News

Liebherr crane undergoes transformation

Liebherr USA in Houston, Texas, has completed a full overhaul of a high-performance duty cycle machine for Matthews Brothers Dredging, LLC. Following extensive planning and a comprehensive rebuild at the Liebherr facility, the HS 8300.1 has returned to work on the barge in as-new condition, complete with a range of technical upgrades.

Matthews Brothers Dredging has been using the Liebherr HS 8300.1 for bucket dredging along the US Gulf Coast for the past four years. Featuring a 500kN winch capacity and line speeds of up to 125m/min, the machine is well suited to the fast cycle times demanded by dredging operations. Having accumulated more than 20,000 operating hours in challenging conditions, it was the ideal candidate for a major overhaul. "The recommendation for an overhaul is usually a combination of both the lifetime of the machine and the application, so a heavy application will require an earlier overhaul," explained Bertrand Meiss, Field Engineering Manager at Liebherr USA in Houston.

Liebherr carried out a detailed inspection of the machine in February 2025. Using the machine's service history and projected future workload, the company developed a tailored overhaul package that included recommended upgrades and technical improvements, ensuring only essential work was undertaken while avoiding unnecessary expense.

The project formed part of Liebherr Transform, a programme offering everything from upgrades and retrofits through to complete machine rebuilds. Designed for duty cycle machines, deep foundation equipment and crawler cranes up to 400 tonnes, the initiative combines the latest technology with proven engineering expertise to extend machine life while reducing costs and conserving resources.

The overhaul was carefully planned from start to finish, covering consultation, installation and technical support. "We had to take it out of service for a little while, but we see the upside of getting it overhauled for the long run to better serve our clients with minimal downtime," said Chad Epperson, Vice-President of Operations at Matthews Brothers Dredging, LLC.

The work was completed at Liebherr's Houston repair and maintenance facility, eliminating the need for long-distance transportation. Hydraulic components, hoses and electrical systems were replaced, while a series of upgrades introduced on newer Liebherr machines over the past five years were also incorporated. These included improved boom lighting, additional safety features such as boom walkways, and enhancements to the central lubrication system to simplify maintenance.

After around 12 weeks in the workshop, the HS 8300.1 was reassembled aboard the dredging barge and returned to service, ready for what Liebherr expects will be another 20,000 hours of productive operation.

Supported by a global network of sales offices, workshops and service centres, Liebherr's Transform programme helps customers modernise existing machines, extend service life and reduce the need for replacement equipment, while making a valuable contribution to more sustainable use of resources.