Mobile crane upgrades fertilizer plant maintenance

PT Pupuk Kalimantan Timur (PKT), one of Asia’s largest fertilizer producers, has commissioned its first Liebherr mobile crane to support maintenance and modernization activities at its main production site in Bontang, Indonesia. The company selected the Liebherr LTM 1230-5.1, a 230-tonne all-terrain crane designed for high lifting performance in confined industrial environments.

Addressing complex lifting requirements in fertilizer production
Fertilizer plants require frequent lifting of heavy and oversized components during maintenance, retrofits, and plant upgrades. These tasks are often performed in restricted spaces, close to operating units, where precision, stability, and safety margins are critical.

PKT operates a large integrated site in Bontang with five ammonia plants, five urea plants, and three NPK units, employing around 1,300 people. The new crane will be used primarily for lifting plant components across this complex, supporting both routine maintenance and modernization projects.

Technical characteristics of the LTM 1230-5.1
The LTM 1230-5.1 is a five-axle mobile crane equipped with a 75-meter telescopic boom, enabling a wide range of lifting tasks without the need for additional lattice extensions. A key feature is Liebherr’s VarioBase^®Plus support system, which allows variable outrigger positioning. This system calculates permissible lifting capacities in real time, particularly improving load handling in the rear working area.

These calculations are managed by Liebherr’s LICCON crane control system, which continuously adapts lifting limits based on the crane’s actual configuration. This capability is particularly relevant in industrial plants where asymmetric setups and obstacles are common.

The crane also uses a single-engine concept, powering both driving and lifting operations. This reduces fuel consumption and simplifies maintenance compared with dual-engine designs, contributing to lower operating costs over the crane’s service life.

Suitability for confined industrial sites
Compact dimensions and a small slewing radius were decisive factors in PKT’s selection. Industrial fertilizer facilities typically have limited maneuvering space, making crane size and turning geometry as important as lifting capacity. The LTM 1230-5.1 combines high load ratings with transport and setup characteristics suited to tight plant layouts.

According to PKT, these attributes allow the company to perform lifting operations flexibly while maintaining safety standards required in continuous chemical production environments.

Operational reliability and long-term support
Beyond technical specifications, PKT cited service support and equipment reliability as important considerations. For large-scale process industries, crane downtime can directly affect plant availability and production schedules.

By adding the LTM 1230-5.1 to its fleet, PKT strengthens its internal lifting capability, reducing reliance on external crane providers and improving responsiveness during maintenance and upgrade activities.

Supporting high production and export standards
PKT supplies fertilizers to the domestic Indonesian market and exports globally, operating under stringent quality and safety requirements. The introduction of a high-capacity, modern mobile crane aligns with the company’s strategy to maintain production efficiency while upgrading infrastructure to current industrial standards.

The deployment illustrates how advanced mobile crane technology supports heavy industry by combining lifting performance, digital control systems, and adaptability to complex site conditions.