Aerospace and transportation systems

In 2023, Liebherr’s revenue outpaced pre-pandemic levels. The air traffic recovery started in the Americas and Europe, followed by the Middle East. Asia and China came back strong in the course of 2023. Aircraft production ramped up in all market segments and customer services sales benefited from the installed base and the continuation of current aircraft operations.

Railway market development varied across regions. India and Egypt launched massive railway programmes for urban public transport, while the US invested heavily in the railway sector. However, China faced demand saturation.

Despite a generally positive outlook, challenges emerged due to geopolitical shifts, underscoring the fragility of global supply chains in the aerospace and railway industries. High inflation rates, increased energy costs and a difficult labour market impacted results.

Liebherr is supporting Airbus’s ambition to produce the world’s first hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft by 2035 by developing the air supply for the fuel cell system dedicated to aircraft propulsion. A hydrogen test bench was also installed in the test centre in Toulouse (France), with the aim of providing fuel cell power supply for non-propulsive onboard systems. Additionally, Liebherr formed a strategic collaboration with ZF, the German automotive equipment manufacturer to develop new high-speed compressors for medium, heavy-duty and long-haul hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles, combining the know-how of both system designers.

Furthermore, Eve Air Mobility chose Liebherr to supply electro-mechanic actuators (EMAs) for the flight control system of its eVTOL, an electrically powered vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The EMAs, with fully integrated electronics, represent a pioneering application for primary flight control.

As an industry leader in low GWP (global warming potential) solutions, Liebherr was selected by France’s national railway company SNCF to equip the Occitania region’s fleet trains with new environmentally friendly air cycle air-conditioning systems. In the rolling stock market, Liebherr also further developed heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems using propane or CO₂ as a refrigerant.

In 2023, research focused on solutions for future electric aircraft with improved aerodynamics, airless braking technologies as a first step towards pneumatic-free trains, alternative energy sources for reduced emissions, thermal management and improved cabin air quality.

Liebherr further invested in its industrial and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) footprint by expanding core capacities and strategically repositioning global manufacturing and supply chain activities.