29.03.2004

JLG confirms Manlift purchase

JLG has acquired the Delta Manlift business and the Toucan aerial platform range from the Manitowoc Group for an undisclosed sum. The deal, which was announced just prior to the opening of the Bauma trade fair in Munich, is subject to completion and approval by the Delta Manlift works council, but this is expected to be a routine formality.

In addition to the Toucan purchase, JLG has aquired the intellectual rights to the Liftlux scissor lift range and the Grove boom lift ranges. Manitowoc will remain responsible for all after market support and product liability for the Liftlux and Grove ranges.

JLG said that it plans to reintroduce the Liftlux product line, possibly with some JLG touches, sometime in the future. The reintroduction of the Grove boom lift products looks less certain given its near total overlap with the JLG product line. The purchase of the Grove designs though will place them out of reach of companies such as Skyjack, which is keen to get back into the boom market.

Bill Lasky, told Vertikal.Net that the Toucan range will provide some good additional industrial market diversity for the company's aerial lift business, while providing a greater presence and more coverage of the French market. Delta Manlift managers seemed genuinely upbeat and positive with the announcement, which ends years of uncertainty under the Grove and Manitowoc umbrellas.