Liebherr, one of the largest construction machine manufacturers in the world, unveiled its new mid-size wheel loaders as well as large wheel loaders from its XPower series last month at the Conexpo 2023 construction trade show held in Las Vegas, US.

The new mid-size wheel loaders feature a significant increase in performance compared to the previous models, making them highly useful for demanding operations in various industries, such as extraction, recycling or the timber industry. In addition, Liebherr offers several intelligent assistance systems for its mid-size and large XPower wheel loaders. These include active personnel detection with brake assistant and the revised camera system Skyview 360°.

The new generation of mid-size wheel loaders consists of three models with bucket sizes between 2.2 and 3.0 cu m in the standard version. They are characterised by a significant performance boost.

“The new L 526, for example, offers 20 per cent more engine power and over 20 per cent higher breakout forces than its predecessor,” explains a spokesman for Liebherr. “The L 538 and L 546 models also feature performance increases in all areas: the optimised travel drive, for example, provides increased traction to ensure that the new wheel loaders accelerate dynamically in everyday work and can penetrate powerfully into all kinds of materials.”

The active personnel detection with brake assistant automatically reduces the speed of the wheel loader as soon as the sensors detect a source of danger.

New lift arms ready for challenges

Liebherr has reinforced the steel construction of the front section of the new wheel loaders in order to prepare the machines for handling heavy loads. Structural reinforcements on the new lift arms, for example, on the cross tube, increase robustness. The z-bar kinematics with electro-hydraulic pilot controls has larger hydraulic cylinders and more powerful working pumps. The combination of these innovations enables faster cycle times and dynamic and powerful work movements – even with heavy attachments such as high dump buckets in the recycling industry or log grapples in the timber industry, the spokesman says.

With the increased performance providing a strong basis, Liebherr offers numerous equipment options for industry-specific challenges: High-lift arms, for example, are an extended variant of the regular lift arm, and ensure greater range and efficient loading processes at different heights. For wheel loader applications that regularly require different attachments, there is a view-optimised quick coupler available as well as “Solidlink”, a fully automatic quick-coupler system. This allows machine operators to change between mechanical and hydraulic attachments from the cab quickly and safely at the touch of a button. This saves time and reduces the risk of accidents.

The L 586 XPower, Liebherr’s largest wheel loader, showcased at Conexpo 2023.

XPower large wheel loaders

XPower large wheel loaders are also ready for the challenges of different industries. “In the years since their debut, they have established themselves at the forefront of fuel efficiency and robustness,” the spokesman points out. “One main reason for that is their power-split travel drive, installed as standard in all Liebherr XPower wheel loaders. It combines hydrostatic drive, which is ideal for material uptake and travelling over short distances, with mechanical drive, the advantages of which are seen over long distances and when driving on gradients. The combination of these two drive types ensures maximum efficiency and outstanding fuel savings in every application.”

However, XPower features more than its unique power-split driveline: It is an integrated, innovative machine concept that sets benchmarks in terms of fuel efficiency, performance, robustness and comfort. For example, the spacious cab is adapted to the day-to-day needs of the operators. Thanks to the ergonomic interior design, intuitive control elements, practical storage compartments and individual adjustment options such as a height-adjustable display, it offers a comfortable work atmosphere. The extensive use of glass on the cab and the sophisticated design of the engine hood results in optimised visibility in all directions and increased safety, he adds.

Assistance systems 

Liebherr offers a comprehensive range of intelligent assistance systems for its mid-size and XPower large wheel loaders – for example, the active personnel detection with brake assistant. This optional assistance system warns the machine operator of hazards in the rear area of the wheel loader. To reduce the number of unnecessary warning signals, the system uses sensors and artificial intelligence to distinguish between people and objects. As soon as the sensors detect a source of danger, the brake assistant automatically decelerates the wheel loader‘s speed. This shortens the stopping distance by multiple feet, reducing the frequency and intensity of potential accidents.

For applications that require numerous steering manouvres, Liebherr offers a comfortable joystick steering system as alternative to the steering wheel, allowing the machine operator to comfortably steer using short movements of the ergonomic joystick. The position of the joystick always corresponds to the respective articulation angle of the wheel loader. Further solutions, such as the Skyview 360° camera system, the Liebherr weighing system or several systems that facilitate the use of the lift arm and the attachment, increase comfort and safety in the daily work with a wheel loader, the spokesman adds.

Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen in Salzburg, Germany, develops, produces and sells wheel loaders of the Liebherr Group.