Mining equipment company on Peninsula investing $72M for expansion

A truck produced by Liebherr Mining Equipment Co. in Newport News being used in Arizona (Getty Images)

HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Liebherr Mining Equipment is investing more than $72 million to expand its operations in Hampton and Newport News.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the expansion on Tuesday, saying it will create 175 new jobs that will help increase the production of the trucks used in the open-cast mining industry. The company’s known for its industry-leading truck payload capacity of up to roughly 400 tons.

“We thank Liebherr, an international leader in mining equipment manufacturing, for its commitment to the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Youngkin said. “Liebherr has recognized that Virginia is strategically located to serve as its global production headquarters for mining trucks and service customers within the United States and across the world. We celebrate the community partnership between Liebherr, the City of Newport News, and the City of Hampton that made this expansion possible.”

Liebherr has had its North American headquarters at the Copeland Industrial Park, located in both Hampton and Newport News, since 1970.

“Hampton is thankful for its 50-plus-year collaborative relationship with Liebherr Mining Equipment and the City of Newport News,” said Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck. “We are excited that Liebherr has made the strategic decision to invest more than $72 million and create 175 new jobs to manufacture mining equipment in our cities. We look forward to Liebherr’s continued strong presence in our communities and the Hampton Roads region for many years.”

“We are grateful for Liebherr’s decision to expand in Newport News and Hampton,” added Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones. “The company’s spirit of innovation, its $72 million investment in advanced technologies, and the collaborative partnership of the two cities to assist Liebherr in increasing its capacity will positively impact our region’s workforce and economy for years to come.”

Youngkin approved a $1.5 million grant from Virginia’s Opportunity Fund to help secure the project.