Listicles | 30.10.2025

Focus on wheel loaders: 6 unusual applications beyond the traditional construction site

Wheel loaders are a familiar sight on construction sites, in quarries or gravel pits. However, their range of applications is far more diverse than one might initially assume. Liebherr wheel loaders are in use across the globe – not only where construction, excavation or loading is taking place. Whether at high altitudes in the Alps, in the heart of a zoo, in freezing temperatures or on the edge of the rainforest: these machines demonstrate their capabilities even in the most unconventional environments. In this article, we explore six job sites that showcase how flexibly and efficiently Liebherr wheel loaders perform under extraordinary conditions.

White gold: Two Liebherr wheel loaders in action at Tuz Gölu salt lake.

1. Tuz Gölu: A sea of salt

Glistening white as far as the eye can see. The Tuz Gölu salt lake lies in central Anatolia, between the provinces of Ankara, Konya and Aksaray. Covering an area of 3,500 km², it accounts for around 60 per cent of Turkey's salt production. Two Liebherr L 550 and L 566 wheel loaders handle every grain of salt here, loading raw salt in the fields, feeding the processing plant and the salt bunker.

The L 507 stereo loader – a real eye-catcher for zoo visitors of all ages.

2. Dortmund Zoo: Among animal friends

It's not just the 1,500 animals that draw attention at Dortmund Zoo: the Liebherr L 507 stereo loader, painted in a giraffe design, has become an attraction in its own right. This uniquely styled machine plays a vital role in daily operations, transporting bedding materials like straw to animal enclosures and manoeuvring tree trunks to help shape naturalistic habitats. Within the zoo complex, the Liebherr stereo loader is not just useful—it’s perfectly at home.

The L 586 XPower wheel loader braves icy temperatures and deep snow in northern Sweden.

3. Lapland: (X)Power on frozen ground

Around 100 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, five XPower wheel loaders are in operation at the Swedish family-owned company GE Maskintjänst in Gällivare. The Liebherr machines are used for loading and unloading, material transport, excavation removal and maintenance work. With a special decal featuring the Swedish flag, the XPower wheel loaders stand out against the snowy landscape.

Bound for rainforest duty – the L 550 travels across the Amazon by barge.

4. Ravenna: Material handling with a sea view

In the Emilia-Romagna region, several Liebherr XPower wheel loaders operate at the port of Ravenna. They handle stone, gravel, timber and other materials on a large site right by the sea. Their power-split XPower travel drive ensures maximum performance and efficiency during daily work. Durable Liebherr components guarantee reliable operation – even under intensive use.

Beach master on duty – the L 566 XPower makes its rounds in Nieuwpoort.

6. Belgium: Beach work with a view

On the beach at Nieuwpoort (Belgium), the L 566 XPower is not only a powerful workhorse but also a silent witness to stunning sunrises and sunsets. Thanks to its power-split XPower travel drive, it navigates the sandy terrain with ease. With maximum traction and high efficiency, the L 566 XPower moves large volumes of sand and helps shape the coastline.