Manitowoc Toasts Korean Distributor; Shows New Technology at Bauma
Manitowoc held a customer recognition ceremony for Shinwoo Development Co. at Bauma 2019 in Munich, Germany. Barry Pennypacker, president and CEO of Manitowoc Cranes, presented the South Korean company with a celebratory plaque for the occasion, and expressed gratitude to Shinwoo Development Co. president I.H. Kim for the company’s contribution to the success of Potain tower cranes in the region.
“Shinwoo Development Co. is one of our most valuable partners and we thank the company for its commitment to Potain tower cranes,” Pennypacker said. “Together here at bauma 2019, we toast to good health and good business in the future.”
Manitowoc also released two apps that help crane owners on the job site. The first is the “Manitowoc Diagnostic Code App” that helps users diagnose technical issues with their cranes. In the past, when cranes had technical issues, Manitowoc customers had no way to interpret the diagnostic codes that would appear on the main display of the crane’s cab. Specialized technicians would have to be called to the job site with proprietary equipment, and any time spent waiting affected the project schedule.
Now, with this freely available smartphone app that instantly tells users what codes mean, crane owners can begin working on solutions immediately, boosting their uptime. In addition to diagnostic codes for Grove and Manitowoc branded cranes that run on Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS) and GMK cranes with ECOS systems, the app provides diagnostic codes for several National Crane NBT models, and for select Rated Capacity Limiter Systems on certain Grove and National Crane models.
The second app is a free “Manitowoc Boom Length Selector App” that helps crane operators and owners to quickly and easily determine the overall boom and jib length combination required for a lift. Manitowoc is the first manufacturer in the crane industry to release a smartphone app of this kind. The Manitowoc Boom Length Selector App allows users to select specific boom and jib length combinations, building heights, boom radii and other crane parameters using an easy sliding scale to determine the basic crane setup for a specific lift. Both apps are available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store (iOS and Android).
Additionally, Manitowoc has been increasing its telematics capabilities for Potain users. With the Crane Star Diag service, tower crane customers can now access vital crane data from laptops or smartphones. This includes information relating to utilization, productivity, and fleet/crane uptime. Furthermore, crane technicians can access and upload maintenance data on cranes, and service managers can conduct real-time remote diagnostics to optimize technicians’ work times and crane uptimes.
Manitowoc also showed off its new Grove new CCS simulator. The crane operator training simulator features the same CCS operating controls and displays used on newer crane models. In particular, it features a 40-tom rough-terrain crane equipped with 102-foot power boom and offsettable swingaway. Six interactive job site scenarios displayed on multiple screens and a CCO practical exam course teach the operator fundamental load control skills, enabling them to gain proficiency in using CCS in a safe and controlled environment.
Grove also featured a simulator that is used for all-terrain crane training by the company’s GMK Training Department. This simulator also is equipped with CCS functionality, and users of the simulator operate a virtual GMK5250, while technicians can also practice diagnostics on the virtual crane. The simulator is on hand at bauma to highlight Manitowoc’s training progression program — which trains people from novice to master technician — and also includes testing and certification for master technicians.
Manitowoc’s long-running EnCORE program was showcased at Bauma. This service remanufactures and refurbishes cranes for customers, many of which are tied to a particular crane or feature that specifically helps their business, or for some, it’s simply a way to obtain a Manitowoc crane at a lower price. Manitowoc’s EnCORE program provides complete project support from consultation and refurbishment through to transportation and after-sales care.
Two additional advantages of EnCORE’s refurbishment program include a 12-month warranty on the crane and its parts, plus the provision of proper technical documentation. Other refurbishment options are not able to offer the build quality, warranties or documentation that EnCORE provides. On top of that, EnCORE has some of the world’s most experienced engineers dedicated to this work.
Manitowoc’s booth also included displays and interactive exhibits related to a range of features and services, such as its Manitowoc Crane Care customer support program and Manitowoc Finance financing arm. Manitowoc aims to provide excellent total cost of ownership for customers, and through programs such as Crane Care and Lift Solutions, the company is decreasing downtime on the job site and assisting crane operators with unique lifting plans that many modern-day applications require.
To support longevity, Crane Care is showcasing specialist care products, a maintenance app, and also its refurbishment program for high-value components to increase the life of cranes and maximize customers’ returns on investments.
“Manitowoc aims to support the lifting industry with the most comprehensive lineup of service and support options on the market,” said Pennypacker. “From building digital tools to expanding our training and support offerings, we want to help our customers get the most return on investment from their cranes. This is The Manitowoc Way in action.”
