The German manufacturer reported that in its mobile cranes division total turnover rose by €201m or 11.6 % to €1,939.6m. It also said that with the exception of Western Europe, where sales revenues remained at the previous year’s level, there were noticeable increases in all sales regions.
The annual report stated that the world market for mobile cranes developed as a whole positively in 2012, but as in the previous year, there were considerable variances between countries and segments. Sales of all-terrain cranes worldwide were up 18% in volume, following a 19% increase in the previous year. The increase was divided almost equally among all capacity categories up to 400t. In the large all terrain crane area with even higher load capacities, demand remained at last year’s level.
Liebherr described the total market for crawler cranes with a lattice boom as "vigorous". The 300t to 500t load capacity categories saw sales volume 15% higher compared to 2011. In the crawler segment the growth was predominantly focused on North America. Whilst worldwide market volume in the over 500t capacity categories dropped by 18 %.
The division sold 1,139 cranes in its Liebherr Telescopic Mobile (LTM) all terrain crane series, 227 more than in 2011, increasing its market share to 47%. In this segment there was again a downturn in demand for large machines, whereas the growth tendency persisted in the case of small and medium-size cranes.
Across the year, Liebherr said that incoming orders remained at a satisfactory level. Nevertheless there was still uncertainty on a large number of markets, and customers frequently postponed projects, which led to orders being cancelled. As in the previous year, however, the machines that became available in this way were sold elsewhere without delay in most cases.
As for the tower cranes segment of the business there was a slight drop. Liebherr said there were very marked differences in tower crane sales in the group’s various regions. The persistent debt crisis in Western Europe continued to result in low demand for these units. Although there was an above average increase in turnover for the Far east/Australia region in other regions the results varied from country to country.
The manufacturer said that it had invested considerable sums in the tower crane area during 2012. Work had begun in Biberach, Germany, midway through the year on the construction of a new training centre. The building probably will be ready for occupation in the summer of 2013, training apprentices for the two production companies located there — Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH and Liebherr-Components Biberach GmbH. They will receive tuition there from September 2013 onwards. Another current investment project at this location is the construction of a new automated high-bay store with an incoming goods reception area in front of it.
The business has also planned to build a new used tower crane sales and crane hire centre in Biberach, with the aim of coordinating and strengthening worldwide business activity in this area. The company currently has several decentralised rental pools operated by Liebherr companies in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France, with more than 1,500 machines for hire. Their intention is to network the European crane hire business more closely, so that there is easier access to tower cranes and accessories. The new centre will also take responsibility for the complete purchase and sale process worldwide.
Liebherr concluded by saying that there was an increased volume of orders received throughout 2012, particularly in the first half of the year and this was paralleled by an increase in production volume. The division expects turnover from the tower crane area to be higher in 2013.
