Mobile and crawler cranes

The global market for mobile and crawler cranes continued on a growth course in 2023, driven primarily by infrastructure projects and the increasing need for energy. Similar to the sector as a whole, Liebherr also saw growth, recording significant increases in revenue in the mobile and crawler cranes product segment and delivering more than 2,000 new machines from the Ehingen site (Germany) for the first time.

The core markets of the EU and North America achieved strong growth, influenced in particular by the positive trends in Germany, France and the USA. By contrast, revenue fell slightly in the non-EU countries – despite a positive performance in countries such as Norway. There was encouraging development in the Africa, Near and Middle East region and Asia and Oceania – with Australia, Indonesia and South Korea among the key drivers. Liebherr also achieved an increase in revenue in Central and South America, stimulated by Brazil in particular.

Liebherr unveiled several product innovations in 2023 and delivered the first models of new crane types, including the LTC 1050-3.1E compact crane. The hybrid version of this crane can run on electricity to eliminate emissions. The first delivery was also made of the second-largest Liebherr crawler crane – the LR 12500-1.0. Liebherr launched the LR 1700-1.0W, the most powerful narrow track crawler crane on the market, for efficient wind turbine assembly. A new technology was also specially developed for the use of smaller crawler cranes on pontoons and other floating structures: this new mode incorporates load curves for different angles of list and corresponding protection with load torque limitation. In combination with the Vertical Line Finder assistance system, this provides support for the crane operator to minimise potential diagonal pull when lifting or depositing a load. The pile-tilting device makes it possible to move long loads such as piles from a horizontal to a vertical position in the air using two winches, while preventing damaging diagonal pull on the boom.

Another highlight was the LTR 1150, with its particularly cost-effective transport concept. With a weight of just 60 t and width of 3.5 m, the telescopic crawler crane can be transported entirely on a low-loader.

For digital solutions, Liebherr presented MyNotifier, a monitoring tool for wind conditions and battery status for greater machine safety and availability, alongside the telematics system Performance. This complements the MyLiebherr customer portal with an efficient fleet data management application.

One focus of development in 2023 was on further battery electric machines and on the production of several prototypes, including the LG 1800-1.0, a lattice boom crane intended primarily for the wind industry. Investments were also made into reducing carbon emissions at the Liebherr site in Ehingen (Germany).

Based on a good order situation, Liebherr has an optimistic outlook for 2024 in the mobile and crawler cranes product segment and anticipates further growth.