Wittrock, Ulferts, and Ulferts & Wittrock Groups Modernise Mobile Crane Fleets with Major Liebherr Order

Meagan Wood
Feb 29, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Jan 1

30-Second Takeaway

The Wittrock Group, Ulferts Group, and Ulferts & Wittrock Group have placed a major joint order with Liebherr for approximately 50 new mobile cranes, reinforcing a long-standing partnership and signaling long-term confidence in the German crane market. The fleet renewal includes three- to six-axle LTM-series cranes, compact LTC 1050-3.1 units, and multiple machines equipped with Liebherr’s new LICCON3 control system, with deliveries scheduled across Germany from spring through autumn.

Wittrock, Ulferts, and Ulferts & Wittrock groups are modernising their mobile crane fleets

Coordinated Fleet Modernisation Across Germany

With dozens of branches throughout Germany and a shared operational philosophy, the Wittrock, Ulferts, and Ulferts & Wittrock groups continue to modernise their fleets through coordinated procurement. The latest order package—finalised at the end of last year covers around 50 mobile cranes that will be distributed across multiple locations nationwide.

The corporate network includes long-established companies such as Herrmann & Wittrock, Titschkus & Wittrock, Ulferts, and Ulferts & Wittrock, all of which operate across crane rental, heavy haulage, and access equipment markets.

Long-Standing Collaboration Between Independent Groups

Although operating as independent entities, the three groups maintain close strategic alignment.

“These three independent groups of companies have traditionally worked closely together: the Wittrock Group, the Ulferts Group and the Ulferts & Wittrock Group,”

explained Temmo Niekamp, Managing Director of the Ulferts Group alongside Hermann Ulferts.

Niekamp also co-manages the Ulferts & Wittrock Group with Marcus Wittrock, who in turn jointly leads the Wittrock Group with Oliver Herrmann.

This collaborative structure allows the companies to align investment strategies, share operational standards, and maintain a consistently modern fleet across all regions.

Investing Through Market Uncertainty

The newest Liebherr order includes approximately 50 mobile cranes, primarily from the LTM series with three to five axles, as well as compact LTC 1050-3.1 models. Some units are also earmarked for Wittrock-Trading, expanding the group’s commercial offering.

Marcus Wittrock emphasised the strategic motivation behind the purchase:

“We want to impress our customers by using modern equipment. It's therefore important for us to regularly procure new cranes that are at the cutting edge of mobile crane technology. Liebherr has been a trustworthy partner for us for many years. We decided to go ahead with the new purchases, even though the current economic trends in Germany are not viewed positively.”

The group is taking a long-term view of the market, prioritising readiness for future demand rather than reacting to short-term economic signals.

Reducing Workshop Load and Supporting Expansion

Beyond performance upgrades, fleet renewal also brings operational benefits.

“New cranes also relieve the burden on the workshops in the branches,” explained Oliver Herrmann. “We are currently replacing cranes built in 2019. This means that hardly any of our cranes are more than four years old.”

Additional demand for new cranes is being driven by branch expansions and new locations, including developments in Bayreuth, Schwedt, and Halle, ensuring sufficient lifting capacity as operations grow.

LICCON3 Control System Included in Latest Order

Several cranes in the package will be delivered with Liebherr’s new LICCON3 mobile crane control system, marking a technological step forward for the group’s fleet.

Models ordered with LICCON3 include the LTM 1100-5.3 and LTM 1110-5.2, specified with extensive equipment packages such as:

Central lubrication system for the chassis
LED driving lights
Central locking system with radio key
Rear-view camera
Comprehensive lighting package

The adoption of LICCON3 ensures faster data processing, enhanced connectivity, and long-term software support while maintaining familiar Liebherr operating logic for crane operators.

About the Wittrock, Ulferts & Ulferts & Wittrock Groups

The Wittrock Group, Ulferts Group, and Ulferts & Wittrock Group operate a nationwide network of crane rental, heavy haulage, and access equipment businesses across Germany. Together, the companies manage dozens of locations and maintain a strong focus on fleet modernisation, safety, and customer-driven solutions across industrial, infrastructure, and construction sectors.

About Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH

Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of mobile and crawler cranes. Its product range includes mobile cranes from 35 to 1,200 tonnes and lattice boom cranes on crawler or wheeled chassis with lifting capacities of up to 3,000 tonnes. The Ehingen site employs approximately 5,000 people and is supported by a global service and support network.

Learn More🔗 https://www.liebherr.com/en/int/products/mobile-and-crawler-cranes/mobile-and-crawler-cranes.html

About the Liebherr Group

The Liebherr Group is a family-owned technology company founded in 1949 in Kirchdorf an der Iller, Germany. Today, it operates more than 150 companies worldwide across 13 product segments, employing over 50,000 people. In 2023, the group recorded revenues exceeding €14 billion, driven by continuous technological innovation and customer-focused

engineering.

Learn More🔗 https://www.liebherr.com