STORK has relied on Liebherr wheel loaders since 1994 and has continuously expanded its fleet during this time. Today, the fleet comprises 46 wheel loaders, ten mobile excavators, six crawler excavators, two dump trucks and one telescopic loader – a testament to the trusting partnership and shared growth over many years. The anniversary wheel loader, an L 550 XPower in a special dark blue paint finish and featuring exclusive decals, will occupy a special place within it. The delight was all the greater when the management of STORK Umweltdienste GmbH, accompanied by Liebherr sales partner Kurt König from Magdeburg, travelled to Bischofshofen to take delivery of the new machine in person and celebrate the anniversary.
Liebherr, STORK and Kurt König: A shared success story
In a festive setting, Johann Madleitner (Commercial Director), Peter Schachinger (Director of Production and Operations) and Günther Holzer (Head of Wheel Loader Development) from the Liebherr plant in Bischofshofen symbolically handed over the keys to the new owners. “The 100,000th Liebherr wheel loader is more than just an impressive figure for us. It stands for the decades-long success story of our wheel loaders, for technical expertise, innovative strength and the passion of our employees. This milestone fills us with great pride. It shows just how much we have achieved together over the decades – and it motivates us to continue on this path,” emphasises Peter Schachinger.
STORK Umweltdienste GmbH is also delighted. “The 100,000th wheel loader is a powerful symbol of our long-standing, trusting partnership with Liebherr, as well as the excellent cooperation with our dealer Kurt König. We are delighted to be putting this special machine to work at our site in Magdeburg,” says Bernhard Stork (Managing Director of STORK Umweltdienste GmbH).
The extent of the excitement is also evident from the fact that the anniversary machine will be showcased at this year’s IFAT, the world’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies, in Munich. There, STORK Umweltdienste GmbH will be exhibiting the new XPower wheel loader in the outdoor exhibition area (C5-C6). After the trade fair, the anniversary wheel loader will be on display in the entrance hall of STORK’s premises before being put into operational service at a later date.
A milestone on four wheels: design reflects wheel loader history
It is clear at first glance: this wheel loader is something special. The dark blue special paint finish in STORK’s corporate colours gives the machine a dynamic, powerful appearance. The “100,000” lettering, composed of historical black-and-white images, traces the development of Liebherr wheel loaders – from the first prototypes of the 1950s and 1960s right through to the latest machines – thus linking tradition with the present.
The story of the anniversary wheel loader is made particularly exciting by its connection to STORK: as early as 2015, the company deployed a pre-production model of the XPower wheel loader in a multi-year field test at a demanding recycling facility. The insights gained there and the expert feedback from STORK provided important information for the development of the XPower wheel loaders.
“We are particularly pleased that the 100,000th wheel loader is going to a long-standing partner. As a family-run company and reliable development partner, STORK – much like Liebherr – embodies high quality, consistency and trust. “The fact that this special wheel loader is being handed over to a company that has been with us for many years makes us both proud and grateful,” explains Günther Holzer. With the 100,000th wheel loader, Liebherr and STORK look back on many successful years – and on just as many that lie ahead.
It is no coincidence that the anniversary machine is an L 550 XPower. The successful XPower series is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and forms the foundation for the forward-looking, technology-neutral solutions that Liebherr is pursuing. These include, in addition to the innovative assistance systems, the prototype of an autonomous wheel loader, ‘Liebherr Autonomous Operations’, and the development model of a large wheel loader with a hydrogen engine, the L 566 H. The two innovation models were presented to a wide audience for the first time at Bauma 2025 and mark the next stage of development in wheel loader technology.
