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June 2024

Determined to make a difference: pioneering spirit – yesterday, today and tomorrow

When Hans Liebherr invented the mobile tower crane in 1949, he paved the way for a global enterprise and a wide spectrum of groundbreaking innovations in a range of different technological fields. His pioneering spirit has been ingrained in the very fabric of Liebherr ever since.

‘The only constant in life is change,’ even Leonardo da Vinci subscribed to this principle. The polymath ventured the unimaginable, engineering a parachute, a robotic knight and a muscle-powered helicopter. While some considered him a genius, others saw him as a sorcerer or simply denounced him as insane.

Today, we know for certain: it takes more than a momentary flash of inspiration to truly open up new horizons. As well as having the right idea at the right time in the right place, innovators must have the capacity to really get an innovation off the ground. So it was that in 1949 – faced with the enormous challenges of rebuilding towns and cities decimated by war – Hans Liebherr invented a mobile tower crane. A stroke of mechanical genius that would revolutionise work on the construction site and the way we see and achieve great objectives. ‘With dogged determination, it is also possible to achieve what appear to be almost unattainable targets. Don’t allow yourself to be disheartened by setbacks, having faith can move mountains’ – this was the mantra of the company founder.

Ultra-fit for the future

According to technology historian and future researcher Professor Hans-Liudger Dienel from the Faculty for Work Sciences, Technology and Participation at the Technische Universität Berlin Institute of Technology, there is a particular strength to this kind of pioneering spirit: ‘Anyone who can fully devote themselves to something with this basic trust will find countless opportunities to venture into uncharted territory, to develop innovative, pragmatic solutions and to continuously expand the product programme.’

The following examples of developments and groundbreaking projects from the world of Liebherr offer insight into the extensive impact that more than 75 years of this special pioneering spirit have had across all product segments – yesterday, today and tomorrow. Perhaps if Leonardo da Vinci were to read these, he might be inclined to rephrase the principle he lived by: the only constant in life is change – and it gets faster and more beguiling over time. Before then flying off in his helicopter.

Digitalisation – systematic progress

Safety and efficiency on the construction site place stringent requirements on cranes and their operators. This is why Liebherr combines extensive expertise in engineering and digital fields, raising the planning and management of work operations to a whole new level. For the benefit of the people on site.

Yesterday

In the right place at the right time – with the right technology: in 1949, Hans Liebherr presents the world’s first mobile tower crane, the TK 10. A revolution on the construction site: it can be assembled easily on site for fast and low-cost setup and dismantling. A pioneering innovation that accelerates and dramatically simplifies Germany’s post-war reconstruction. This paves the way for the Group we know today and its enduring success.

Technology-neutral approach – making the possible possible

Construction vehicles/machines and units need to meet high standards when it comes to performance, robustness, safety and reliability – often in the toughest conditions. This is why Liebherr is committed to providing the right drive solutions for every circumstance.

Yesterday

In the 1970s and 1980s, standard built-in engines on the market are derived from HGV drives. The drawback of this is that the often air-cooled engines prove to be neither reliable nor durable enough for use in heavy construction machines. On top of all that, they often need repairing during off-road operations. Moreover the supply of spare parts and availability of customer services are not always guaranteed worldwide. In 1981, Hans Liebherr therefore decides to develop in-house combustion engines for construction machines: robust, powerful, economical. So, in 1985, the first series-production engines, the D924 and D926, roll off the conveyor at Liebherr Machines Bulle S.A. in Switzerland. Some of these are still in production today.

Liebherr is continuously developing the engine portfolio further to reflect the ever-changing requirements of the respective industry, the legislation, the customer and environment. The standard basic engine is testament to decades of system expertise. Using the modular principle, this can be modified for compliance with the exhaust gas aftertreatment regulations of different countries and regions.

Product development – pulling out all the stops

Liebherr’s innovations and transformations, whether big or small in scale, stem from the company’s ability to look beyond the horizon. To this end, the company always pools together wide-ranging skill sets and combines these with the practical experience of a global market leader.

Yesterday

When Hans Liebherr hires a cable excavator in 1953, he is struck by how poor the power-to-weight ratio is. Eight months later, he presents Europe’s first hydraulic excavator – the L 300 – leaving engineers and construction companies stunned. They are impressed not only by its low weight and the transfer of existing hydraulic technology to an excavator, but also by its effective digging force. In 1954, this powerful machine goes into series production. This is followed in 1960 by another great innovation, the wheeled excavator A 650: the first fully hydraulic wheeled excavator from Liebherr combines hydraulic work equipment with a hydraulic travel drive for the first time. This united all modern technical possibilities available at the time.

From the very beginning, Hans Liebherr sees the importance of developing and producing key technologies in-house. This becomes especially apparent in 1983 with the A 912 wheeled excavator. Its diesel engine, hydraulic pump, slew drive with planetary gearbox, excavator axle and manual gearbox and transfer box in the undercarriage are all produced entirely in-house. A further innovative highlight follows in 1989 in the shape of Litronic: the entire system of intelligent electronics and functional hydraulics is designed to monitor, control, regulate and coordinate all key systems of the excavator. Having been under continuous development ever since, Litronic still optimises the efficiency of every Liebherr construction machine to this day.

Research and innovation – our pact with the future

From the very outset, research and innovation has always been the starting point and driver of product development at Liebherr. This calls for experience, pragmatism and boldness in equal measure to keep striking a new path, changing direction without losing sight of the ultimate goal.

Yesterday

In the 1950s, when Hans Liebherr learns from a personal contact about a refrigerator factory that is coming up for sale, he quickly recognizes the enormous potential of the appliances and the market. Despite the fact that the technology to keep food cold at home had already been invented in Germany in the 19th century, it only really takes off in the USA to begin with. In the early 1950s, only one in ten German households owns a refrigerator but, with post-war economic growth, demand rapidly grows. Hans Liebherr decides not to buy the company but instead develops his own refrigerator with specialists in 1954. Just one year later, series production begins in Ochsenhausen in the south of Germany. From the outset, Hans Liebherr is focused on innovations and developing quality products – from the first freestanding appliances to integrated refrigerators, either as refrigerators only or fridge/freezer combinations. These are very well received on the market.

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