13.10.2010

Spierings back on the road

Mobile self-erecting tower crane manufacturer Spierings Kranen has issued an update and statement on its situation.

The information follows the news in June that Leo Spierings had filed a bankruptcy petition for some companies within his Spierings Group. A move he says that he took reluctantly but that given the economic environment he had no choice but to make.

The main operational companies Spierings Kranen BV and Spierings Verkoop BV were not part of the bankruptcy process. The service and parts departments remained fully operational throughout, while new crane production restarted in a small way in early July.

The restructuring programme has resulted in a smaller business with just 40 employees, although it has the same plant, tools and equipment and is based at
the same location.

Since the resumption of production in July the management team has been reinforced with the addition of Marcel de Jong, who is now responsible for the general management of Spierings Cranes, while Leo Spierings retains 100 percent ownership of the company.

Speaking of de Jong’s appointment Spierings said: “For many years, Marcel de Jong managed several production companies and will focus on the improvement of efficiency inside Spierings and to increase the return on investment of the company.”

The company says that it has retained all outstanding orders on the books as of June 15th and in August delivered the first new Spierings SK498-AT4 to “Hardeman Isolatie” of Kootwijkerbroek, Holland along with three fully refurbished cranes - two SK488-AT4s and an SK365-AT3. A new SK599-AT5 is due for delivery shortly to Bernard Hunter Crane Hire in Scotland.
Please register to see all images

Arend Hardeman (L) of Hardeman Isolatie takes delivery of two new Spierings cranes from Leo Spierings.

In the update statement Leo Spierings said: “The result of all this misery can be blamed on the economic crisis which we had all fallen into. At the start of 2008 the outlook for Spierings Cranes was brilliant and for 2010 there were 103 cranes planned for production, almost all of which were already backed up with signed orders.”

“As we moved through 2009 there were already indications of a clear turning point. In the first three months we built 26 new cranes, however during the year most methods of financing became almost impossible. At the same time a large number of orders from the United Kingdom were cancelled, due to the economic climate and the weakness of the Pound. This resulted in our order book going from sky high to ocean deep.”

“In order to adjust to this situation we reorganised the business and the workforce was reduced from 230 to 150 employees. Hoping for better times we introduced the revolutionary “City Boy” which was just ready in time for Bauma 2010 in Munich. There it was clear, that while there was widespread interest in the City Boy, orders for other models was very limited. This resulted again in another heavy reorganisation to keep Spierings healthy.”
Please register to see all images

Rik Vulsteke Industrial of Ichtegem, Belgium, takes delivery of a used four axle Spierings SK488-AT4.

The City Boy

As to when production of the City Boy crane will start, Spierings says that “it is not totally clear, but the planning is well organised for an open day and a demonstration of the prototype City Boy at the beginning of next year.” In the meantime he is looking to step up sales of new and used cranes as well as seeking to expand the company’s distribution coverage across the whole of Europe.

He ends by saying that he is confident that as the market slowly begins to recover, the efficiency benefits of his crane concept will provide a strong pick up for the business.