Liebherr Delivers 80 Mobile Harbour Cranes Worldwide in 2021

The Liebherr mobile harbour cranes look back on a successful sales year in 2021 with more than 80 new units sold and an unprecedented order intake volume. Liebherr remains the clear market leader in the field of mobile harbour cranes. In addition to various sales highlights on all continents, there is a strong demand for electric main drives and the fully electric LPS 420 E.

(Rostock) Liebherr was able to record a record year with its maritime mobile harbour cranes. The order intake volume in the past year 2021 was higher than ever before. A total of more than 80 new units and various used units were sold to customers worldwide. Liebherr mobile harbour cranes were ordered from 31 different countries. All continents were represented, with a strong increase in the regions of the Middle East and West Africa, as well as stable core markets in Europe and North and South America. The LHM 550 was, as in previous years, the best seller, closely followed by the LHM 420. A strong increase in sales of the LHM 800 is noted, which has more than tripled compared to the previous year.

The total revenues exceeded all previous sales years. This has allowed Liebherr to establish a very promising order backlog in the mobile harbour crane sector and to look confidently towards the year 2022. “The Liebherr mobile harbour crane and its clear technical advantages in the MHC market have once again convinced customers around the world. I am very proud of our sales team here in Rostock and in over 40 sales and service locations worldwide. Only through our cooperative and partnership-based collaboration can we meet the needs of our customers,” says Andreas Müller, Sales Manager for Liebherr mobile harbour cranes.

Unprecedented Demand for Portal Cranes

Another unprecedented record is noted in the field of portal cranes. In no previous year have so many harbour cranes with a portal substructure been sold. More than 20 new units were Liebherr Portal Slewing Cranes (LPS). Liebherr was able to record a major portal crane project at the end of 2021. The leading steel manufacturer in Italy, Acciaierie d’Italia, ordered four new LPS 800 portal cranes. The four units will be operated 100% electrically, enabling emission-free bulk handling. They are also equipped with the Liebherr hybrid system Pactronic, which provides the crane with additional power when needed.

Emission-Free Terminals on the Rise

Almost half of all mobile harbour cranes sold in 2021 were equipped with an electric main drive and thus ready for emission-free cargo handling. The demand for various electric drive solutions has even doubled compared to the sales year 2019. “Liebherr has stood for sustainability in terms of drives for decades. We see that our highly developed electric motors are revolutionizing port handling. Together with our partners, we will continue to pave the way for sustainable port handling. Our innovative cranes and the development of CO2-neutral drive technology excite the industry. Competitors are trying to catch up, but Liebherr has been a leader in development and innovation for many years,” comments Andreas Ritschel, Deputy Sales Manager for Liebherr mobile harbour cranes.

First Fully Electric Portal Crane on the European Market

2021 was also the year of the fully electric portal crane LPS 420 E. In addition to the clear trend within the maritime crane industry towards more electric main drives, the exclusively electric motor-driven and advanced LPS 420 E had a record year. Although sales have been consistently stable since the introduction of the device, a total of six portal cranes were sold in 2021 – one of them to Germany. Euroports Germany, based in Rostock, will put the first fully electric LPS 420 E into operation in the European market next year. “We want to further enhance the handling capacity at our bulk terminal. Next year, we will not only invest in a new crane to be even more efficient, but we also want to contribute to sustainability,” says Karsten Lentz, Managing Director of the Euroports Germany Group.

Africa with Strong Growth

Africa has been experiencing economic growth for several years, accompanied by extensive investments in infrastructure. The continent is also attributed enormous economic potential for the future. This development has been reflected in African ports for years and is particularly evident in 2021, especially with container cranes. Liebherr delivered two new LHM 800 in the high-rise variant to the Sogester Container Terminal in Angola. Just before the end of the year, two more LHM 800 were shipped to Togo. The customer TIL Terminals will use the two giants for container handling in the port of Lomé.

From a strengthened market position also arises responsibility towards customers and partners worldwide. Liebherr is aware of the trust placed in it regarding quality, reliability, and availability. “We can only meet this responsibility through joint efforts. We achieve this by continuously optimizing our service network, our technologies, and our standards,” says Martin Mathis, General Manager Customer Service Liebherr maritime cranes.

Sustainability on Various Levels

In addition to various electric solutions, Liebherr also offers the possibility of operating diesel-powered devices more environmentally friendly. In the first half of the year, the first LHM 420 powered by HVO diesel was delivered to the Swedish port city of Södertälje. HVO Renewable Diesel is a fossil-free premium diesel product made from 100% renewable raw materials that does not emit new carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Another step towards sustainability was achieved in September with the awarding of the EcoVadis Gold Medal for Liebherr-MCCtec. EcoVadis is the world’s leading provider of sustainability ratings with over 85,000 rated companies.

The Gold Medal places Liebherr-MCCtec among the top 5% of all rated companies and the top 3% of manufacturing companies.

Photo: © Liebherr-MCCtec