performance of our products. The other big pillar is the service and distribution network. “The price is certainly higher than Chinese equipment, but our cranes come with a huge support network and 76 years of experience in how to handle international markets. Our customers trust us and are inclined to stick with us.”
Every conversation starts with vessel size Mid-sized ports often have less pier available, which makes electrification easier.
has only containers, then an STS crane is the best investment. But the multi-purpose ports want multi-purpose equipment. They need to be versatile so they can handle steel or construction materials, as well as containers or bulk commodities.” Often, mid-sized ports have less pier
available, making them easier to electrify than the bigger terminals. “When you look at a new project, overall, most major port developments happening in the world right now are on greenfield sites,” he adds. “So they are building from scratch and are already thinking about what power they need and how to incorporate electric equipment.” The cranes also have to be able to work
on sites with significant variations in voltage. Liebherr considers low voltage as under 1kV and high voltage up to 20kV. Each has very different infrastructure such as cabling and grid connection. “At Liebherr, compatibility is key,” he says. “Ports differ in their requirements, so we ensure our cranes can work with both. We make sure that the cranes are matching because it varies from port to port. And, of course, if there is still a need for diesel cranes, we can offer very efficient models.”
Ongoing success Liebherr Maritime Cranes recently announced that it had secured a ‘commanding majority of global orders’ in 2025 and record market share in the mobile harbour crane sector. In an increasingly competitive global environment, why are port operators choosing Liebherr? “There are two major pillars of our success,” he says. “One is the reliability and high
and cargo turnover metrics, as well as available budget. “Budget is important because, these days, buying a crane is a bit like buying a car,” he says. “You have the standard model and can then add various options and upgrades. “You can put a lot of benefits into a crane, such as electric drive or energy saving technology, as well as safety features or crane driver assistant systems. But depending on budget and requirements, you can also leave them out. Sometimes you install the crane and then after a couple of years when it has earned good money, we can upgrade that crane or even replace it.”
Multi-purpose ports naturally require multi-purpose equipment.
Job satisfaction He still takes great pride in every sale. “Often you are working on a project for two years or more, so you do get a real sense of achievement when you complete a sale. I am always very proud of my team when this happens. I am grateful to work with well-trained and educated, highly motivated salespeople who have passion for their product.” The people element remains his favourite part of the job. “When I am at exhibitions like TOC or Breakbulk and all the clients are coming to tell me how happy they are with their cranes, that buying Liebherr was one of their best decisions – that is a great feeling.”
When considering mobile harbour cranes, vessel size and cargo turnover are important.
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