In a highly volatile business environment, Liebherr’s Mobile Harbour Crane
Division delivered satisfactory operational performance. In 2009,
deliveries amounted to 74 mobile harbour cranes and thus were 27%
below those of the previous year’s period. In comparison the total MHC
market including all manufacturers dropped –40%. To complete the picture,
this decrease has also to be put in relation with the figures of the previous
years. From 2005 to 2008 LHM deliveries showed an average, annual
increase of 24%, which is 16% over the total MHC market growth average.
Although the past year was one of extraordinary global economic
turbulence resulting in a considerable decline in worldwide demand for mobile harbour cranes,
Liebherr managed to increase its global market share
substantially (+60%) and reinforced its position as a market
leader.
As a result of global recession, deliveries especially in
Europe showed a strong decline compared with the same
period in the previous year (-31%). Spain, traditionally the top
selling market, was completely down, but in return other
countries e.g. Russia showed a performance way above
average. With 15 delivered units, Russia was by far the biggest
MHC market worldwide in 2009. Although various regions
are catching up, Europe still remains the most important
market for mobile harbour cranes. In 2009 Liebherr could
write down 35 units in its order books.
In Africa, deliveries continued to develop positively. This
fact is illustrated by the supply of no fewer than 19 mobile
harbour cranes reflecting a market share of over 70%.
After two superior years in the Middle East deliveries
dropped quite dramatically to a total of two LHMs. The
maritime business was actually suffering greatly from the lack
of investment by customers. However, the first delivery to
Saudi Arabia since 2003 was found to be fundamentally good.
In 2009 India was one of the key markets for Liebherr.
Many port operators are turning to Liebherr technology and
service, not only to increase handling capacities, but also to
establish a close and long-lasting partnership. With the sale of
nine cranes in 2009 Liebherr has further boosted its excellent
market position on the Indian subcontinent. Since entering
the market in 2004, Liebherr has already delivered more than
40 mobile harbour cranes to India, making it the clear market
leader on the Indian subcontinent.
Sales in the Far East and the Pacific regions respectively
reached two units, but overall economic development showed
the first signs of an upwards trend in the third quarter of
2009. This could be seen primarily in Asia. China’s and
Korea’s growth continued and also Japan made slight progress.
Also in Latin America (five units) deliveries suffered a
severe setback. Especially in Brazil the market was almost
completely down last year, although the crisis was considered
rather mild there. Brazilian ports are
known for putting on the brake at any
sign of uncertainty, waiting for
circumstances to get clearer, but signs
show now that the market is moving
again. With two delivered machines
North America levelled off just under
the five-year average.
Technology remains central to
Liebherr’s efforts to manufacture mobile
harbour cranes. Over the next year,
Liebherr is set to increase its efforts to
provide tailor-made MHC such as barge
or portal solutions. With six railmounted
portal cranes (LPS) delivered,
2009 definitely was a benchmark for
Liebherr’s future sales ambitions. All LPS
are equipped with an electric prime
mover, which makes it possible to run
the crane on electricity from an external source at the port.
All Liebherr mobile harbour cranes are equipped with a
hydrostatic drive system. The simple hydrostatic drives
remain standard, allowing the same components to be used
throughout the whole range (LHM 120 – LHM 600) and
ensure high spare parts availability and a single system for
engineering support.
In addition, the hydrostatic systems have a very low
‘moment of inertia’ providing extremely fast acceleration
times. Liebherr mobile harbour cranes attain a hoist speed of
120m/min in less than three seconds, around a fourth or fifth
of the time of a comparable linear DC machine. Hydrostatic
units are one synchronous system. This doesn’t just add a
general robustness; energy is easily recaptured from the
crane’s braking and lowering motions. Further, it avoids the
power loss that you get through transiting to other energy
modes like the loss involved in the banks of electrical
resistors, for example.
Standard prime mover of the hydrostatic drive system is a
diesel engine, i.e. the cranes are able to work completely
autonomous. Of course, all LHM models can also be
equipped with an electric main drive. If the port has a quay
side installation for shore power supply available, the crane
can be operated directly with power from the harbour mains.
Liebherr’s spending on research and development has again
increased as Liebherr develops new ecologically sensitive
technologies. Despite the economic crisis, the focus on
reducing CO2 remains important. Liebherr is involved in a
number of projects helping to advance technology to
decrease CO2.
Liebherr’s performance in 2009 again shows its ability to
deliver results to the customers, and leaves it in a strong
position to face the challenges of the coming years. Liebherr
wants to maintain and enhance its competitive position and
ensure growth. At Liebherr, staff are working to improve
handling efficiency and the company is further developing its
innovative product range offering our customers tailor-made
solutions and the worldwide coverage of the Liebherr
Group’s sales and service network.