Since 2010, Liebherr has been offering a series of wheel loaders tailored to markets outside of Europe and North America. Now Liebherr is modernising the three largest wheel loaders in this series with the new L 550, L 566 and L 580 models. Increasing the tip load, bucket sizes and engine power are some of the most important innovations. The wheel loaders also feature a new electro-hydraulic pilot control. This technology forms the basis for various intelligent features, which increase safety and productivity during daily use.

Liebherr has developed the three new models at the Bischofshofen plant, its long-standing Centre of Excellence for Wheel Loaders. Decades of experience in designing wheel loaders were one of the keys to success in the development process. “We also analysed our international customers’ demanding wheel loader operations over a long period. This included observing different mining operations around the world, some in Africa and South America, coal handling in India, and timberwork in Russia. Our customers’ experiences were crucial to the development of the new wheel loader series,” explains Wolfgang Rottensteiner, who is responsible for sales of the wheel loader series at Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen GmbH.

Performance increases for the travel drive, lift arms, and working hydraulics.

The new L 550, L 566 and L 580 wheel loaders feature the proven hydrostatic Liebherr travel drive, which is renowned for its great efficiency. Thanks to increases in engine power – approximately 17 percent for the L 550 – the travel drive is even more powerful while maintaining the same low fuel consumption. This is advantageous when accelerating or penetrating material and lowers fleet fuel costs. Liebherr has installed the diesel engine in the rear, where it also acts as a counterweight thereby increasing the tip load for the wheel loaders.

Liebherr has three lift arm versions on offer for the new models. Firstly, the z-bar kinematics, come to the fore particularly in the lower lifting range and for the breakout force. Secondly, the industrial kinematics, have been designed for working with heavy-working tools such as high dump buckets and log grapplers.