Liebherr to ‘shape the future’ at Bauma

Liebherr’s 14,000m2 outdoor and indoor exhibition areas at Bauma will highlight 70 products spanning autonomous technology, hydrogen and battery powered equipment and “world exclusive” launches in excavators, mobile and crawler cranes, foundation machines and telehandlers.

The company, which will have its usual landmark building in the outside area as well as several indoor booths, said its theme for the show was “hands on the future”, because the future “belongs to those who help to shape it”.

That means new power technologies will feature heavily. Liebherr said it had “an open mind to alternative technologies” and that will be evident through the range of technologies on show, including the first prototype large wheel loader powered by a hydrogen engine. The latter will be shown alongside solutions for mobile hydrogen refuelling and the supply of green hydrogen.

Liebherr will show the new T 38-7s telehandler, the first of its Generation 6 range. (Photo: Liebherr)

In the battery driven segment, it will show the autonomous T 264 mining truck, the result of a cooperation with Australian mining customer Fortescue.

The 264 – first seen at MineExpo last September - is equipped with the Autonomous Haulage Solution (AHS) which incorporates an energy management system and stationary charging.

Other battery powered products will include a new version of the Liduro Power Port (LPO) mobile energy storage system and a prototype stationary energy storage system, the LPO 600.

The LPO 600 has a gross energy content of 564 kWh and can recharge large machines or fleets of equipment.

In earthmoving and material handling, Liebherr will give the world premiere to the T 38-7s telehandler, the first of its new “generation 6” handlers up to 4.2 tonnes. It will also enter the 8 metre reach class with the T 48-8s.

Autonomous operation

Visitors will see the world launch of an autonomous wheel loader, which will be demonstrated live at the show. The completely driverless loader uses the internally developed ‘Liebherr Autonomous Operations’ system, which the OEM said was at “an advanced stage of development”.

For remote control, there will be the European premiere of a crawler dozer using the Liebherr Remote Control System (LiReCon). This technology will be shown on the new PR 776 G8 70-tonne dozer.

Liebherr will demonstrate live an autonomous wheel loader using the company’s ‘Liebherr Autonomous Operations’ system. (Image: Liebherr)

Digital technology will be showcased via an InnovationLab in the outdoor area allowing visitors to try concepts first-hand. It will highlight object identification systems for machines using cameras and sensors. Liebherr said these systems were essential for advanced assistance systems, autonomous operation and predictive maintenance.

Among other digital solutions on show will be an Energy Planner, a browser-based software to plan a construction site’s power and energy requirements. The tool “calculates the energy requirements and charging phases of…specific machines”.

For the mining industry, meanwhile, comes IoMine. Incorporating IoT and telematics technology, the system will increase safety and productivity, said Liebherr, through real-time monitoring, data analysis and automation to reduce machine failure rates and extend a machine’s economic life.

‘Digitalisation is one of the most significant areas of activity of our time”, said Marcel Flir, head of digital business and strategy at Liebherr.

“Though it may often seem abstract and technology-oriented, it is in fact always centred around people and real added value. Our goal is to establish practical benefits that extend beyond value chains”

In the concrete technology segment, Liebherr will give visitors a “first look” at its new Mobilmix concrete mixing products. On show will be the largest version, with a 4 m³ twin-shaft mixer. The OEM said that a modular construction system gives customers more freedom in plant configuration, shorter delivery times, faster assembly and high parts availability.

Liebherr will show one of its new Mobilmix concrete mixer plants at Bauma. (Photo: Liebherr)

Improvements in drive technology have cut energy consumption by up to 30% and also increases the weighing accuracy, allowing for a saving of up to 8kg of cement for every cubic metre of concrete

Multiple cranes on show

Liebherr is a major crane manufacturer. At Bauma is will show seven mobile cranes with new driver-assistance systems, such as the blind spot information system (BSIS). Thye new four-model K serriesd of fast-erecting tower cranes will also be on display.

Another example of new drive technology will be the LR 1300.2 SX crawler crane, a 300 tonne capacity crawler crane being shown fore the first time as a battery-driven unplugged version’. It is powered by a 438kW electric motor and a 392kWh battery, delivering up to 13 hours operation on a single charge.

The company exhibits in the middle outdoor area on stands 809-810 and 8012-8013. Its components business will be in hall A4, stand 326, and in hall C1, stand 425 it will show mixing and measuring technology. Liebherr will also be in the ICM foyer, booth 308, where it will present itself to visitors as a potential employer.

Bauma takes place from 7 to 13 April in Munich, Germany.