Ideal Crane Rental taking delivery of three Liebherr LTM mobile cranes

May 29, 2019

Wisconsin-based Ideal Crane marked the handover of three mobile cranes at Bauma 2019. On hand for the occasion, from left to right, were Lori Kalhagen, and Bob Kalhagen, owners of Ideal Crane; and from Liebherr, Daniel Pitzer, Erik Peterson and Brian Peretin.

Ideal Crane Rental is expanding its fleet in a powerful way by adding three Liebherr mobile cranes - an LTM 1450-8.1, an LTM 1160-5.2 and an LTM 1100-5.2. When the company takes delivery of the cranes this summer, each will fill a specific need for Ideal, according to President Bob Kalhagen.

"The LTM 1450-8.1 will be our largest crane," Kalhagen said. "We really liked what we saw with the Liebherr variable counterweights, variable outrigger base and other options." The LTM 1450-8.1 is a 550 US ton-class 8-axle crane with a 279 foot telescopic boom. Designed for cost effective mobility, the crane can travel on public roads and quickly be set up for use once it reaches a jobsite.

Ideal's incoming LTM 1160-5.2 is a replacement for an older crane of the same type. "It has been a great, dependable crane, but we liked a lot of new features on the new 1160-5.2," Kalhagen said. "Those features include the two position counterweight, a rigging jib and not needing cheek weights. There were so many things we liked about the new crane we decided to upgrade." The LTM 1160-5.2 has a 203 foot telescopic boom. With the VarioBallast system, the crane can deliver high load capacities with a large ballast radius and the crane is a good choice for use on constricted sites with a small ballast radius.

The LTM 1450-8.1 is a 550 US ton-class mobile crane.

The incoming LTM 1100-5.2 is a replacement for an existing crane made by a different manufacturer. The LTM 1100-5.2 is one of the most compact cranes in the class. It features active, speed-dependent rear axle steering and the ability to carry up to 25,300 pounds of counterweight, along with the swing away jib.

Kalhagen founded the company in 1973 with a 15 ton crane. Today, Ideal provides a full range of lifting services and offers an extensive inventory of equipment for rental and sales including cranes, forklifts, aerial lifts, carrydeck cranes and attachments as well as parts, technician services and trucking. The company has about 100 cranes, including nearly 20 made by Liebherr.

The LTM 1100-5.2 mobile crane.

Like Liebherr, Ideal prides itself on being a family owned and operated company. The owners, as well as Ron Kalhagen, Bob's brother, and Kurt Kalhagen and Kristin Chose, Bob and Lori's children, are involved in daily operations, as are several other family members. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, the company employs about 100 people and has additional offices across the state, including Milwaukee, Oshkosh and LaCrosse.