Although the company says North America is the second market for telehandlers—behind Europe—Liebherr says there are no immediate plans to make its new telehandler lineup available here.
Liebherr announced three years ago that it was developing a telehandler series, and used an international press event in late October to unveil the actual iron. The company says it will launch eight new telehandler models in 26 different versions throughout next year.
The telehandlers will come in two model designations. Premium models will have the suffix “S,” and are designed for material handling and production applications. Value models are aimed at stacking and lifting jobs. The series will debut in January with three 23-foot models with load bearing capacities of 7,054, 7,936 and 9,038 pounds. Also debuting are a 20-foot model with a load bearing capacity of 7,716 pounds and a 33-foot model with a 7,275-pound load bearing capacity. Other models will appear throughout the rest of the year.
The units will use 3.6-liter Deutz engines, featuring selective catalytic reduction and using diesel oxidation catalysts. Larger units will also have diesel particulate filters. The machines have hydrostatic drives, with maximum speeds of 25 mph.
In addition to Liebherr quick couplers, the telehandlers are also compatible with quick couplers from Manitou, Claas, Kramer, JCB and Volvo, allowing customers to use existing attachments from those manufacturers. Other options include high-flow hydraulics, a selection of tires, camera systems and lighting packages.
In March, Liebherr entered into a telehandler supply agreement with Claas, aimed at the agricultural sector. Claas dealers will start to receive telehandler shipments in January. “This collaboration will allow Liebherr to reposition itself in the market for telehandlers,” says Martin Langle, managing director of sales, Liebherr-Werk Telfs, and allow the company’s Telfs, Austria, plant to “immediately produce telescopic handlers on a large-series scale.”