Manitex International, provider of boom truck cranes, rough terrain forklifts, container-handling equipment and special mission-oriented vehicles, said this week that it expects to report a consolidated order backlog of $83.7 million as of Dec. 31, 2011, an increase of 33 percent from Sept. 30. It also represents a 110-percent year-over-year jump and is an all-time high for the company.

“Demand for Manitex equipment, particularly our higher tonnage cranes, is being driven by continued activity in the North American energy sector,” said Paul Gibson, general manager of Manitex Inc. “Our introduction of a new cab and crane operating system on the new higher tonnage machines have won immediate acceptance from our customers and provided a strong sales increase. In response to this demand we have expanded our internal North American sales force to sustain our business momentum as we head through 2012 and towards 2013.”

“Heightened activity in energy and associated construction projects, as well as in domestic and international mining, and rail activity has results in strong heavy-duty trailer demand and a consequent significant backlog increase at Load King throughout 2011, which has particularly strengthened during the final quarter of this year,” said Ron Clark, general manager of Manitex Load King.

Manitex is based in Bridgeview, Ill.