Liebherr has received the Red Dot Award Best of the Best 2026 for the two mobile excavators A 909 Compact and A 911 Compact. The award recognizes not only product design, but also the control concept and ergonomics of the two compact models. For the construction machinery industry, the prize raises the question of what role aesthetics and user guidance will play in competition in the future – and whether design investments pay off in shorter downtimes and higher machine availability.
The Red Dot Award is considered one of the most prestigious design competitions worldwide. The "Best of the Best" category is only awarded to outstanding products that excel in all evaluation criteria. According to the jury, the two Liebherr models A 909 and A 911 Compact scored particularly well with the ROPS cabin featuring optimized visibility geometry, intuitive joystick control, and reduced maintenance requirements through modular design. Both machines are designed for urban applications with tight spatial constraints and feature a compact rear end and adjustable track width.
Design is traditionally viewed as a secondary concern in the construction machinery business – digging depth, lifting capacity, and fuel consumption dominate purchasing decisions. However, manufacturers like Volvo CE, who already received a Red Dot Award in 2024 for their electric design, demonstrate that ergonomics and operating comfort reduce training time, lower error rates, and increase acceptance among machine operators. This directly impacts productivity. Fleet managers report that well-designed cabins and clear operating elements can reduce downtime caused by misoperation by up to 15 percent.
The integration of telematics and digital assistance systems is also facilitated by well-thought-out operating concepts. When display layouts, menu navigation, and physical controls are coordinated with one another, acceptance of digital tools increases – an advantage in the competition for skilled workers who increasingly expect intuitive technology. Manufacturers that neglect design and ergonomics risk falling behind in recruiting new talent.
For Liebherr, the award is a signal to the market: the manufacturer positions itself not only through technical performance data, but also through user-friendliness and overall concept. The two compact models target construction sites with high demands for maneuverability and operating comfort – typical applications are utility line installation, urban earthmoving, and horticulture. In these segments, Liebherr competes with providers such as Kubota, Takeuchi, and Wacker Neuson, which also focus on compact designs and well-designed cabins.
Whether design awards measurably increase sales is unclear. However, the trend is clear: ergonomics, visibility, and intuitive operation are increasingly becoming hard purchase criteria – not only for new machines, but also when retrofitting existing fleets. Manufacturers that ignore this development risk being overtaken by more agile competitors.
