Liebherr celebrates its 100,000th wheel loader produced with custom machine delivery

Liebherr is marking an impressive milestone in its company's history: the production of its 100,000th wheel loader. The anniversary machine was handed over to STORK Umweltdienste GmbH, a long-standing partner of Liebherr. The handover took place at the wheel loader competence centre in Bischofshofen, Austria. 

STORK has relied on Liebherr wheel loaders since 1994 and has continuously expanded its fleet. Today, the fleet comprises 46 wheel loaders, ten mobile excavators, six crawler excavators, two dump trucks, and one telescopic loader, reflecting a strong partnership. The anniversary wheel loader, an L 550 XPower in a special dark blue paint finish and featuring exclusive decals, was handed over to leadership at STORK, accompanied by Liebherr sales partner Kurt König from Magdeburg.

The milestone machine was handed over during a special ceremony 

In a festive setting, Johann Madleitner, commercial director; Peter Schachinger, director of production and operations; and Günther Holzer, head of Wheel Loader Development, from the Liebherr plant in Bischofshofen, symbolically handed over the keys to the new owners. "The 100,000th Liebherr wheel loader is more than just an impressive figure for us. It stands for the decades-long success story of our wheel loaders, for technical expertise, innovative strength, and the passion of our employees. This milestone fills us with great pride. It shows just how much we have achieved together over the decades — and it motivates us to continue on this path," emphasises Peter Schachinger.

"The 100,000th wheel loader is a powerful symbol of our long-standing, trusting partnership with Liebherr, as well as the excellent cooperation with our dealer Kurt König. We are delighted to be putting this special machine to work at our site in Magdeburg," says Bernhard Stork, managing director of STORK.

The anniversary machine will be available to see at IFAT Munich 2026 

The anniversary machine will also be showcased at this year's IFAT — a leading trade fair for environmental technologies, in Munich. STORK will exhibit the new XPower wheel loader in its outdoor exhibition area. After the show, the anniversary wheel loader will be displayed in the entrance hall of STORK's facility before being put into operational service.

The commemorative L 550 XPower wheel loader 

It is clear at first glance: this wheel loader is something special. The dark blue special paint finish in STORK's corporate colours gives the machine a dynamic, powerful appearance. The "100,000" lettering, composed of historical black-and-white images, traces the development of Liebherr wheel loaders — from the prototypes of the 1950s and 1960s right through to the latest machines — thus linking tradition with the present.

The story of the anniversary wheel loader is made particularly exciting by its connection to STORK: as early as 2015, the company deployed a pre-production model of the XPower wheel loader in a multi-year field test at a demanding recycling facility. The insights gained there, and the expert feedback from STORK, provided important information for the development of the XPower wheel loaders.

"We are particularly pleased that the 100,000th wheel loader is going to a long-standing partner. As a family-run company and reliable development partner, STORK — much like Liebherr — embodies high quality, consistency, and trust. "The fact that this special wheel loader is being handed over to a company that has been with us for many years makes us both proud and grateful," explains Günther Holzer. 

It is no coincidence that the anniversary machine is an L 550 XPower. The XPower series is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and forms the foundation for the forward-looking, technology-neutral solutions that Liebherr is pursuing. These include, in addition to the innovative assistance systems, the prototype of an autonomous wheel loader, ‘Liebherr Autonomous Operations', and the development model of a large wheel loader with a hydrogen engine, the L 566 H.