SHADY GROVE, Pa. - Grove Worldwide announced a long-term strategy to focus its Manlift aerial work platform business on independent local and regional rental companies.

"With all the speculation regarding Grove and the future of our aerial lift business segment, it's important to speak clearly and frankly," Grove chairman and CEO Jeffry Bust said in a statement. "The traditional strength of Grove's distributor and customer base has been negatively impacted by our efforts to pursue large national account business and sales volume."

Ernie Palango, vice president, industrial products, added: "Now and in the future, we will more closely focus our selling, financing and product support resources to best serve our distributors and small to medium-size independent customers."

Grove's aerial lift line includes large articulating models (A60, A80, A125) and large telescopic models (T60, T65J, T80, T86J).