Polski
Liebherr's New Generation and Wielton's Strong Results – What's Moving the Construction Machinery Industry
September 2026 brings two pieces of news that nicely illustrate where our industry is heading. On one hand, Liebherr is stepping up its flagship class of heavy crawler excavators; on the other, Poland's Wielton is proving that even in uncertain times, growth in the trailer and semi-trailer market is still possible. Let's take a closer look at what exactly is changing and why it's worth knowing.
01 · Crawler Excavators
Liebherr Steps Up Its 50-Tonne Excavator Class: Three New Generation 8 Models
Liebherr shows no signs of slowing down in the heavy crawler excavator segment. The manufacturer has expanded its 50-tonne class lineup with three new Generation 8 models: the R 948 G8, R 952 G8, and R 958 G8 [1]. Each one serves a slightly different purpose – from classic earthmoving to demanding mining work – but they all share the same technological foundation.
The structures are built from high-strength steel, which is meant to improve the machine's durability without excessively increasing its weight. Add to that new operator assistance systems, the emCAB cab, and the INTUSI interface, all designed to make working with the machine more intuitive and safer [1]. Liebherr also claims fuel consumption can be cut by up to 10% – and across a fleet of heavy excavators that often run non-stop on large construction sites or in mines, that translates into real operational savings amounting to thousands of litres of fuel per year.
What's particularly worth noting is that electronics and automation are no longer the exclusive domain of smaller, urban machines. This new generation of 50-tonne giants shows that even in the heavy earthmoving and mining segment, manufacturers now treat cab digitalization and operator assistance as standard rather than a premium add-on. It's a trend that will likely spread to other machine classes in the coming years.
02 · Transport and Trailers
Wielton Grows Despite Headwinds – Trailers and Semi-Trailers on the Rise
While Liebherr talks technology, Poland's Wielton delivers hard market numbers. Between January and August 2026, the manufacturer registered 2,126 trailers and semi-trailers, a 5.9% year-on-year increase [2]. The company held its market share steady at 14.33% – and in an industry where every percentage point is hard-won, that's a result not to be underestimated.
The data, based on PZPM statistics, also paints a broader picture of the entire market. Over the same period, the number of trailer and semi-trailer registrations in Poland grew by 8.3% year-on-year [2]. That's a sign the heavy transport segment – closely tied to the health of construction, logistics, and exports – is starting to catch its breath after a few tougher quarters.
For Wielton, holding a stable market share while registrations climb means the company is growing at a pace similar to the industry as a whole, rather than at competitors' expense. That's an important distinction – it's easy to gain a few percentage points of sales when the whole market is expanding, but much harder to hold your position within it steadily over a longer period.
03
What Connects These Two Stories
At first glance, crawler excavators and transport trailers belong to entirely different worlds. In practice, though, both pieces of news point to the same thing: investment in heavier, more efficient equipment to handle growing activity on construction sites and in logistics. Liebherr's new excavators dig the foundations for new investments, while Wielton's trailers haul away the spoil and materials from those same sites. One can't do without the other.
Summary
Summary
This week shows two faces of our industry: on one hand, an engineering race in the heavy excavator class; on the other, hard market data confirming that heavy transport and specialized vehicles are back on a growth path. Both of these stories – along with plenty of other news from the world of construction machinery and specialized vehicles – can be seen and experienced firsthand at BUILD Machine Expo – Targi Maszyn, Pojazdów i Ciężkiego Sprzętu Budowlanego. See you there!
Invitation
New generations of heavy excavators and rising trailer sales are just a taste of what you'll see at BUILD Machine Expo. Visit the show to check out the latest construction machinery and specialized vehicles in person, and talk to manufacturers like Liebherr and Wielton. Reserve your spot today!
BUILD Machine Expo 2026Footnotes
[1] The HeavyQuip Magazine — https://www.heavyquipmag.com/2026/09/02/liebherr-sharpens-its-50-tonne-excavator-line-up-for-tougher-earthmoving-and-mining-work/[2] Bankier.pl — https://www.bankier.pl/wiadomosc/Wielton-w-okresie-I-VIII-zarejestrowal-2-126-przyczep-i-naczep-o-5-9-proc-wiecej-rdr-PZPM-9194754.html