For Ian, who has worked as a site fitter with Liebherr-Australia since 2005, the key to keeping heavy mining equipment running smoothly is simple: take ownership. He worked on every machine he came into contact with as if they were his own. And he taught those around him to treat them with the same care and precision.
This mindset has helped set the quality standards at Yarrabee, where Ian’s standard of care, eye for detail and ability to mentor the next generation of fitters has earned him a strong reputation within the Liebherr community. Ian spoke proudly about an R 996 excavator on site that has stood the test of time.
‘Digger 12’s got about 76,000 hours on it and it’s clean as a whistle. Not a leak on it. That’s a testament to the digger crew, not just me,’ he says.
A mechanical background
Ian’s journey to Liebherr wasn’t a straight line; he worked in a range of industries, from farming and forestry to IT and automotive. He also served as a proud member of the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) for five years as a fitter for specialised equipment.
‘I’ve done all sorts of jobs. But when I saw what Liebherr did – engines, hydraulics, electronics – I thought, “this is everything I’ve done all rolled into one. I can do this”.’
Over the course of his career, Ian has worked with a wide range of Liebherr machines: older models like the R 994, R 996 and the last operational R 995 in the world – which is still working hard at Yarrabee – all the way through to the R 9600, one of Liebherr’s latest generation of excavators. To this day, Ian still has a soft spot for the R 996 and its successor as he’s been able to see how far it’s come through the years.
‘The first time I climbed into the R 9600, I thought, “they’ve even thought of a fridge”. It blew me away,’ he muses.
But the excavator he ranks highest? The 300-tonne R 9350.
‘The R 9350 is a great little machine. Easy to work on and smooth to operate. If I could find a place with four or five of them, I’d go tomorrow.’
The importance of people
Above all else, Ian’s favourite thing about working with Liebherr for all these years has been the people. The excavator crew, site team and even former colleagues who still call him for advice have all shaped his experience at Liebherr.
‘I’ll miss the camaraderie the most. That’s what’s kept me around all these years,’ he says.
Of course, working on excavators comes with its pressures. But when high pressure situations arose on site, Ian credits the camaraderie and strength of the people around him with his being able to stick it out and get the job done. That incredible teamwork extended to mentoring young fitters, something Ian found especially rewarding in the later years of his career.
‘Knowledge not shared is wasted. You might lose a day chasing a fault, but you walk away knowing more than you did before. And that knowledge? That’s gold.’
This team environment is something Liebherr actively fosters in its teams all around the world. Through strong collaboration and mutual respect, employees are empowered to support each other, solve challenges together and grow as a team. It’s a culture Ian has helped shape at both Yarrabee and Liebherr-Australia’s Mackay branch and one that will continue long after he leaves.
The next chapter
As Ian prepares to retire, he’s looking forward to travelling with his wife, who is also retiring, and spending time working on his six – soon to be seven! – motorbikes.
Ian exemplifies a rare blend of technical expertise, loyalty and mentorship. His legacy is deeply etched into Liebherr’s operations at Yarrabee and beyond, having influenced machine performance, crew culture and maintenance standards. While Liebherr-Australia may be losing a legend, Ian leaves behind more than just well-maintained machines. He leaves a standard for what it means to take pride in your work and lift those around you.
‘It’s been a wild ride. But I’ve worked with some great people and some great machines. And I wouldn’t change a thing,’ he says.
