Following three years of construction and relocation, the new hydraulic cylinder facility of Liebherr-Components Kirchdorf GmbH is now operational in Oberopfingen, Germany. The facility has been expanded by three halls and two administration buildings, adding around 46,000 m2. The project allowed the company to also consolidate its mechanical manufacturing operations on site in Oberopfingen.
Fluid Power World spoke with Liebherr representative to learn more.
Liebherr’s components product segment has significantly expanded its production capacity for hydraulic cylinders with mechanical manufacturing. They moved 33 existing machines from the company’s original site in Kirchdorf an der Iller, and 20 new machines and equipment have also been installed. With this step Liebherr brings all business areas together in one place, creating the foundation for higher efficiency and an optimal supply chain. At the same time, capacities for further growth are being created at the hydraulic excavator facility.
“Wherever it makes sense in an economical way, we apply automatic painting or cleaning processes, as well as robot-controlled sawing center. Now that we have gained space, we are able to align the production layout of our machines according to the value creation process and our products. This has enabled us to redesign our production as compared to the former location in Kirchdorf an der Iller. Our focus thereby lies on modernization and efficiency increase,” said Alexandra Nolde, Senior Communication & Media Specialist, Liebherr-Components AG.
While the opportunities for development were limited on site in Kirchdorf/Iller, the newly acquired space offers possibilities to further improve production and processes to optimally adapt to customer needs. Both the modernization of the technical equipment and the consistent alignment of production facilities along the value-added process form the basis for more efficient working methods and shorter running times. The highlights include, for example, the modern and highly automated sawing center, as well as the central cooling lubricant supply for the metal-cutting machines.
“We are delighted that after almost seven years, in which we had to overcome the challenges of managing two production sites at a time, we do not only have our entire workforce under one roof, but also an opportunity to properly position ourselves for the future,” emphasized Ulrich Hammerle, Managing Director for Production and Technology on the components’ site.
Nolde said that Liebherr manufactures standard series cylinders, large cylinders and special cylinders which are used in applications such as earth moving machines, mining machines and trucks, mobile cranes, or scrap shears. In the future, the company is planning to expand its product range with new cylinder types within those application areas such as telescopic cylinders for mobile cranes or further hydraulic cylinders for external customers beside Liebherr.
Focus on sustainability
The new construction concept includes a holistic energy management system. To this end, the Liebherr site has been certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO50001 this year. In compliance with modern and energy-efficient building standards, waste heat insulation and a heat pump have been installed, which are mainly powered by electricity produced by the building’s own PV system on the roof. The company produces most of its electricity itself via this system along with the total of 1,768 solar panels.
Another step towards efficient energy utilization is the use of a heat recovery system. Here, the heat generated by the production facilities is used to air-condition the production halls. Thanks to a modern evaporation system, the company is also able to recycle and treat used water, thereby reducing the amount of wastewater. Through such efficient measures, Liebherr protects the environment and works continuously to reduce energy consumption and to make efficiency future-proof.
Nolde said that Liebherr aims at sustainability across the entire value chain and all of the product segments within the Liebherr Group. “Within the Components product segment, we are establishing different sustainability initiatives in our various locations besides Oberopfingen. Further vivid examples are our production sites in Bulle (Switzerland) and Colmar (France), where we produce combustion engines and hydraulic components (Bulle). At Liebherr-Components Colmar (France) and Liebherr Machines Bulle S.A. (Switzerland), we’ve transformed engine testing into an opportunity for environmental responsibility. Instead of letting the energy generated during combustion engine tests go to waste, we feed it back into local energy systems.
In Colmar, 5,757,290 kWh were returned to the grid in 2024 — enough to power approximately 1,225 households for a year. In Bulle, the heat recovered from our test benches provided warmth equivalent to 1,000 households in 2024.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to sustainable practices and demonstrates how industrial innovation can create tangible benefits for communities,” Nolde concluded.
The new complex was inaugurated by the Liebherr family in the presence of the mayor and the local representative of Oberopfingen last November. “This project would not have been possible without the commitment of our employees and thorough project organization. Thanks to this joint effort, the relocation went very smoothly,” said Thomas Sonntag, Managing Director for Administration and Sales in Oberopfingen. “We can now provide our customers and partners with the best possible service and expand our product range at the same time.”
Following the relocation, the hydraulics site in Oberopfingen employs around 550 people and, with the new buildings, underlines its importance for the region and the future of the components product segment.
Liebherr-Components AG
www.liebherr.com/components
