“The purchase of our first R 932 crawler excavator and the L 541 wheel loader in 1984 marked the beginning of a strong partnership with Liebherr and its local sales and service partner, Nagel. Since then we have been able to see the machines develop in a very positive way. Today we are completely satisfied with their performance as well as with the service and support from Nagel and Liebherr. Working together with them is really good”, emphasises Roland Kanefzky, manager of the three loam and clay pits.
Liebherr machines used in extraction operations at Wertingen
At the Wertingen site, Liebherr earthmoving machines play a central role in loam and clay extraction. The demanding conditions in the pits require reliable, powerful and energy-efficient machines. The nature of the raw material also poses special challenges: for processing purposes, loam cannot have more than a certain level of moisture, which limits quarrying to the drier periods of the year. This means intense activity from March to November. Use is made of any spell of good weather to quarry the required quantities and get them into stockpiles. This significantly increases the pressure to produce higher volumes. In this intensive phase, the machines have to keep functioning – without outages and with maximum availability and precision.
Here Liebherr sets standards with the latest technology and high energy-efficiency to maximise performance, along with service that minimises downtimes. The R 966 Litronic crawler excavator, manufactured at the Liebherr plant in Colmar, is used directly in material extraction. With an operating weight of barely 78 tons, it offers exceptional penetration force, high stability and a controlled fuel consumption of only 40 litres per hour. Two wheel loaders, an L 586 XPower and an L 550 XPower, do the truck-loading work. These models, produced at the Liebherr plant in Bischofshofen (Austria), stand out for their energy efficiency and low fuel consumption as well as their XPower travel drive, which combines hydrostatic and mechanical drive for optimum performance. The PR 746 Litronic crawler dozer completes this Liebherr earthmoving fleet. With 258 HP output, it is ideally suited to grading work and site preparation. Its robust construction and assisted steering system ensure high precision and long-term reliability.
Wienerberger GmbH: a company with a rich tradition and an eye on the future
Since its foundation in Wertingen, Bavaria, in 1884, Creaton has grown over the course of decades into a leading European producer of clay bricks. The company was born in 1992 out of a merger of two family-run brickmaking firms, Berchtold and Ott, and has since then combined traditional know-how with industrial innovation.
In 2021, Creaton became part of Terreal, a group of French companies specialising in building shells. This merger marked a strategic transition to a focus on innovation and sustainability. In March 2024, Wienerberger GmbH, Europe's leading construction materials producer, took over Terreal and Creaton in the biggest acquisition in the company’s history.
The Wienerberger Group integrates, and at the same time maintains, their brands and identities. The business employs about 1,800 people at 21 production sites in Germany and offers a comprehensive range of clay bricks, concrete roof tiles and roofing materials. Creaton represents a successful combination of regional traditions and a European future orientation with a clear focus on sustainable solutions for renovation.
