Annual Report 2021
Tower cranes
In the tower cranes product segment, the Group achieved a turnover of € 563 million in 2021. This represents a € 119 million or 26.8 % increase compared with the year before.
The EU is the most important sales region
The construction industry achieved worldwide growth over the past business year. The tower crane product segment clearly reflects the broader market trend, with the EU proving to be the most important sales region. The segment saw significant growth in Germany, France and Hungary in particular. Among non-EU countries, sales were very strong in Norway and Russia. In contrast, there were significant declines in North America, Africa and the Near and Middle East. Sales in Asia and Oceania recorded a slight increase. Net growth in Central and South America was fuelled in particular by significant gains in Chile.
Liebherr’s tower cranes strategy is based on the company’s continual drive for innovation.
25 tower cranes for the HafenCity urban development project in Hamburg
In the past business year, Liebherr unveiled the new 205 EC-B flat-top crane, which expands the company’s EC-B series into the 200 mt class. The new MK 73-3.1 mobile construction crane also made its world début. This most recent addition to the Liebherr mobile construction crane family features a compact design and is extremely fast and flexible for working in urban settings. An exceptional project is under way in the Überseequartier District in HafenCity, Hamburg (Germany). As many as 25 tower cranes are simultaneously in use at the site, making the project a logistical and planning challenge. The Liebherr Tower Crane Solutions Project Team is providing support throughout the entire construction process.
Liebherr’s tower cranes strategy is based on a continual drive for innovation. This is why the company is involved in numerous research projects in this product segment to identify fledgling technologies and integrate them into the product range. By partnering with research institutes in particular, Liebherr facilitates an intensive exchange of ideas that help to shape the innovations of tomorrow. In addition to the company’s cooperation with RWTH Aachen (Germany) University and the University of Stuttgart (Germany), Liebherr is a member of the VDMA’s Machines in Construction MiC 4.0 working group. This working group develops solutions for standardised, manufacturer-independent and machine-independent digital communication in all areas of the construction process.
Although the pandemic continues to cause uncertainties and an ongoing shortage of materials, Liebherr expects 2022 to be a strong business year for its tower crane product segment. However, the dynamic situation in Ukraine as well as in Russia create potential risks that do not currently allow for a valid assessment of the economic outlook.