Friends in faraway places: learning more about Liebherr Indonesia
Fast facts about Liebherr Indonesia
- Founded in 1997
- More than 500 employees
- Head office is located in Jakarta, Java
- Responsible for the sales, distribution and service of Liebherr’s mining machines
Indonesia is home to 285 million people, the enormous Komodo dragon and the largest number of volcanoes of any country. But it also happens to be home to the world’s biggest nickel reserves and is one of the world’s leading producers of coal, copper and gold, making the country a major player in the global mining sector.
Since 1997, PT. Liebherr Indonesia Perkasa has supported Indonesian mining companies from its base in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. But in the past few years, the Indonesian mining industry has experienced enormous change. We spoke to Christian Bombenger, managing director of sales and operations, Liebherr Indonesia, to learn how he and his team continue to provide exceptional service to their growing customer base during this transformative time.
Christian Bombenger, managing director of sales and operations, PT. Liebherr Indonesia Perkasa
What makes the Indonesian mining industry different from other industries?
Mining in Indonesia is unique for a number of reasons. We are major producers of a number of important commodities and are in fact the biggest producer of nickel and the second largest producer of tin, coal, copper and gold. As such, mining is a key economic pillar in Indonesia. Particularly because, as the world's leading nickel producer, we’re at the centre of the global electric vehicle battery supply chain and energy transition. Our position provides substantial opportunities for export earnings and employment in the mining sector, especially in remote areas where these kinds of opportunities aren’t as plentiful. However, one of the major challenges we face is the extensive infrastructure development required for new mines. A sizeable percentage of our mineral deposits are in remote areas which means things like ports, roads and smelters need to be built in order for those deposits to be extracted and processed.
Another way in which the Indonesian mining industry is unique is Indonesia’s nationalistic approach to our mineral resources. There’s a ban on raw ore exports here and so, unlike other major mining markets, the largest players in the Indonesian mining sector are local private companies and state-owned enterprises.
In Indonesia, reliability is not just about machines. It’s also about people showing up, knowing the challenges, and being truly committed to solving problems on the ground.
How does Liebherr Indonesia ensure customers receive support when and where they need it in a country as spread out as Indonesia?
Indonesia’s geography is one of the biggest operational challenges for any company working in the industry. With operations spread across remote islands and rugged terrains, support cannot just be centralised: it needs to be agile and proactive.
At Liebherr Indonesia, we have built our service model around being as close to the customer as possible. This means strategically placing our support teams across the regions, so help is never too far away. We also invest in training and upskilling technicians, allowing us to respond faster when it is needed.
To support this, we’ve invested in building and maintaining key facilities across Indonesia. Our strategically located branches, warehouses and remanufacturing centre enable us to deliver parts and services quickly, even to the most remote sites. This physical presence ensures that we are not only reactive, but also proactive in anticipating customer needs, keeping equipment running smoothly and downtime to a minimum.
In Indonesia, reliability is not just about machines. It’s also about people showing up, knowing the challenges, and being truly committed to solving problems on the ground.
What has been the impact of the new remanufacturing centre in Balikpapan since it opened in February 2025?
Since opening in February, the new remanufacturing centre in Balikpapan has made a big difference in the way we work, both in terms of quality and the overall experience for our team.
We have had a remanufacturing facility in Balikpapan for many years, but this new one brings everything to the next level. With better equipment, updated processes and a more efficient layout, we are now able to deliver high-quality components with greater consistency. It’s a major upgrade that helps us meet growing customer expectations while improving performance and reliability across the board.
This new chapter in Balikpapan reflects our ongoing commitment to do things better. Not just in the quality of our work, but in the way we support the people who make this work possible.
We stay close to our customers, listen to their evolving needs and focus on delivering high-performance machines that offer maximum productivity and minimal operating costs.
How have you seen the Indonesian mining landscape change since you first started at Liebherr Indonesia – what are the main drivers for industry and how is Liebherr Indonesia responding to these?
Over the years, Indonesia’s mining landscape has evolved significantly. Where the industry was once dominated by a few large players, today the market is more dynamic, with a growing number of local companies entering the field. At the same time, regulatory changes have played a major role. The government has continued to introduce policies aimed at maximising national benefit, whether through domestic market obligations, increased royalties or efforts to localise ownership and operations.
In response to these changes, our approach has remained consistent: we stay close to our customers, listen to their evolving needs and focus on delivering high-performance machines that offer maximum productivity and minimal operating costs. Our goal is to support their success in this ever-changing industry.
Hard at work inspecting Liebherr components for remanufacturing.
Is there a particular growth market that you identify for Liebherr Indonesia in the near future? Maybe a particular commodity, or class of machine? How is Liebherr Indonesia well positioned within this market?
Coal continues to be the main volume driver in Indonesia’s mining industry, with the highest production targets year after year. In this segment, our excavators and dozers have built a strong reputation, especially within the larger mining operations. Known for their durability and performance, our machines consistently deliver best-in-class productivity and fuel efficiency.
At the same time, there’s growing global and national interest in key minerals like gold, copper and nickel. Indonesia's mineral mining sector is becoming increasingly prominent, but the operational needs are often quite different to those of coal mining. In many cases, ultra-class machines are not the optimal choice due to factors like ground conditions, mining methods and scale of production. As a result, many operations prefer hydraulic excavators in the 80 t to 200 t class range.
That being said, we are proud to have a presence in one of the country’s largest copper and gold operations. We also maintain close communication with other key sites, ensuring we are aligned with their operational needs and are ready to support where our equipment is the right fit.
Fun facts about Indonesia
- Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, with a population of approximately 285.7 million people as of mid-2025.
- Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world and is made up of more than 17,000 islands.
- Indonesia is home to the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard in the world. It can grow up to 3 m long and weigh as much as 135 kg.
- Indonesia is located on the Ring of Fire – a 40,000 km long belt of volcanic and seismic activity – and has the largest number of volcanoes of any country in the world.
- In 2005 an Indonesian company broke the Guinness World Record for creating the largest ever packet of instant noodles! The packet measured 340 cm x 235 cm x 47 cm and weighed 664.94 t!
- Home to the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur Temple, on the island of Java.
- More than 700 languages and dialects are spoken in Indonesia.