By analyst By Cecilia Jamasmie Heavy equipment maker Liebherr’s goal of becoming one of the top suppliers for the mining industry in North and South America seems to be a step closer, as the Switzerland-based company announced a $45 million-investment to grow its facilities in Virginia, US.. The family-owned machinery maker, which has been manufacturing and operating in Newport News for over 48 years, said it’s planning to start construction in July on an additional 251,000 square feet on 28 acres. Liebherr has continually grown its operations in the US since it first landed in the market, in 1970.