Manitowoc Cranes

Manitowoc Cranes is the crane-equipment division of The Manitowoc Company, Inc., a United States industrial manufacturer whose corporate history began in shipbuilding and heavy fabrication. The division traces its crane activity to the mid-1920s, when Manitowoc Shipbuilding sought to diversify after the First World War. Company leaders Charles West and Elias Gunnell became involved with the financially troubled Moore Speedcrane Company. Manitowoc initially helped manufacture the Speedcrane and received rights to its patents; by 1928 it was producing and selling Speedcranes through its own organization. The early Speedcrane was a steam-powered, 15-ton machine mounted on wheels. Customer requirements led to gasoline power and the adoption of a crawler base, creating a more capable machine for construction and industrial work. Crawler cranes became the foundation of the Manitowoc crane business, while later development and acquisitions broadened the portfolio into mobile hydraulic cranes, boom trucks and tower cranes. The business expanded substantially through acquisitions. Manitowoc acquired Potain, the French tower-crane manufacturer, in 2001. It acquired Grove Worldwide and National Crane in 2002, adding mobile hydraulic and boom-truck capabilities. Grove's acquisition was announced at CONEXPO in Las Vegas and was reported at a purchase price of $271 million. The company also acquired Shirke, an Indian Potain manufacturer and distributor, in 2007. Earlier internal and external additions included the West-Manitowoc crawler-crane operation, which was merged into Manitowoc Cranes in 1998, and the Manitowoc Boom Truck activities assembled from Manitex, USTC and Pioneer. The boom-truck business was later sold in 2003. Manitowoc Cranes operates a multi-brand portfolio. Manitowoc produces lattice-boom crawler cranes for heavy construction and industrial lifting. Grove supplies mobile hydraulic equipment, including rough-terrain, truck-mounted and all-terrain cranes, as well as industrial and military-oriented machines. National Crane manufactures telescoping boom trucks. Shuttlelift provides compact Carrydeck cranes. Potain supplies self-erecting and top-slewing tower cranes for building construction and infrastructure projects. The division also supports customers through Manitowoc Crane Care, a service organization established in 2000. Its activities include parts, field service, technical assistance, publications, training and the EnCORE rebuild and repair program. Manitowoc Finance provides customer financing programs. In the United States, the distribution and service footprint was expanded in 2021 through the acquisition of substantially all assets of Aspen Equipment Company and the crane business of H&E Equipment Services. These businesses became associated with Aspen Equipment and MGX Equipment Services. The Manitowoc Crane and Manitowoc Foodservice businesses were separated into independent companies in March 2016. Following the separation, Manitowoc Cranes remained part of The Manitowoc Company, which continued to focus on lifting equipment. Manufacturing and support activities have been distributed across facilities in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, India, China and Portugal, although individual sites and product assignments have changed over time. The brand's present proposition centers on engineered lifting solutions, global distribution, aftermarket support and a broad range of capacity classes rather than on a single crane category.

Manitowoc Cranes developed from the diversification efforts of The Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company after the First World War. Charles West and Elias Gunnell, who led the shipbuilding business, saw crane manufacturing as a way to use the company's machine shops and reduce reliance on shipbuilding. Their opportunity came through the Moore Speedcrane Company of Fort Wayne, Indiana, which was experiencing financial difficulty. In 1925, Manitowoc helped Moore produce cranes and accepted the company's patents as security for its assistance. The original Speedcrane was a steam-powered, 15-ton crane mounted on four wheels. Manitowoc built a small initial run and then modified the design in response to customers. Gasoline power replaced steam, and a crawler undercarriage replaced the wheels, improving traction on construction sites. When Moore could not repay its obligations by 1928, Manitowoc began manufacturing and selling Speedcranes using its own sales organization. Crawler cranes remained central to the company's identity and later became the basis for the Manitowoc-branded lattice-boom product line. The company subsequently expanded both organically and through acquisitions. West-Manitowoc was established in 1994 to re-enter smaller lattice-boom crawler cranes, particularly machines below approximately 130 tons. The division gained a strong position in the U.S. 100-ton crawler-crane class and was merged into Manitowoc Cranes in 1998. Manitowoc also acquired Femco Machine Company in 1994 for crane-parts manufacturing. Femco and Manitowoc Re-manufacturing were combined into an aftermarket group, although Femco was sold to private investors in 2003. A major transformation occurred in the early 2000s. Potain, founded in France by Faustin Potain, joined Manitowoc in 2001. Grove Worldwide and National Crane were acquired in 2002. Grove broadened the portfolio into rough-terrain, truck-mounted and all-terrain hydraulic cranes, while National added telescoping boom trucks. In 2003, production of National Crane products was moved to Grove's Shady Grove, Pennsylvania facility. Manitowoc later acquired Shirke in India in 2007, extending Potain's regional manufacturing and distribution capabilities. The principal brands developed distinct market roles. Manitowoc continued producing lattice-boom crawler cranes, including the Model 4100W introduced in 1969 and the self-erecting all-hydraulic Model M-250 introduced in 1992. Grove's historical roots date to 1947, when Dwight L. Grove, John L. Grove and Wayne A. Nicarry founded a company making rubber-tire farm wagons in Pennsylvania. Grove later moved into yard cranes and commercial crane production. Its product-development milestones included a slewing rough-terrain crane in 1968, a trapezoidal boom in 1970 and ISO 9001 certification in 1994. Potain, founded in La Clayette, France, in 1928, began assembling cranes in 1933 and became Manitowoc's tower-crane brand. Shuttlelift was associated with compact Carrydeck cranes, while National Crane focused on boom trucks. Customer support became an important part of the business. Manitowoc Crane Care was formed in 2000 and provided parts, service, technical documentation, training and the EnCORE refurbishment program. The division also offered financing through Manitowoc Finance. Manufacturing and assembly sites were established or maintained in several countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Italy, India, China and Portugal. Facilities and product assignments changed as the company consolidated operations; for example, a Portuguese site at Fânzeres closed in 2017 and activity was consolidated into Baltar. In March 2016, The Manitowoc Company separated its crane and foodservice operations into stand-alone companies. Manitowoc Cranes continued as the lifting-equipment business, with corporate headquarters in Milwaukee and regional operations serving the Americas, Europe and Africa, and the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. In 2021, the company expanded its U.S. distribution and service capabilities by acquiring substantially all assets of Aspen Equipment Company and the crane business of H&E Equipment Services. The resulting network complemented the group's manufacturing brands with dealer, rental, service and work-truck-upfitting capabilities.

1. 2021U.S. distribution acquisitions completed

   Manitowoc acquired substantially all assets of Aspen Equipment Company and the H&E crane business.

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2. 2016Crane and foodservice operations separate

   The two businesses became stand-alone companies.

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3. 2007Shirke is acquired

   Manitowoc acquired its Indian Potain manufacturing and distribution partner.

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4. 2002Grove and National Crane join Manitowoc

   The acquisitions expanded Manitowoc's mobile hydraulic and boom-truck businesses.

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5. 2001Potain joins Manitowoc

   The acquisition added a major French tower-crane brand to Manitowoc's portfolio.

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6. 2000Manitowoc Crane Care is established

   The customer-support organization began providing parts, service, training, technical support and rebuild services.

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7. 1998West-Manitowoc merges into Manitowoc Cranes

   The smaller crawler-crane division was integrated into the main Manitowoc Cranes operation.

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8. 1969Manitowoc introduces the Model 4100W

   The Model 4100W became a flagship Manitowoc lattice-boom crawler crane.

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9. 1947Grove Manufacturing is founded

   Dwight L. Grove, John L. Grove and Wayne A. Nicarry founded the company that later became the Grove crane brand.

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10. 1928Manitowoc begins selling Speedcranes independently

    After Moore could not repay its obligations, Manitowoc began manufacturing and selling Speedcranes through its own sales organization.

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11. 1925Manitowoc enters crane manufacturing

    Manitowoc became involved with the Moore Speedcrane business and began producing cranes using rights obtained through the relationship.

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A multi-brand global lifting-equipment supplier serving construction, infrastructure, industrial, energy, rental and government customers, with particular strength in crawler, mobile hydraulic and tower cranes.

• Manitowoc lattice-boom crawler cranesCrawler cranes1925

  Manitowoc's core crawler-crane range uses lattice booms and crawler undercarriages for heavy construction, infrastructure, industrial and energy applications. The line includes multiple capacity classes and can be configured with capacity-enhancing attachments. Its historical lineage reaches back to the Speedcrane program of the 1920s and includes notable models such as the Model 4100W and Model M-250.

• Grove mobile cranesMobile hydraulic cranes2002

  Grove covers rough-terrain, truck-mounted and all-terrain cranes, together with industrial cranes and military-oriented custom machines. The brand has historically offered more than 40 models across a broad lifting-capacity range. Grove's engineering history includes early slewing rough-terrain designs and trapezoidal-boom development.

• National Crane boom trucksBoom trucks2002

  National Crane produces truck-mounted cranes with telescoping booms for utility work, municipal operations, construction, infrastructure maintenance and material handling. The brand originated in Nebraska in 1947, initially making roadside equipment, and became part of Manitowoc through the 2002 acquisition of National Crane.

• Potain tower cranesTower cranes2001

  Potain is Manitowoc's tower-crane brand. Its portfolio includes self-erecting cranes for smaller and more mobile construction applications and top-slewing cranes for larger building and infrastructure projects. Potain was founded in France in 1928 and became part of Manitowoc in 2001.

• Shuttlelift Carrydeck cranesCompact industrial cranes

  Shuttlelift Carrydeck cranes are compact mobile cranes designed for maneuverability in industrial plants, fabrication facilities, maintenance environments and restricted construction sites. They form part of Manitowoc's smaller-capacity mobile-crane offering alongside Grove products.

• Manitowoc Crane Care and EnCOREAftermarket services2000

  Manitowoc Crane Care supports equipment owners with replacement parts, technical assistance, service, documentation and training. EnCORE provides rebuild and repair work intended to return worn or damaged cranes to productive service, extending equipment life beyond the original sale.

• 2021Expand U.S. distribution and service capabilitiesM&A

  Manitowoc sought to strengthen direct and dealer-supported access to crane customers and aftermarket services in the United States.

  What changed. The company completed acquisitions involving substantially all assets of Aspen Equipment Company and the crane business of H&E Equipment Services.

  Aftermath. The transactions supported the Aspen Equipment and MGX Equipment Services distribution and service businesses.

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• 2016Separate crane and foodservice businessesStrategy

  The Manitowoc Company operated crane and foodservice activities with different markets, products and operating requirements.

  What changed. The company separated the Manitowoc Crane and Manitowoc Foodservice businesses into stand-alone companies.

  Aftermath. Manitowoc Cranes continued as the lifting-equipment business, while the foodservice operation became a separate public company.

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• 2002Acquire Grove Worldwide and National CraneM&A

  Manitowoc aimed to broaden its product range into mobile hydraulic cranes and boom trucks.

  What changed. Manitowoc acquired Grove Worldwide and National Crane. The reported purchase price for Grove was $271 million.

  Aftermath. Grove and National Crane became important parts of the company's mobile and truck-mounted crane portfolio.

  Reported purchase price for Grove Worldwide. $271 million (2002 acquisition)

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• 2001Acquire PotainM&A

  Manitowoc sought to expand beyond crawler and mobile cranes into the global tower-crane market.

  What changed. The company acquired Potain, a French manufacturer of self-erecting and top-slewing tower cranes.

  Aftermath. Potain became a principal Manitowoc brand and strengthened the group's international construction-equipment portfolio.

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• 2021Manitowoc expands U.S. distribution and service operations

  Manitowoc completed transactions involving substantially all assets of Aspen Equipment Company and the crane business of H&E Equipment Services, supporting its U.S. distribution and service network.

  M&A
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• 2016Crane and foodservice businesses separate

  The Manitowoc Company separated its crane and foodservice activities into two stand-alone public companies, leaving Manitowoc Cranes within the continuing Manitowoc lifting-equipment business.

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• 2007Manitowoc acquires Shirke

  Manitowoc acquired Shirke, an India-based Potain manufacturer and distributor, strengthening its tower-crane manufacturing and distribution presence in India.

  M&A
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• 2003Manitowoc sells its boom-truck business

  The Manitowoc Boom Truck business, assembled from Manitex, USTC and Pioneer operations, was sold to Quantum Heavy Equipment.

  M&A
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• 2002Manitowoc acquires Grove Worldwide and National Crane

  Manitowoc acquired Grove Worldwide and National Crane, adding mobile hydraulic cranes and telescoping boom trucks to its established crawler-crane business.

  M&A
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• 2001Manitowoc acquires Potain

  The Manitowoc Company acquired Potain, a French manufacturer of self-erecting and top-slewing tower cranes, substantially expanding its international tower-crane portfolio.

  M&A
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1. Manitowoc Cranes