Liebherr LB 16 Unplugged – World’s First Battery-Powered Drilling Rig

The LB 16 unplugged is the first battery-powered drilling rig in the world. With the electro-hydraulic version, Liebherr presents the deep foundation machine with alternative drive concept. The innovative Liebherr model is operated by battery without a cable, therefore: unplugged. There are no restrictions in performance and application of the LB 16 unplugged when compared to the conventional version. The battery is designed to last for a 10-hour working day and can be simply recharged using a conventional jobsite electric supply (32 A, 63 A). Using a 125 A supply, the battery can be fast-charged in barely 7 hours.

• Operating weight: 59.4 t
• Max. torque: 180 kNm
• Kelly drilling, max. drilling depth: 34.5 m
• Kelly drilling, max. drilling diameter: 1,500 mm

Features

Zero Emission
The machine causes no local emissions and significantly less noise. Thus, it is also suitable for operation in areas sensitive to noise.

Unplugged (battery powered)
The machine can be operated by battery without a cable, therefore: unplugged.

Comfort
This includes a modern air-conditioning system with improved airflow, an optimized field of vision and increased noise protection, as well as an orthopaedic operator’s seat with integrated heating and cooling.

Winch automation
Free-wheeling winches with slack rope monitoring and prevention.

Leader inclination memory
At the touch of a button, the leader can be set to the desired inclination at the piling or drilling point for each new working step.

Electric engine
The innovative Liebherr machine has an electric engine.

Plugged in (socket operation)
The machine can operate fully when connected to a conventional electric supply, or be recharged within a few hours.

Attachment recognition
The automatic attachment recognition also records performance figures of the respective attachment.

Cruise Control
Cruise Control is available for automatic piling and drilling processes and allows for values such as pull-down speed and rotational speed to be programmed in advance.

High service availability
A global service network with experienced technicians and fast access to spare parts ensure high machine availability and a long product service life.

Technical data

Optional Equipment

MyJobsite
One single tool for the collection, documentation and analysis of all process, machine, construction site and position data.

LIPOS positioning system
Accurate positioning and precise execution of piling or drilling processes.

Remote control
The remote control simplifies the loading process for transportation as well as the assembly of the machine.

Drilling Assistant
During continuous flight auger drilling the concreting process is automated thanks to the Drilling Assistant.

Automatic engine stop
The machine can optionally be equipped with an automatic engine stop control. Thanks to this feature it automatically switches off during longer work breaks after evaluating several machine parameters. This is fuel saving and environmentally friendly.

Recording of working processes (PDE)
With the PDE process data recording system machine data is recorded during the working process.

Ground Pressure Visualization
The Ground Pressure Visualization calculates the current ground pressure of the machine in real time and compares it with the specified safety limits of the relevant jobsite.

Kelly Visualization
Locking of the Kelly bar’s telescopic sections is made significantly easier due to the Kelly Visualization system.

Eco silent mode
With the eco silent mode the engine speed can be reduced to a predefined, required level. With this feature a notable reduction in diesel consumption can be achieved without any impact on operational output. Noise emissions are thus also lowered.

Fleet management and teleservice
The data transmission and positioning system “LiDAT” provides important information on the operation of the machine. With these data the operation becomes more efficient. Various additional modules allow machine data reporting or access through service engineers via teleservice.

Applications

Kelly drilling
Kelly drilling belongs to the most common dry rotary drilling methods. Soil and rock material is conveyed to the surface discontinuously with relatively short rotary drilling tools.

Double rotary drilling
Double rotary drilling combines continuous flight auger drilling with a continuous casing.

Continuous flight auger drilling
The loosened soil material is continuously conveyed to the surface using a continuous auger, the so-called continuous flight auger.