Mobile Cranes Replace Indoor Cranes at Liebherr’s Ehingen Plant in Precision-Led Hall Upgrade
- Meagan Wood
- Aug 22, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 3
30 Second Takeaway
During a tightly scheduled company shutdown, Liebherr replaced five ageing overhead cranes inside its Ehingen manufacturing plant using mobile cranes operating in extremely confined conditions. The complex operation, executed by Rieger & Moser and the Schmidbauer Group, required millimetre-precise lifts inside an active assembly hall. The project coincided with Rieger & Moser’s 80th anniversary, underscoring decades of regional expertise paired with modern lifting capability.
Mobile Cranes Return to Liebherr’s Birthplace
Back at Liebherr’s historic Ehingen (Donau) facility, mobile cranes once again played a critical role inside the manufacturer’s own production halls. A Liebherr LTC 1045-3.1 compact crane travelled from Schmidbauer’s Memmingen branch, while Rieger & Moser, part of the Schmidbauer Group, mobilised an LTM 1110-5.1 and an LTM 1130-5.1 from Ulm.
The three cranes were tasked with dismantling five ageing overhead travelling cranes and installing five new double-girder indoor cranes within the assembly hall for crawler cranes and large mobile cranes. The indoor cranes feature lifting capacities between 40 and 63 tonnes, spans of 28 metres, and dead weights of up to 41 tonnes, with the largest unit equipped with dual hoists.
Extreme Constraints Demand Precision and Coordination
The replacement took place during Liebherr’s annual company holiday in early August, creating a narrow window in which dismantling and installation had to occur almost simultaneously.
Challenges for Man and Machine
The project presented significant constraints:
Cramped hall dimensions
Minimal clearance to the ceiling
Complex logistics for transporting large crane components
Strict sequencing to avoid downtime overruns
Indoor crane assembly is particularly demanding for mobile cranes, as clearance between the jib head and hall ceiling is often limited to just a few centimetres. To manage this, special angled assembly jibs were used, allowing sufficient clearance while maintaining the necessary lifting capacity.
Three Cranes, One Coordinated Lift Plan
Each crane played a clearly defined role:
The LTC 1045-3.1 dismantled the trolleys and hoists
The LTM 1110-5.1 removed the main girders of the old bridge cranes
The LTM 1130-5.1 installed the new crane girders
The success of the operation relied on the experience of the crane operators and the sensitive Liebherr crane control systems, which enabled the large components to be manoeuvred with centimetre-level precision despite the confined space.
80 Years of Rieger & Moser: Strong from the Region, Connected to the Future
The project also marked a significant milestone for Rieger & Moser, which celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2025.
Founded in 1945 as an automotive workshop, the company has evolved into a respected lifting and logistics specialist and is now part of the Schmidbauer Group. Over eight decades, Rieger & Moser has continuously adapted technologically, organisationally, and culturally while remaining firmly rooted in southern Germany.
The anniversary theme, “80 years: Strong from the region. Connected to the future.”, reflects a philosophy built on regional strength, partnership, and forward-looking capability. In September 2025, the company will celebrate the milestone with employees, families, customers, and partners, combining reflection on its history with a clear focus on future collaboration.
About Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH
Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of mobile and crawler cranes. Its mobile crane portfolio ranges from 35-tonne two-axle cranes to heavy-duty cranes with lifting capacities of up to 1,200 tonnes on nine axles. Its lattice boom crawler and mobile cranes deliver lifting capacities of up to 3,000 tonnes.
With universal boom systems and extensive auxiliary equipment, Liebherr cranes are deployed on construction and industrial sites worldwide. The Ehingen site employs approximately 5,000 people and is supported by a global service network that ensures high crane availability.In 2024, Liebherr-Werk Ehingen achieved revenues of €3.19 billion.
Website: https://www.liebherr.com/en-int/deu/products/mobile-and-crawler-cranes/mobile-and-crawler-cranes.com
About the Liebherr Group
The Liebherr Group is a family-owned global technology company with one of the most diversified product portfolios in the construction equipment sector. In addition to construction machinery, Liebherr provides advanced solutions in areas including aerospace, transportation systems, mining, refrigeration, automation, and energy.
Founded in 1949 by Hans Liebherr in Kirchdorf an der Iller, Germany, the group today comprises more than 150 companies across all continents. In 2024, Liebherr employed over 50,000 people worldwide and generated revenues exceeding €14 billion.
Website: https://www.liebherr.com
About Rieger & Moser (Schmidbauer Group)
Rieger & Moser, part of the Schmidbauer Group, is a long-established lifting and logistics specialist serving industry, construction, and infrastructure projects across southern Germany. With roots dating back to 1945, the company combines regional expertise with access to one of Europe’s most modern crane fleets through the Schmidbauer Group.
Rieger & Moser is recognised for its technical competence, highly skilled operators, and ability to execute complex lifts in constrained environments—qualities demonstrated in projects such as the Liebherr Ehingen hall crane replacement.
Website: https://www.schmidbauer-gruppe.de
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were mobile cranes used instead of fixed indoor cranes for the replacement?
Mobile cranes offer greater flexibility, precision, and speed when replacing large indoor cranes during short shutdown periods. In this project, mobile cranes allowed Liebherr to dismantle and install multiple overhead cranes within a single non-production window, without the need for temporary fixed lifting systems that would have required additional installation time and floor space.
What makes indoor crane replacement particularly challenging for mobile cranes?
Indoor crane replacement presents extreme clearance constraints, often leaving only a few centimetres between the jib head and the hall ceiling. This requires:
Special angled assembly jibs
Highly sensitive crane control systems
Experienced operators capable of millimetre-level manoeuvringAny miscalculation could result in structural contact or project delays.
Why were multiple crane models used instead of a single larger crane?
Using multiple cranes allowed each unit to be optimised for a specific task:
Compact cranes handled hoists and trolleys
Mid-capacity cranes dismantled old girders
Higher-capacity cranes installed new girdersThis approach reduces congestion, improves sequencing efficiency, and lowers overall risk in confined environments.
How critical was operator experience in this project?
Operator experience was decisive. The confined space, tight tolerances, and overlapping lift activities required operators with deep familiarity in:
Indoor lifting operations
Precision load positioning
Coordinated multi-crane workflowsEven with advanced crane control systems, the success of this project relied heavily on human expertise.
What role did Liebherr’s crane control systems play during the lifts?
Liebherr’s control systems enabled extremely fine load control, allowing operators to manoeuvre large components with centimetre accuracy. This was essential for safely positioning girders and hoists within tight clearances while maintaining smooth, stable crane movement.
Why was the project scheduled during Liebherr’s company holiday?
Conducting the work during the annual shutdown minimised disruption to production while creating a fixed, non-negotiable timeframe. This required meticulous planning, precise logistics, and flawless execution, as any overrun would have impacted manufacturing schedules.
How does this project reflect Rieger & Moser’s role within the Schmidbauer Group?
The project highlights Rieger & Moser’s ability to deliver highly technical lifting solutions backed by the scale and resources of the Schmidbauer Group. It demonstrates how regional expertise combined with access to modern crane fleets enables safe, efficient execution of complex industrial lifts.
What does this project say about trends in industrial plant maintenance?
The operation reflects a broader trend toward:
Shorter shutdown windows
Higher precision requirements
Increased reliance on mobile cranes for indoor applicationsManufacturers are prioritising flexible, rapid-response lifting solutions to maintain productivity while upgrading critical infrastructure.
