French aerial work platform manufacturer Haulotte Group’s consolidated net sales for the first half of 2006 rose 27 percent to a record 238.8 million Euros ($U.S. 301.8 million), compared with 188.7 million Euros (U.S. $238.5 according to current currency conversion rates) for the same period in 2005. European business generated 90 percent of Haulotte’s revenues.

Haulotte Group confirmed its plans to expand production capacity in 2007 by rolling out operations at two new industrial sites, one in Spain’s Cantabria region focusing on product diversification, and the other in Romania’s Arges region to take advantage of Eastern Europe’s emerging markets in the field of platforms.

An increase of more than 50 percent in order-taking at the end of June and upbeat prospects in all markets prompted Haulotte Group to revise its business forecasts upwards, with an expected rise in revenues of 30 to 35 percent for 2006, rather than the 20 to 25 percent previously announced.

Based in France, Haulotte U.S. is based in Hanover, Md.