Listicles | 2026-06-25

What lies behind Liebherr-EMtec Nambsheim? Four questions for Olaf Vohwinkel

Liebherr-EMtec Nambsheim GmbH is a new industrial site belonging to the Liebherr Group, situated in the heart of Alsace. In the immediate vicinity of Colmar, a modern plant is being built here, where pre-assembled and fully assembled operator’s cabs for earthmoving machines are to be manufactured. We asked Olaf Vohwinkel, Director of Operations at Liebherr-EMtec Nambsheim GmbH, four questions to help us get to know the new company better.

Olaf Vohwinkel is taking over as Director of Operations at the new site in Nambsheim.

1. Mr Vohwinkel, as Director of Operations, you will be taking charge of the new site in Nambsheim, bringing to this role 25 years of international experience at Liebherr in France, the USA and Switzerland in production and technical sales. Could you give us an overview of the new production site?

The new Liebherr-EMtec Nambsheim site will serve as a centre of excellence for the manufacture of operators’ platforms for three Liebherr plants in Germany, France and Austria. The Group is therefore building on its long and successful history in Alsace and the Colmar area, and is expanding its regional presence with a fourth site.

The plan is to build a state-of-the-art production site with a capacity of around 10,000 operators’ platforms per year. There is no doubt that these highly automated manufacturing and logistics processes are synonymous with efficiency, quality and sustainability.

Furthermore, by creating around 200 new jobs, Liebherr is clearly demonstrating how closely the Group is linked to the region and is sending a strong signal in favour of sustainable growth. At the same time, the Nambsheim site, with its potential for expansion and growth, offers long-term prospects for additional capacity and further skilled jobs in the region.

Construction work on the site in Nambsheim began in May 2026.

2. Environmental responsibility plays a central role at Liebherr-EMtec Nambsheim. What can you tell us about this?

At the new Liebherr-EMtec Nambsheim site, building services will operate entirely without fossil fuels. Heating is provided by geothermal energy, supplemented by photovoltaic systems for electricity generation.

In addition, there will be a modern charging infrastructure for cars and lorries to specifically promote electric mobility and support future-oriented mobility solutions.

Furthermore, the planting of around 600 new trees on the factory premises underlines the site’s high environmental standards. And, of course, this contributes to the local environment and biodiversity.

The Nambsheim site thus serves as an example of sustainable industrial development that combines economic growth with environmental responsibility.

The new Liebherr EMtec Nambsheim site will serve as a centre of excellence for the manufacture of driver’s cabs for Liebherr plants in Germany, France and Austria.

3. Construction work began in May 2026. Is there any aspect of the future site that is not yet widely known, but which, in your view, should be highlighted in particular?

The Liebherr-EMtec Nambsheim site is characterised by a state-of-the-art transport and logistics concept that sets new standards in industrial manufacturing. In the interests of sustainable and efficient production, no forklift trucks at all are used in the logistics and production areas. Instead, the internal flow of materials is handled by driverless automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which ensure maximum process reliability and transparency.

This innovative concept is complemented by the introduction of flexible matrix production, which replaces traditional line production. This results in significantly greater adaptability to varying production requirements, combined with optimised resource utilisation and increased efficiency.

All in all, it can be said that the Nambsheim site represents a forward-looking approach to production organisation. This is where state-of-the-art technologies, streamlined processes and maximum efficiency come together.

Liebherr-EMtec Nambsheim GmbH is scheduled to start operations in 2028.

4. What are you most looking forward to when you think about the future site and your day-to-day work at Liebherr-EMtec Nambsheim?

I am particularly looking forward to playing a key role in shaping the new site from the very beginning, building a high-performing team, and working together to establish innovative as well as forward-looking production and working practices as a sustainable part of our day-to-day operations.

Contacts

Alexandra Smolorz

Liebherr-International AG

General-Guisanstrasse 6
5415 Nussbaumen
Switzerland

+41 56 296 4087