Wacker affiliate Kramer-Werke, a leading manufacturer of all-wheel loaders and telehandlers, is starting operations at its new plant in Pfullendorf, Germany, ahead of its original schedule.

“The new site has more than doubled the production capacity of the previous Kramer site in Uberlingen and puts Kramer in a prime position to deal with the increased demand for wheel loaders and telehandlers expected in the coming years,” said Dr. Georg Sick, CEO and president of Wacker Construction Equipment AG.

In November 2007, Wacker affiliate Weidemann GmbH started production of articulated wheel loaders at its new construction plant in Korbach, Germany.

“This expansion of capacity has been well-timed in anticipation of a rise in demand for compact equipment,” said Sick.

Wacker Neuson is planning to invest about €100 million (about U.S. $157 million) in this fiscal year, to fund the expansion of the sales and service network, furthering the rental business in Central and Eastern Europe, expansion of capacity and the global launch of compact equipment through its existing sales network.

The company expects to break the billion-euro mark for sales in fiscal 2008 and achieve EBITDA of at least 17 percent.