Overhead crane renewal at Liebherr: Schmidbauer strong with Rieger & Moser as a team
- cranehub
- 8 minutes ago
- 4 min read
–     Mobile cranes replaced indoor cranes at Liebherr's manufacturing plant for mobile and crawler cranes
–     Challenges for assembly team and mobile cranes due to tight time frame and cramped operating conditions
–     Rieger & Moser celebrates its 80th anniversary
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Back at the birthplace in Ehingen: A Liebherr LTC 1045-3.1 compact crane travelled from the Schmidbauer branch in Memmingen, while Rieger & Moser - part of the Schmidbauer Group - sent an LTM 1110-5.1 and an LTM 1130-5.1 from Ulm. The task of the three mobile cranes was to dismantle five ageing overhead cranes at the Liebherr plant and replace them with five new ones.
Ehingen (Donau) (Germany), 22 August 2025 - Liebherr used the company holiday at the beginning of August to replace the overhead cranes of an entire nave in the assembly hall for crawler cranes and large mobile cranes. The double-girder overhead travelling cranes with lifting capacities between 40 and 63 tonnes have an impressive span of 28 metres. The 63-tonne crane is equipped with two hoists. Depending on the respective lifting capacity, the dead weight of the cranes is up to 41 tonnes.
Challenges for man and machine
Due to the tight time frame, the indoor cranes had to be dismantled and reassembled almost simultaneously during the non-production period. Due to the crane dimensions, the limited space available in the hall and the logistical requirements for transporting the large components to and from the site, the project was a particular challenge for the timing and coordination of all the fitters and crane operators involved.
The assembly of indoor cranes is also a challenge for mobile cranes, as the space to the hall ceiling is usually so limited that there is only a few centimetres of clearance between the roller head of the crane jib and the ceiling. For this reason, special assembly jibs are used for this type of crane job, which are slightly angled to create clearance to the telescopic boom and have the required high lifting capacity.
The three cranes from the Schmidbauer Group provided a strong team performance at the Liebherr production plant in Ehingen: The LTC 1045-3.1 dismantled the trolleys with the hoists, the LTM 1110-5.1 dismantled the main girders of the old bridge cranes and the LTM 1130-5.1 lifted in the new girders. The dexterity of the experienced crane operators and the sensitive Liebherr crane control system enabled the large and heavy components to be manoeuvred with centimetre precision in the confined space.
80 years of Rieger & Moser - strength from the region, an eye on the future
Rieger & Moser is celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2025: for 80 years, the company has stood for technical expertise, regional roots and a spirit of partnership. What began in 1945 as an automotive workshop is now part of the Schmidbauer Group - and a reliable partner for industry, construction and infrastructure in southern Germany.
The company's history is characterised by change and continuity in equal measure. Rieger & Moser has constantly evolved over the past decades - technologically, organisationally and culturally. The guiding principle for the anniversary "80 years: Strong from the region. Connected to the future." reflects exactly that: a strong origin as a foundation, an open attitude for what is to come.
In September 2025, the company organises an anniversary celebration - together with employees, their families, customers and partners. The focus will be on appreciation and community. In addition to looking back at milestones in the company's history, the day is also intended as an outlook for future developments - an impetus for moving forward together.
On the occasion of its 80th anniversary, Rieger & Moser would like to thank all those who have shaped and supported the company. The anniversary is not an end in itself, but a commitment: to quality, responsibility and a future based on experience and co-operation.
About Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH
Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH is a leading manufacturer of mobile and crawler cranes. Its range of mobile cranes extends from 2-axle 35 tonne cranes to heavy duty cranes with a lifting capacity of 1,200 tonnes and a 9-axle chassis. Its lattice boom cranes on mobile or crawler travel gear deliver lifting capacities of up to 3,000 tonnes. With universal boom systems and extensive auxiliary equipment, they can be seen in action on construction sites throughout the world. The Ehingen site has a workforce of 5,000. An extensive, global service network guarantees the high availability of Liebherr mobile and crawler cranes. In 2024, the company achieved revenues of Euro 3.19 billion at its Liebherr plant in Ehingen.
About the Liebherr Group
The Liebherr Group is a family-run technology company with a highly diversified product portfolio. The company is one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers in the world. It also provides high-quality, user-oriented products and services in a wide range of other areas. The Liebherr Group includes over 150 companies across all continents. In 2024, it employed more than 50,000 staff and achieved combined revenues of over 14Â billion euros. Liebherr was founded by Hans Liebherr in 1949 in the southern German town of Kirchdorf an der Iller. Since then, the employees have been pursuing the goal of achieving continuous technological innovation, and bringing industry-leading solutions to its customers.