Tower Cranes

In business year 2018, the Tower Cranes division achieved sales of € 571 million, representing an increase of € 37 million or 6.9 % year on year.

Development compared to previous year*

Turnover in € m
from 534
( + 6.9% ) 0
Investments in € m
from 75
( + 1.3% ) 0
Employees
from 2,347
( + 4.8% ) 0

Turnover by sales regions

  1. European Union
    73.1%
  2. North America
    4.6%
  3. Central and South America
    1.8%
  4. Non-EU countries
    12.6%
  5. Asia and Oceania
    3.2%
  6. Africa, Near and Middle East
    4.7%

Stable growth in Western Europe and the Americas

Expansion in the construction industry worldwide resulted in positive market growth for tower cranes last year. There was a notable, industry-wide upward trend in Europe, especially in Germany.

As a result, the division’s sales increased strongly in 2018. The momentum was particularly strong in the European Union, with significant gains especially in the German and French markets. There was also a rise in sales in North America, Central and South America as well as in Africa, Near and Middle East. Meanwhile, growth declined slightly in Non-EU countries, and Asia and Oceania.

The main growth drivers for the division are the areas of top-slewing cranes and fast-erecting cranes. Furthermore, the division managed to acquire its first customers for its new and used mobile construction cranes business.

Liebherr Tower Cranes is taking part in research projects to create the digital construction site.

Strong partnerships for digitisation

To promote further digitalisation, the division has partnered with RWTH Aachen University for a project called Center Construction Robotics. In cooperation with other leading companies, Liebherr is working to create the construction site of the future through digitised pre-production and automatic processes across the entire value-creation chain.

The division also developed a new EC-B series of even more powerful cranes that are optimised for transport and assembly. The new series includes fibre cranes equipped with high-strength fibre rope. The rope is significantly lighter, yet capable of lifting up to 20 % more than conventional steel rope. Liebherr partnered with an Austrian rope manufacturer to develop the fibre rope. This year also saw the launch of the 150 EC-B PT, a tower crane approved for passenger transport. Another high point was the opening of a new distribution and management centre in Biberach an der Riß (Germany).

The division expects similar growth in 2019, fuelled in particular by the market launch of new products and an expanding leasing service.

* Restatement first time adoption of IFRS 9 / 15 / 16.