-radius and high-elevation lifts
Advanced control and safety systems for precision operations
These cranes are extensively used in:
Petrochemical and ethane cracker construction
Offshore and onshore wind energy projects
Heavy infrastructure and bridge construction
Industrial module installation and decommissioning
Liebherr mobile and crawler cranes are supported by a global service and parts network, ensuring high availability and lifecycle performance. Continuous innovation in digital crane control, transport optimization, and safety systems keeps Liebherr at the forefront of heavy lifting technology.
Learn More 🔗 https://www.liebherr.com/en-us/mobile-and-crawler-cranes/mobile-and-crawler-cranes-4407715
About INEOS Project ONE
A New Benchmark for Sustainable Chemical Manufacturing in Europe
INEOS Project ONE is a landmark industrial development located in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, representing one of the largest investments in Europe’s chemical sector in a generation. The project centers on the construction of a next-generation ethane cracker, designed to produce ethylene an essential feedstock for plastics, chemicals, and advanced materials with dramatically improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions.
Once operational, Project ONE is expected to:
Achieve up to 50% lower CO₂ emissions compared to Europe’s most efficient existing crackers
Rank among the lowest-carbon ethane crackers globally
Strengthen Europe’s chemical supply chain and industrial competitiveness
The facility has been engineered with sustainability, modular construction, and long-term operational efficiency at its core. Large pre-assembled modules some weighing several hundred tonnes are installed using ultra-heavy lifting techniques to reduce on-site construction time, improve safety, and minimize environmental impact.
Beyond its technical significance, Project ONE will:
Create approximately 450 permanent jobs
Support thousands of indirect jobs across engineering, logistics, and construction
Reinforce Antwerp’s position as a strategic industrial and logistics hub
The inauguration of Europe’s largest crawler crane on-site underscores the scale, ambition, and technical complexity of the project.
Learn More 🔗 https://www.project-one.eu
Frequently Asked Questions
What is INEOS Project ONE and why is it significant for Europe’s chemical industry?
INEOS Project ONE is a next-generation ethane cracker currently under construction in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. It represents one of the largest industrial investments in Europe’s chemical sector in decades. Once operational, the facility will produce ethylene an essential building block for plastics and chemical products using best-in-class technology designed to significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. The project is expected to set a new benchmark for sustainable chemical manufacturing in Europe.
Why was the Liebherr LR 12500-1.0 crawler crane selected for Project ONE?
The Liebherr LR 12500-1.0 was selected due to its exceptional lifting capacity of up to 2,500 tonnes, extended boom configurations, and ability to perform ultra-heavy lifts with a single crawler crane. The size and weight of the modular process units at Project ONE require extreme precision, stability, and lifting power capabilities that only a crane in this class can deliver efficiently and safely.
What makes “Strong Sofie” Europe’s largest crawler crane?
“Strong Sofie” is Sarens’ Liebherr LR 12500-1.0 crawler crane and is currently the largest crawler crane operating in Europe based on lifting capacity, boom reach, and overall performance. Single-crane lifts approaching 2,000 tonnes are extremely rare in Europe, making this deployment a milestone in heavy lifting and industrial construction.
What role does Sarens play beyond crane supply on this project?
Sarens is responsible for the full engineered heavy lifting scope, including lift engineering, crane configuration design, site logistics, SPMT transport, and execution of critical lifts. By extending the crane’s presence on site rather than mobilizing alternative equipment, Sarens provided INEOS with a cost-effective, highly efficient solution while minimizing operational risk.
How does the use of heavy lift cranes impact project efficiency?
Using ultra-heavy crawler cranes like the LR 12500-1.0 reduces the need for tandem lifts, minimizes reconfiguration time, and allows for direct placement of large modules. This accelerates construction schedules, improves safety margins, and reduces overall project costs. particularly on large-scale petrochemical and energy projects.
What sustainability benefits does Project ONE deliver?
Project ONE is designed to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 50% compared to the best existing European ethane crackers. The facility incorporates energy-efficient process technology, optimized logistics, and advanced design principles to lower its environmental footprint while supporting Europe’s transition toward cleaner industrial production.
How does this project benefit the local economy?
The construction and operation of Project ONE are expected to create approximately 450 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs in engineering, logistics, operations, and maintenance. The project also strengthens Antwerp’s position as a global industrial and logistics hub while attracting skilled professionals to the region.