17.01.2003

Manitowoc crawlers in Europe

The Manitowoc Crane Group has appointed Willem Hilderink to the position of vice president sales with responsibility for crawler crane sales in all of the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Hilderink continues with his responsibilities for sales of Grove mobile cranes in the Benelux. Paul Burali-Forti is marketing manager for crawler cranes EMEA.

At the same time a new Model 555 (136 tonne) has been erected at Grove’s Wilhelmshaven plant for training, and customer demonstrations. The 555 features the new CANBUS control system and complements the 999 (250 t) which is currently being assessed by German rental specialist Scholpp. These units illustrate Manitowoc’s heavy lift asset management approach to making modular crane components. For example, boom sections from the 555 boom can be used as the luffing jib for the 999 and both models accommodate the same fixed jib attachment.

With two Manitowocs in Germany, customers have a better chance to experience the advantages of Manitowoc’s most recent technology. Machines from the EPIC line of fully hydraulic crawlers feature benefits such as 6 piston pumps operating on independent hydraulic circuits, FACT (fast alignment connection technology) for booms, shaft drive crawler tracks, and lift enhancing attachments such as luffing jibs and Max-Er. Self erect packages and 3 metre maximum transport width on most models make mobilization easier.

Other new product developments from Manitowoc include the upcoming Model 18000 liftcrane aimed at the 600 tonne segment of the market. The 18000 bridges the capacities of the 2250 (300 tonne), Max-Er 2000 (450 tonne) and 21000 (750 tonne) and shares boom, jib and Max-Er components with these models. With luffing jib ratings of 240 tonne, boom/jib combinations up to 164 metres, and two crawler design for pick & carry operations, the 18000 is designed for both rental companies and contractors for lifting, windmill erection and fabyard applications.

Another recent introduction is the Model 1015 foundation crane with 100 tonne rating and 30 tonne line pull and 447 kW engine. The 1015 is designed for heavy duty work like rotary, diaphragm wall grab, trench cutter and casing oscillator work and gives Manitowoc a strong entry into the foundation and duty cycle market.

Crawler crane training has already begun for a sales and service force integrating the best personnel from Manitowoc, Potain and Grove. Service and parts support is being driven by Manitowoc’s CraneCare program. Potain’s distribution facility in Decines, France is already stocking Manitowoc crawler crane parts and crawler service training is being conducted at multiple locations.