Manitowoc presented cranes from its Grove and Potain brands at bauma 2010, including a number of new models. The company also displayed new lifting technologies.
Philippe Cohet, executive vice president of Manitowoc in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, said before the show began that Manitowoc will focus on two central messages important to customers at this year’s show.
“At Bauma 2010, we are updating customers on changes we are making during the difficult market conditions; and we are highlighting how our new cranes will help save them money,” said Cohet. “The past 18 months have been extremely difficult for all crane manufacturers, but at Manitowoc, we’ve managed our business relatively well. We continue to be innovative, and our latest product launches offer real customer benefits that help end users operate their cranes more efficiently.”
The largest cranes at the Manitowoc stand were two new Grove six-axle all-terrain cranes. The GMK6300L has a 300-ton capacity and a main boom of 80 meters. The GMK6400 has a 400-ton capacity and is the strongest six-axle all-terrain crane on the market, the company says.
The Igo T 130 from Potain is another major crane launch. With an 8-ton capacity, it is the largest self-erecting crane in the world, the company said. The crane also has a 50-meter jib and can transport in a convoy of just three vehicles, minimizing travel costs.
In addition, the HPL Technology winch and the Ultra View cab are two introductions for lifting technology. The HPL Technology winch is a new addition for Potain tower cranes and claims to be the first in the industry to break the 200 meter/min barrier. It is designed to bring productivity benefits and for cranes with a 12-ton capacity, one of the most popular capacity classes.
The Ultra View cab is new for Potain tower cranes and offers space and comfort for the operator. It is standard across the Potain range for better fleet management and has an improved paint process for longer life.
Cohet said the new products at Bauma are engineered to offer real on-site benefits, saving customers time and money.
“Innovation means nothing without tangible benefits for the end user,” he said. “Using our Voice of the Customer process, we have produced cranes that will offer real cost advantages on the jobsite. We are also changing as a company by targeting market sectors that are starting to come back and by using our global geographic reach to adjust our resources as necessary. Our ability to respond to the market allows us to emerge stronger from the current downturn and provide even better service to our customers to help them grow their business.”
Outside of cranes and technology, Manitowoc is strengthening its funding capability through an expanded Manitowoc Finance operation in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The company is now partnering with two major finance houses in the region, BNP Paribas Lease Group and De Lage Landen Financial Services.
The Manitowoc Company provides lifting equipment for the global construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes, tower cranes, mobile telescopic cranes and boom trucks.
