Before new products reach customers, they undergo thorough testing, a process that Lionel Oberhauser, group manager for the testing department at Liebherr-Mining Equipment Colmar SAS in Colmar, France, knows very well. Working with massive mining machines is challenging, but it’s a challenge he relishes.
As a company, Liebherr Mining focuses on continuous innovation, building on current achievements to develop groundbreaking ideas for tomorrow. However, innovation can only transform into practical products through rigorous testing. The testing department at the Colmar facility is responsible for ensuring that products can endure the demanding conditions of a mine site. As the department’s group manager, Oberhauser oversees all validation tasks, coordinating them with his highly skilled team.
No Two Days Are the Same
What does a typical day in the testing department look like? According to Oberhauser, it varies! “We can have very fast-paced days due to emergencies or calmer days when we can carry out our planned tasks. Every day is different!“
The testing department consists of four test engineers, a workshop manager, three measurement and adjustment specialists, and Oberhauser. The team uses their product knowledge to define and fine-tune excavator prototypes, ensuring they perform as expected in terms of productivity and efficiency. They also verify the installation of components in subsystems, such as the cooling system, and conduct tests to check the functionality of each system and subsystem. The gathered data is then communicated to the product development teams.
The team regularly travels to customer sites and Liebherr branches worldwide to monitor machines in field tests, troubleshoot issues, or gather real-world data. Oberhauser notes, “Our role puts us in contact with different players both inside and outside Liebherr. That’s what makes it such a rewarding job!“
The Perfect Fit
Oberhauser has been with Liebherr Mining for almost 14 years. He spent eight years as a test engineer in the testing department before becoming the group manager in 2019. “Applying for a job with Liebherr Mining was the best career decision I’ve made so far!” he shares.
The job was a perfect fit for Oberhauser, blending the theoretical knowledge from his mechanical engineering studies with the practical experience he gained as a structural design engineer. The challenge of overseeing the testing, validation, and fine-tuning of Liebherr’s large mining excavators remains complex, multidisciplinary, and fulfilling for Oberhauser, both when he first started and now.
“Although my title has changed, my job still involves handling test engineering tasks about 40% of the time—which I love, as opportunities like this are rare,” Oberhauser explains. The role requires expertise in hydraulics, electricity, electronics, software, and mechanics, making teamwork and collaboration an essential part of his work.
The Importance of Teamwork
Oberhauser credits his team’s reliability and commitment as key to the department’s success. “Even during stressful times, I know I can count on my team to give their best,” he says. One particularly challenging period involved overseeing the validation of seven different machines simultaneously, with team members needing to travel to distant locations like Australia and Indonesia. This created technical, strategic, and logistical challenges, as well as diplomatic hurdles.
“Facing the customer, we represent the image and quality of Liebherr Mining products both inside and outside the factory, and that can be a lot of pressure,” Oberhauser acknowledges. “But because my team is motivated, trained, and committed, we were able to navigate this intense period. Knowing we can count on each other is priceless.”
