Rapid growth at Hüffermann

One of the first Liebherr wheeled mobile cranes to join the Hüffermann fleet. Photo: Liebherr

Crane rental specialist Hüffermann in Germany might be well over 100 years old but it is still expanding its fleet and capability in a big way.

In the last three years alone the 111 year-old company has spent €222 million just on Liebherr cranes. Starting out as a wagon workshop in the early years of the 20th Century Hüffermann is now a full service crane provider with all the associated project engineering capability. More than 800 people work at the Wildeshausen, Lower Saxony-based company across 12 locations in seven federal states.

Wheeled mobile cranes from Liebherr have been part of the fleet since the 1960s. The fleet of wheeled mobile and crawler cranes was joined in 2021 by tower cranes, also from Liebherr. Other news of fleet expansion included an order last year for 30 trailer cranes from Böcker in Germany.

Daniel Janssen, Hüffermann Group managing partner, commented, “This kind of growth is only possible with strong partners who guarantee cutting-edge technology and modern equipment, while recognising market needs.”

Back in 2015 the addition of a 500 tonner was a landmark in Hüffermann history. Photo: Liebherr

Going large

2014 marked Hüffermann’s entry into the heavy lifting sector when a 350 tonne capacity Liebherr LTM 1350-6.1 joined the fleet. A year later saw the addition of a 500 tonne LTM 1500-8.1. Natural progression saw 750 tonne LTM 1750-9.1 (telescopic) and LG 1750 (Lattice boom) wheeled mobiles also join the fleet.

Large crawler cranes were added in 2017, including the 750 tonne LR 1750/2. Four years later an LR 11000 saw the fleet top out, at least for the time being, at 1,000 tonnes capacity.

Other Liebherr models added to the fleet in recent years include the 220 tonne telescopic boom crawler model LTR 1220 and the MK 140 mobile folding construction crane.

Tower crane proliferation

In just three years Hüffermann’s tower crane fleet has reached 250 units, all of which are Liebherr. Included is a range of top slewing models from the 125 EC-B to the 520 EC-B Fibre flat tops. Fast erecting models are also available, from 13 HM right up to the 125 K.

Commenting on the current market for tower cranes in Germany Christoph Rieß, head of the Hüffermann’s tower crane department, said, “Although demand for tower cranes in the construction industry has declined, they are currently in high demand in sectors like energy supply and infrastructure.”

Growth at the Hüffermann Group has been a mix of organic and by acquisition. Acquisitions since 2018 include Autodienst West Ganske, Eisele AG – Crane & Engineering Group, the Thömen Group and Knaack.

“These are long-established medium-sized crane companies that were sold due to succession issues,” Daniel Janssen explained. “We have retained their staff and are continuing to develop their locations. Most of our growth has occurred in the operational sectors.”