L. Walter & Sons marks 60 years in business with a milestone Liebherr machine

The delivery of a new Liebherr R 992 Litronic to Canadian contractor L. Walter & Sons Excavating Ltd. in June 2025 was no ordinary handover. This delivery was both fortuitous and especially significant, marking the company's 60th Liebherr machine purchased and its 60th year in operation. As the first R 992 Litronic excavator delivered to a North American customer, the machine symbolizes a legacy of brand loyalty and a way of doing business that has remained remarkably consistent across four generations.

President Steve, Vice President Matt, and operator Quinten, three generations of Walters, were joined for the handover by Liebherr key account manager Mike Koen, whose own family has also served the OEM for decades. The moment highlighted a partnership defined as much by loyalty across generations as by the iron itself.

Digging in, decade after decade 

L. Walter & Sons Excavating was founded in 1965 by Ludwig Walter, a German immigrant who knew Hans Liebherr personally. Ludwig's connection to Hans and his confidence in Liebherr equipment's durability left him certain of his choice when the time came to invest in his first machine in Canada. Ludwig's son, Steve, grew up in the business. By his teens, he was running backhoes between classes, learning to move earth before he was old enough to drive. Today, Steve still spends his days in the cab, leading by example as president.

L. Walter & Sons focuses on heavy application work such as landfill cell construction and quarry overburden removal. These projects demand reliable equipment and operators who know how to get the most out of it.

"We specialize in just moving bulk dirt, breaking rock. We don't get into everything. We do what we know best," says Steve.

That focus is shared by the next generations. Steve's son, Matt, oversees major projects in the Niagara region, while his grandson, Quinten, operates a dozer full-time at just 25. For Quinten, joining the family business was never in doubt. "I want to do my best, live up to the family name," he says. "I'm in it for the long haul."

The origins of a lasting partnership 

The company's first encounter with Liebherr machinery came in the 1970s, just as the manufacturer began to establish its Canadian presence. Ludwig tested a demo unit in 1975, purchased one at auction in 1977, and bought his first new Liebherr machine, a 944, in 1978. He was drawn to the build quality and hydraulic performance. For a German immigrant, buying German equipment felt natural.

By the time Liebherr was fully established in Canada, the Walters were already long-term customers. That history created a unique bond between the contractor and the OEM.

For Koen, the partnership is personal. His uncle worked for Liebherr for 40 years and looked after the L. Walter & Sons account. His father led Liebherr-Canada as president for nearly four decades, and Mike has carried that torch for 17 years.

"We share the same values. A handshake means a lot," he says.

A fleet built on reliability

The Walters' fleet is dominated by Liebherr excavators, with loaders and dozers rounding out the lineup. The 90-ton R 992 Litronic was chosen for its digging power, stability, and operator comfort.

Matt says the decision to buy the Liebherr machine was straightforward. With heavy landfill and quarry projects on the horizon, they needed an excavator that could handle intense digging cycles with minimal downtime. "We bought the machine for the sheer digging force. And comfort obviously is huge," he explains.

For Steve, it comes down to long-term reliability. "Nothing digs like a Liebherr," he says.

A tradition of service

Behind the machines is a service model that has kept the relationship strong. Burlington, Ontario, home to Liebherr-Canada's head office, parts warehouse, and service hub, is based near L. Walter & Sons' primary operations. That proximity, combined with a dedicated account team, means downtime is measured in hours, not days. It's a carry-over of the support the Walters first experienced in the early years, when technicians would show up on the job site at 2 a.m. to ensure equipment was ready for a 5 a.m. start.

The consistency of Liebherr's service is a natural fit for a company that has built its own reputation on doing things the same way, year after year.

Old-school business, modern iron 

What sets L. Walter & Sons apart is commitment to a more traditional way of conducting business. Word of mouth and personal connections rule. Trust and collaboration are the focus. Jobs are secured face-to-face, often on reputation alone. In an industry where corporatization and marketing budgets dominate, the Walters prefer a handshake.

"We don't really advertise. If we get slow, we just go out and find work, and a few weeks later, we get a job," Steve says. This approach keeps the company nimble and ready to work.

That doesn't mean they're behind on the job site. GPS and GNSS systems are standard on their fleet, and Matt is quick to point out that their operational workflows are current. For them, technology adoption is about value. If technology helps move dirt faster or more precisely, it's in. If it only adds complexity, it stays out.

Koen describes the approach as a balance of "old school and new world." Spec'ing new equipment happens not through PDFs but through trips to the factory where the Walters can see machines being built and test them live. The result is iron tailored to their work, not purchased from a catalogue.

Strength in sustainability 

Rather than chasing rapid expansion, the Walters focus on keeping operations steady and efficient. The company employs about 45 people, a size that feels sustainable for them. Machines are staged at multiple sites to avoid the delays of moving permits. And growth is measured in uptime, not in headcount.

For Matt, the formula is straightforward: "You have to innovate or die. We're very competitive." Innovation, in this context, doesn't mean splashy marketing. It means investing in iron and tools that keep operators productive and comfortable.

The next chapter is already in motion. A new Liebherr PR 746 Litronic crawler dozer is in production, with delivery planned for early summer 2026 to avoid seasonal road restrictions. To finalize the order, the Walters are travelling to Europe with Koen to visit Liebherr's factories, a practice that has become part of their relationship with the OEM. Like the R 992 Litronic excavator, the dozer won't just be selected off the shelf. It will be tailored on the factory floor, with input from Quinten, who will run it every day. For the Walters, the trip is both a chance to shape the machine to their needs and to reinforce the personal connections that have always defined their partnership with Liebherr.

The future is in good hands 

As Steve sees it, the future is secure. "I'm convinced that Matthew will continue dealing with Liebherr after I'm done," he says. "And Quinten will grow into a leader."

Koen shares that confidence, noting the value of continuity on both sides. "It's great to have Quinten coming on board at his age. Getting that buy-in at an early age is important for us." He adds that partnerships like this endure because they balance trust in people with trust in the product. "In today's marketplace, equipment is very expensive. There needs to be the quality of the machine, quality service, longevity, and dependability."

Landfills will continue to need cells. Quarries will continue to need overburden stripped. And L. Walter & Sons will continue to choose machines they trust, backed by the team at Liebherr who have supported their work through the generations.