Liebherr’s R 972 crawler excavator presented at the Intermat show

The Liebherr R 972 is part of the new range of 70 to 100 tonne crawler excavators.

The R 972 crawler excavator is part of the G 6.2 generation of 70 to 100 tonne crawler excavators developed by Liebherr-France SAS in Colmar (France) and recently presented at Bauma 2022 in Munich. The R 966, R 970 SME, R 976 and R 980 SME have been replaced by the R 972, R 978 SME, R 992 and R 998 SME respectively.

The R 972 is distinguished by its productivity, operator comfort and modern design. With its low fuel consumption and innovative assistance functions, the R 972 is a machine perfectly suited to the demands of mass earthmoving or quarrying sites.

The R 972 crawler excavator is equipped with the Liebherr Bucket Fill Assist (BFA) assistance system. This innovative system, developed by Liebherr and also available on our mining excavators, enables a higher bucket filling level, faster cycles and better penetration into the digging material. Besides reducing bucket wear, BFA lowers fuel consumption by up to 10% and limits vibration for maximum operator comfort. The R 972 is equipped with the Modetronic function, which allows the operator to adjust a machine’s hydraulic performance to the application and the operator’s own driving style. The nine-inch screen and additional controls also improve operator comfort and increase the machine's accuracy. In addition, the crawler excavator has more engine power.

For the 2024 Intermat show, the R 972 G 6.2 crawler excavator will have an operating weight of about 72 tonnes. Powered by a Liebherr 330 kW/449 hp engine, the machine will be equipped with a 2,730–3,390 mm gauge LC-V undercarriage with a continuous chain guide and 600 mm track pads. Operator comfort and safety are key considerations in the R 972’s cab, which has a Premium operator's seat and FOPS and FGPS protection grids. The crawler excavator is equipped with the Bucket Fill Assist assistance system and a 4.50 m3 capacity backhoe bucket. For performance in applications such as quarrying, the machine is equipped with a 7 m gooseneck boom and a 2.60 m stick.