08.07.2001

Manitowocs to be “Made in France”?

Manitowoc’s purchase of Potain was completed in June and the company is now investigating all ways in which synergies can be derived from the deal.

The two companies are still “getting to know each other” but a senior Manitowoc engineer and a senior member of the management team are now based in Ecully, Potain’s headquarters, and have been told to look at the possibility of building Manitowoc crawler cranes in France.

The advantages to the company of doing this are clear – transportation costs would be minimised and the effect of the high dollar would be removed. As one senior Manitowoc manager said: “It just has to be a sensible thing to look at”.

Also under consideration is the possibility of building Potain tower cranes in the US.