Laing O’Rourke’s specialist trading business Select has become the first company in the world to take delivery of Liebherr’s brand new innovative battery powered drilling rig, the LB 30 unplugged.

Like its fellow unplugged range, the Liebherr LB 30 drilling rig not only produces zero emissions but also has the same performance as its diesel-powered counterparts, whether it is unplugged or plugged in.

Widely recognised as one of the UK’s largest supplier of equipment and services to the construction and building industry, Select claims to recognise the environmental impact of every action it undertakes. The company says that this has driven its decision to invest in emission free plant which now makes up 80% of its fleet and includes six battery powered crawler cranes.

Select’s business unit leader Alex Warrington said: “Our customers are asked by their clients, how they can construct and deliver in a more sustainable way, and it’s becoming a point of difference in work winning decisions. Thanks to our partnerships with innovators like Liebherr, we can now offer plant and equipment to our customers that dramatically reduce carbon emissions. 

“Our zero emissions equipment for hire includes a wide range of electric crawler and tower cranes, passenger and material hoists, concrete pumps, MEWPS and now our brand new unplugged piling rig.”

Warrington added that in addition to the zero emission equipment, Select has also invested in low power consumption hoists, fitted with telematics to monitor usage; and solar and hybrid power solutions, such as Punch Flybrid to reduce the requirement for large diesel generators.

Liebherr’s UK managing director Richard Everist said: “We were delighted to be able to deliver the world’s first electric crawler crane, the LR 1250, to Select in 2020, and since then several more all-electric zero emission cranes which are now working on high profile sites around the UK. 

“The fact that we can now announce another world first, the LB 30 unplugged electric drilling rig, is testament to Select’s industry leading drive for greater sustainability in construction and to Liebherr innovation.”

The new LB30 drilling rig can be used for all common applications in the field of deep foundation. Thanks to the optional extension of the drilling axis, the machine can be deployed for drilling diameters of up to 3.4 m. The optional rear support and the new design of the modular rear counterweight ensure higher stability and longer service life.

Upon being delivered to site the LB 30 can be tracked off remotely and the battery has been designed for a working time of four hours in Kelly operation. The rig arrived in the UK recently and is currently undergoing operator and technician familiarisation, ahead of it being deployed to work on a major UK project.