INTERVIEW Ӏ CHRISTOPH KLEINER, LIEBHERR
situation in the Chinese domestic market. This is a different kind of competition that needs to be understood and criticised.
Are there any product lines/crane sector types not doing so well at the moment? It's not so much specific product lines but the economic weakness in Europe at the moment that is causing us some concern. Germany, our most important
market, is in recession; interest rates and inflation have exploded as a result of the war in Ukraine which has led to a slump in the construction industry throughout Europe especially in residential construction. Smaller telescopic cranes, the 3- or 4-axle cranes, are often used here. We have indeed seen a decline in order volumes here in recent months. Added to this is the politically
uncertain situation in many European countries, but also in the USA in the last half of 2024. Understandably, many customers are waiting for clarity on the upcoming subsidy programmes. We are therefore assuming
that we will hopefully enter more politically stable times and be able to emerge from the phase of economic weakness.
How does Liebherr's pricing compare to its competitors? Is it too expensive for some? We review our prices regularly. The consequences of the war in Ukraine, with inflation and rising interest rates, are unfortunately a problem for all western crane manufacturers. High energy prices, significantly increased labour costs. Competitors from China didn't have that. Political support from the EU and the new German government is also needed here. Nevertheless, we are also working hard to counteract the permanent rise in
28 CRANES TODAY
Demand remains
high for Liebherr’s all-terrain cranes – which have been its largest product line for years
prices. Since some months we are able to keep the investment for our machines on a constant level and we expect that we can hold that for some more time.
Is Liebherr affected by any skills shortages? Or are there any challenges in talent acquisition or employee retention? The skills shortage has been with us for many years. Whether IT or production. There are always areas where it is difficult to find suitable employees. But Liebherr is a top employer, a major player, in the region. We notice this time and again; we see it in our employees. We have a great corporate
culture and a great sense of togetherness. That attracts people. We often have three generations of the same family working for us, and we are located away from major metropolises - that also helps.
Most of our employees have been with us for decades and we work hard to keep the fluctuation rate low - this helps us to counter the shortage of skilled workers,
secure knowledge and build cranes of the highest quality and technology.
How is Liebherr adapting to digital transformation and automation? We could certainly be faster here. But automation often does not automatically mean cutting costs and or better quality. We need to look closely at
which process steps automation makes sense, and is sustainable, to use. Incidentally, this applies to the entire digital transformation. Our customers can see some useful examples and implementations at our plant during Bauma. As part of the factory tours, we will show where we are already working with AI today, using robotics and automation to simplify processes and increase quality as a result.
OPPORTUNITIES How can Liebherr capitalise on the growing demand for sustainable and electric machinery? At Bauma we are presenting an all terrain crane with an electric
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