Manitowoc showed the crane industry that "The Revolution is Real," with an impressive showing at bauma 2019 in Munich.
Manitowoc enjoyed a successful bauma 2019 in Munich, Germany, in April. Thousands of visitors to the exhibition took the time to stop at the 3,300 m2 (35,500 ft2) Manitowoc booth to see the latest innovations, meet old friends and talk shop. There were 12 cranes on display — six brand new — from the Potain and Grove ranges, as well as a 242 m2 (2,600 ft2) technology pavilion, showcasing the latest customer-focused innovations.
The company's booth included a two-story building, complete with a celebration terrace, where dozens of customers and dealers were recognized over the week-long show for their ongoing support and investment.
On the first morning, over a hundred guests, including media, customers and dealers, gathered to hear Barry Pennypacker, president and CEO of Manitowoc, highlight just how far the company has progressed since its last appearance at the show three years ago.
“Since the last bauma, we have moved to a regional operating structure, invested heavily in new products and incorporated the 'Voice of the Customer' into our development cycle,” he said. “We’ve also transformed our manufacturing facilities to improve delivery times, product quality and reliability. I’m proud to say that The Revolution is Real at Manitowoc. Not only did we launch six new cranes at bauma, we have introduced 51 new models since the last time we were here. This is a testament to the relentless effort of our 5,000 employees and their dedication to The Manitowoc Way.”
Cranes on display
Dominating the Manitowoc booth was the new Potain MDT 809, the largest topless crane ever built by the company, with up to 40 t (44 USt) of maximum capacity available and a jib of up to 80 m (262 ft).
“The launch of the MDT 809 is one of the most significant Potain tower crane launches of recent times,” said Thibaut Le Besnerais, Manitowoc’s global product director for tower cranes. “We wanted to build a new model that satisfies demand for greater capacity and is also easy to transport, fast to assemble and provides industry-leading performance. The MDT 809 provides all that and more.”
Another new Potain on show was the MRH 125, the first hydraulic luffing jib model from the company’s European range.
From Grove, there were three new all-terrain cranes, including the impressive five-axle GMK5250XL-1 which has a mighty 78.5 m (258 ft) main boom along with a 250 t (300 USt) maximum capacity. Sitting alongside it were two new three-axle models: the GMK3060L and the GMK3050-2, with capacities of 60 t (65 USt) and 50 t (55 USt), respectively.
Andreas Cremer, global product director for all-terrain cranes at Manitowoc, said the new models underscore the company’s increased desire to give customers a competitive advantage.
“We believe in developing cranes our customers can use in a wider variety of projects for better return on investment,” he said. “The GMK5250XL-1 is a great example of that. It’s an update to our GMK5250L, but we’ve added 8.5 m (28 ft) of boom for more reach, so it can take on more jobs.”
From the Grove rough-terrain range, the company showed the 100 t (100 USt) capacity GRT8100 and a 51 t (55 USt) capacity GRT655L. The GRT8100 was built at the Manitowoc plant in Niella Tanaro, Italy, and plans are in motion to build the GRT655L there later in 2019. Both are also built at the Manitowoc factory in Shady Grove, Pennsylvania, U.S., again giving Manitowoc customers more choices when doing business with the company.
In terms of Potain self-erecting cranes, Manitowoc presented the new Hup M 28-22, the third crane in the groundbreaking Hup range and the first with a design based around mobility.
“The new Hup M 28-22 optimizes mobility, productivity and versatility for our customers,” Le Besnerais said. “This combination will increase return on investment for owners.”
Among the other eye-catching products on the Manitowoc stand was the Potain Cab-IN operator elevator for Potain tower cranes. It enables for fast and easy travel to and from the cab, while retaining regular mast ladder access.
Continued innovation
At its technology pavilion, Manitowoc called attention to its diverse portfolio of tools and services that help customers achieve more. One feature that captivated attendees was the range of Grove simulators for both rough-terrain and all-terrain cranes.
“Manitowoc aims to support the lifting industry with the most comprehensive lineup of service and support options on the market,” Pennypacker said. “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.”
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