The origins of a lasting partnership 

The company’s first encounter with Liebherr machinery came in the 1970s, just as the manufacturer began to establish its Canadian presence. Ludwig tested a demo unit in 1975, purchased one at auction in 1977, and bought his first new Liebherr machine, a 944, in 1978. He was drawn to the build quality and hydraulic performance. For a German immigrant, buying German equipment felt natural.

By the time Liebherr was fully established in Canada, the Walters were already long-term customers. That history created a unique bond between the contractor and the OEM.

For Koen, the partnership is personal. His uncle worked for Liebherr for 40 years and looked after the L. Walter & Sons account. His father led Liebherr-Canada as president for nearly four decades, and Mike has carried that torch for 17 years.

“We share the same values. A handshake means a lot,” he says.

A fleet built on reliability

The Walters’ fleet is dominated by Liebherr excavators, with loaders and dozers rounding out the lineup. The 90-ton R 992 Litronic was chosen for its digging power, stability, and operator comfort.

Matt says the decision to buy the Liebherr machine was straightforward. With heavy landfill and quarry projects on the horizon, they needed an excavator that could handle intense digging cycles with minimal downtime. “We bought the machine for the sheer digging force. And comfort obviously is huge,” he explains.

For Steve, it comes down to long-term reliability. “Nothing digs like a Liebherr,” he says.

A tradition of service

Behind the machines is a service model that has kept the relationship strong. Burlington, Ontario, home to Liebherr-Canada’s head office, parts warehouse, and service hub, is based near L. Walter & Sons’ primary operations. That proximity, combined with a dedicated account team, means downtime is measured in hours, not days. It’s a carry-over of the support the Walters first experienced in the early years, when technicians would show up on the job site at 2 a.m. to ensure equipment was ready for a 5 a.m. start.

The consistency of Liebherr’s service is a natural fit for a company that has built its own reputation on doing things the same way, year after year.

Old-school business, modern iron 

What sets L. Walter & Sons apart is commitment to a more traditional way of conducting business. Word of mouth and personal connections rule. Trust and collaboration are the focus. Jobs are secured face-to-face, often on reputation alone. In an industry where corporatization and marketing budgets dominate, the Walters prefer a handshake.

“We don’t really advertise. If we get slow, we just go out and find work, and a few weeks later, we get a job,” Steve says. This approach keeps the company nimble and ready to work.

That doesn’t mean they’re behind on the job site. GPS and GNSS systems are standard on their fleet, and Matt is quick to point out that their operational workflows are current. For them, technology adoption is about value. If technology helps move dirt faster or more precisely, it’s in. If it only adds complexity, it stays out.

Koen describes the approach as a balance of “old school and new world.” Spec’ing new equipment happens not through PDFs but through trips to the factory where the Walters can see machines being built and test them live. The result is iron tailored to their work, not purchased from a catalogue.