Annual Report 2021
New turnover record achieved
The global mobile and crawler cranes market has experienced stable growth since autumn 2020. In the mobile crane industry, Liebherr maintained its position as market leader in its established core markets and was among the top three manufacturers in the crawler crane sector. Demand was particularly strong for all-terrain cranes with more than 450 tonnes lifting capacity, crawler cranes with more than 300 tonnes lifting capacity and battery-powered unplugged crawler cranes.
In line with the industry trend, the mobile and crawler cranes product segment also performed well. Turnover increases were recorded in the key regions EU and North America, with Spain, the Netherlands and the USA driving growth in particular. Business in the non-EU countries developed very encouragingly, with strong growth primarily in Russia and the United Kingdom. There was also growth in Asia and Oceania, with notably strong demand in Australia. In Central and South America, Liebherr performed very well, whereas a significant decline in turnover was recorded in Africa and the Near and Middle East due to a downturn in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
By converting its mobile and crawler cranes to HVO Liebherr is the first crane manufacturer to promote the use of this environmentally friendly fuel.
Focus on maximum customer benefit and sustainability
Liebherr unveiled several new products in the 2021 business year. These included the rope pull technology version of the LTC 1050-3.1 compact crane, as well as the LTM 1110-5.2. This all-terrain crane has been equipped with the new LICCON3 control system, combining existing technologies with future-oriented innovations to improve safety and comfort. Liebherr also launched the LR 1700-1.0 for wind power and industrial applications. This crawler crane meets all the requirements of the wind power industry, with capacity to handle turbines with a hub height of over 160 metres and a weight of more than 100 tonnes. Another new crawler crane model, the LR 1400 SX, was also released last year. It has a lifting capacity of 400 tonnes and impressive new safety features such as a ground pressure visualisation and automatic centre-of-gravity calculation while in motion.
Sustainability was also a key focus in the mobile and crawler cranes product segment. Since September 2021, for example, Liebherr has been supplying all cranes from the Ehingen (Germany) plant with HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils) instead of fossil diesel. This makes them nearly CO₂-neutral. Liebherr is the first crane manufacturer to promote the use of this environmentally friendly fuel. The Liebherr range of zero-emissions products was further expanded to include two new unplugged crawler cranes: the LR 1160.1 and LR 1130.1. These models are fully CO₂-neutral when powered by electricity from renewable sources.
Order volumes are currently high and Liebherr expects a slight increase in turnover for 2022 in the mobile and crawler cranes product segment. The war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia have caused many uncertainties that will continue to shape the global economy in the year ahead.