24.01.2013

Manitowoc and Shantui form mobile crane JV

Manitowoc Cranes and Shantui Investment Co are to form a new joint venture to build mobile cranes in China for both the domestic and export markets.

The Shantui Manitowoc Crane Company will begin operations following all relevant government approvals.
Please register to see all images

Glen Tellock, CEO of Manitowoc Cranes, shakes hands with Tan Xuguang, Chairman of Shandong Heavy Industry Group, as their companies form a new partnership

Within China, the cranes produced by the joint venture will be sold through Shantui’s domestic dealer network as well as Manitowoc’s own dealer network for the truck cranes it builds locally.

The joint venture and distribution network will also be the exclusive dealer for imported Grove All Terrain and Rough Terrain cranes in China as well as providing full Manitowoc Crane Care parts and service support. Manitowoc and Shantui will use their existing distribution networks for sales of cranes from the joint venture to the export market.

Manitowoc Cranes president Eric Etchart said: “Shantui is one of China’s leading manufacturers of earthmoving equipment and the company is looking to develop its presence in the country’s mobile crane market. Similarly Manitowoc has been developing its own presence in the Chinese truck crane market and we are now ready to move to the next stage of development with a stronger and larger partner."

“This new arrangement will not only create a new leading manufacturer of mobile cranes in China, but it will also boost sales of Grove AT and RT cranes in the country through Shantui’s excellent dealer network.”

To start with the joint venture will produce four truck cranes - the GT8, GT10, GT20 and GT25 - with capacities of 8, 10, 20 and 25 tonnes respectively with other models following in due course.

In the domestic market, plus export markets managed by Shantui the cranes will be branded Shantui Grove. For export markets managed by Manitowoc, it is planed that the cranes will be branded Grove Shantui. The cranes will be manufactured at Manitowoc’s current joint venture facility in Tai’an.

“Shantui is already very well-known in the Chinese market and we believe it is the best partner for us in developing the Grove line of mobile cranes in China,” added Etchart.

“We have seen the global landscape for cranes change significantly over the past decade and it’s important we respond to ensure we remain a global leader in the lifting business.”