Liebherr reports increase of sales in 2018

Despite a slight decline in overall economic growth, Switzerland-based Liebherr Group says its construction machinery and mining equipment divisions and product areas saw an overall increase in sales revenue in 2018. The company reports sales of 10.55 million euros, representing a 7.5 percent increase compared with the previous year.

Revenues from construction machinery and mining equipment increased by more than 10 percent to 6.8 million euros, with especially strong growth in earthmoving equipment and mobile cranes, according to the company. Sales rose 2 percent in other product areas, including gear technology and automation systems.

The growth in sales can be attributed to higher demand in several sales regions, the company says, especially in Germany and France and markets in the U.S., Australia and China. In non-European countries, sales fell because of the negative effects of currency movements in Russia.

Liebherr Group reports a net profit of 321 million euros in 2018, a slight increase above the previous year. The company also reports an increase in workforce, ending the year with more than 46,000 employees worldwide, an increase of 2,3000.

Research and development 

Liebherr invested a half billion euros in research and development in 2018, used in the development of new products and joint research projects with universities. An area of focus was “the construction site of the future.”

Liebherr says it started a development partnership with the RWTH Aachen within the framework of the Center Construction Robotics and is also involved in the "Construction 4.0" joint project initiated by the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA).

Production, sales and service

Liebherr Group increased its investment activities by 51 million euros compared with 2017. New construction and material handling equipment will be developed, tested and inspected at a new exhibition center in Germany, the company says.

In addition, the group has invested in Bad Schussenried, Germany, which will serve as a new manufacturing site for concrete pumps.

Liebherr says it is starting to install a heavy-duty crane in the port of Rostock. The TCC 78000 portal crane will be available for external heavy load handling in the port. In the U.S., Liebherr investment projects are intended to support the company’s long-term growth strategy in the U.S. crane, construction machinery and concrete technology markets.

Demand in most regions and industries may develop positively in the future and sales revenues are expected to rise in 2019, the company says.