Another world première involving Argo-Anleg: Liebherr, one of Europe’s leading technology companies and one of the largest construction machinery manufacturers in the world, is focussing on hydrogen technology. The Liebherr plant in Bischofshofen recently presented the world’s first large wheel loader with a hydrogen combustion engine. This project marks a significant step in the transformation towards environmentally friendly construction machinery and sets new standards in the industry. Also on board the large wheel loader: technology from Wesel by Argo-Anleg. In close co-operation with Liebherr, Argo-Anleg GmbH developed and designed the tank system for the wheel loader together with the experts from the Liebherr plant in Bischofshofen. It was then assembled and tested for functionality and leakage by the experts from the Lower Rhine. Finally, it was approved by the TÜV and handed over to the customer free of defects. Argo-Anleg’s expertise and technical know-how made a decisive contribution to realising the vision of a CO2-free large wheel loader. After all, an internal combustion engine (ICE) has different requirements for the overall system than a fuel cell. Here, the customer was able to draw on the expertise of ANLEG, which has already proven with heavy-duty OEMs how a reliable supply of one or more fuel cells and the connection of combustion engines works. The engineers and technicians at Argo-Anleg and their suppliers were able to demonstrate their technical sophistication and make a significant contribution to the success of the project, and not just by developing the tank system in Wesel. They also provided support during the “initial refuelling” on site. The fact that ANLEG also has crucial expertise in this area paid off, even if ANLEG did not supply the refuelling station in this case. In this way, we help each other in the dynamic hydrogen market, which benefits the customer. As a result, Argo-Anleg kept its promise to “never leave a customer alone” – in this case even beyond the technical implementation to refuelling and the first use.
Hydrogen technology in practical use: The L 566 H prototype from Liebherr loads a MAN lorry, also with a hydrogen engine.
Ceremonial opening of the first hydrogen refuelling station at the Liebherr site in Bischofshofen.
The presentation of the L 566 H prototype at a specialist event at the Liebherr plant in Bischofshofen and the parallel opening of the first hydrogen refuelling station in the province of Salzburg underline the ground-breaking nature of this innovation. The wheel loader’s hydrogen reciprocating engine will not only enable zero greenhouse gas emissions in the future, but also offers virtually no nitrogen oxides and high efficiency, making it particularly suitable for large machines that are difficult to electrify. The fact that H2 technology is not only used in wheel loaders, but is already being used in construction site lorries, is demonstrated by MAN. A MAN lorry – also with a hydrogen engine – was part of the impressive machine show at the specialist event at the Liebherr plant in Bischofshofen.
To summarise:
Through this collaboration, Argo-Anleg GmbH is not only positioning itself as a major player in hydrogen technology, but also as a reliable partner that is contributing to the sustainable transformation of the construction machinery industry. The successful integration of hydrogen engines into large machines demonstrates the potential of the technology and the important role that Argo-Anleg plays in this.
This partnership is an outstanding example of how innovative collaboration and technological advances can create sustainable solutions for the future. Argo-Anleg GmbH is proud of its contribution to this pioneering project and looks forward to future challenges and further collaborations with Liebherr.
The L 566 H is refuelled at the company’s own hydrogen filling station on the Liebherr factory premises.
For further information on this project, please see the linked video from the Austrian industry magazine.
