Whilst others are adopting a wait-and-see approach in the face of a challenging market environment, Krandienst Schulz is investing: the family-run company is increasing its workforce whilst simultaneously expanding its crane fleet. Six Liebherr mobile cranes are joining the company’s fleet in 2026, including an LTM 1150-5.4 and the LTM 1400-6.1, which was delivered at the end of September. With the new slogan ‘In Hamburg, they say Schulz’, the cranes proudly display the company’s connection to its home town for all to see on construction sites.
Tradition, continuity and flexibility
Krandienst Schulz has been operating as a family-run company for more than 50 years. Today, the crane service provider has three sites whilst remaining true to its Hamburg roots and its personal corporate culture. Short decision-making processes, an open-door policy and direct communication characterise the way the team works together.
“The most important factor in our success is quite clearly our employees. Without their skills and dedication – whether on the building site, in the workshop or in the dispatch department – none of what we achieve today would be possible,” says Günter Sichward, owner and managing director of Krandienst Schulz. “We are a family-run company, and we live by that principle: our door is always open to everyone. Short lines of communication and frank dialogue are part and parcel of that.”
Sichward sums up the company’s strategy in three words: “Tradition, continuity and flexibility. We have stood for reliability for over 50 years, we are constantly evolving, and we remain flexible enough to respond quickly to any of our customers’ requirements.”
Modern crane technology is important. For Günter Sichward, however, business success begins elsewhere: with trust, reliability and a good understanding of people. “As the owner, I see my role as setting the strategy and always thinking one step ahead. I keep a close eye on the political and economic developments that may affect our industry. The crucial question is: how must we set the course today to ensure we are future-proof tomorrow?” This approach has shaped Krandienst Schulz ever since the takeover of what was then a small business with five cranes.
Today, the company combines technical expertise with comprehensive service and personalised customer care. Equally important is the focus on the organisation itself: fair pay, team-building activities and personal accessibility are designed to retain staff in the long term. At the same time, Krandienst Schulz consistently rises to new challenges, from rising cost pressures to bureaucratic hurdles. The result is a business model that does not prioritise growth at any cost, but rather continuity, customer focus and a down-to-earth corporate culture.
A standardised fleet ensures flexibility
When it comes to its mobile crane fleet, Krandienst Schulz relies entirely on Liebherr. The standardised operating philosophy makes it easier for the company to deploy operators flexibly across different machines. At the same time, it simplifies the scheduling and training of crane operators. “We are 100 per cent Liebherr customers, and that is out of conviction,” explains Sichward. “A standardised fleet makes us more efficient in many areas. In scheduling and field operations, it is much easier when every crane operates on the same principle. It also makes training our crane operators easier.”
Technical support also plays an important role for the business owner: “Service is crucial for us. If something breaks on a crane at a construction site in the middle of the night, Liebherr takes care of it straight away. Liebherr is also exceptionally well-positioned when it comes to the availability of spare parts. For us, this means short downtimes and satisfied customers. We have a long-standing, trusting partnership with Liebherr.”
Digital solutions are also part of the strategy. Krandienst Schulz uses digital order processing and the MyLiebherr customer portal for its fleet. In this way, the company combines decades of experience with modern processes.
Precision work above the rooftops of Hamburg
The first deployment of the Liebherr LTM 1400-6.1 mobile crane in early October 2026 demonstrated just how well the new technology works in practice. At Fleethof by the Stadthausbrücke, right in the heart of Hamburg city centre, the 400-tonne crane replaced heat exchangers in the building’s air-conditioning system. The loads weighed up to 3.5 tonnes. The crane operated with a luffing jib at a reach of 55 metres.
The conditions were challenging: the heat exchangers were concealed within the building’s substructure. They had to be rotated whilst suspended from the hook and slowly pulled out of position. At the same time, a high building edge necessitated the long reach. Added to this was the limited space in the city centre. As only two lanes were closed during the operation, traffic continued to flow in some sections. Consequently, there was very little space available for erecting and stabilising the crane.
The backdrop could scarcely have been more Hanseatic: Hamburg’s St Michael’s Church bathed in the light of the setting sun, the Elbphilharmonie in the background, and right in the middle of it all, the new LTM 1400-6.1 from Krandienst Schulz. Thus, the maiden operation also served as a visible expression of the company’s strategy: firmly rooted in Hamburg and ready to tackle new challenges with high-performance technology.
