Construction and mining machinery accounted for €5.9bn (£5.0bn) of the total, also up 9%. The remaining third of the total came from marine cranes, aerospace components, machine tools and fridges.
After a decrease in 2011, the mobile cranes division grew by 12% to sales of more than €1.94bn (£1.65bn).
In the earthmoving, tower cranes and concrete technology divisions, sales revenue remained at approximately the same level as 2011. Earthmoving equipment brought in €2.06bn (£1.8bn) while the tower cranes and concrete technology division bagged €580m (£494m).
The mining division saw 28% sales growth to €1.29bn (£1.1bn).
Across the group, €840m was pumped back into the company as investments in modernisation and expansion of production and service facilities.
The family-owned group’s worldwide workforce grew by a net 2,470 people in 2012 to approximately 37,800 people.
Liebherr said that it expects total turnover in 2013 to be about the same 2012. “Relatively moderate development is to be expected in the construction machinery and mining areas in particular,” the company said. “Investments will be at approximately the past business year’s level. Since the sales and service network is to be enlarged again and capacity increased at various production locations, creation of further new jobs is planned for 2013.”
Pictured above are the Liebherr family shareholders who active in the group. They are children and grandchildren of founder Hans Liebherr: They are, left to right: Patricia Rüf, Willi Liebherr, Isolde Liebherr, Stéfanie Wohlfarth, Sophie Albrecht and Jan Liebherr.
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