Las Vegas show boasts big buys worldwide

The air was thick with excitement as buyers popped bottles of champagne while celebrating their fleet expansions. With fast paced purchases and exciting reveals, Manitowoc Cranes was bustling with business.

Only minutes after the new Grove TMS9000-2 truck crane was unveiled at ConExpo 2017 in Las Vegas, NV, one of Manitowoc Cranes’ most long-standing customers celebrated a purchase of the breakthrough model. Davis Motor Crane Service joined Manitowoc CEO Barry Pennypacker for a toast to commemorate the occasion. The 115 USt TMS9000-2 truck crane features a number of improvements over previous models that will enable owners to increase their utilization and lifting capabilities. It’s lighter, which increases roadability and helps customers meet North American gross vehicle weight requirements. It has a longer boom, which increases reach and enables lifters to complete a wider variety of applications. And the crane is stronger, with best-in-class load charts for all counterweight configurations.

W.O. Grubb purchased the first three Grove GMK5150L all-terrains cranes in North America. The Richmond, Virginia-based company already has an impressive Grove lineup in its fleet, and this purchase will further enhance its lifting capabilities. W.O. Grubb has one of the largest fleets in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Bigge Crane & Rigging also joined in celebration after their purchase of a new Potain MDT 219 tower crane. Manitowoc joined Bigge on stage for a champagne toast to commemorate not only the recent purchase, but the long-standing relationship between the two companies.

The 11 USt Potain MDT 219’s faster setup and configuration, enhanced operator controls and simplified maintenance and monitoring functions over previous generation tower cranes have already spurred many companies in Europe, and more recently, in both North and Latin America to add the crane to their fleets, increasing their efficiency and return on investment in the process.

Sticking with the theme of velocity, it only took two days after the new Grove GRT655L rough-terrain crane was unveiled at the show for one of Manitowoc Cranes’ long-standing customers to celebrate the purchase of the ground-breaking model. Groves Equipment Rental (GER) was joined by key members of Manitowoc’s staff for a champagne toast to commemorate the occasion. Also recognized during the ceremony was H&E Equipment Services, the Baton Rouge, LA-based equipment company that provided extensive voice-of-the-customer research during the design process of the GRT655L. The 55 USt GRT655L, which was on display at the Manitowoc booth with GER’s logo painted on its side, is the long-boom version of the new GRT655. The GRT655L boasts a 141.2 foot five-section, greaseless boom, giving it a reach advantage of 27.3 feet over the closest competing model. This longer boom gives it a maximum working radius of 120 feet and a 3 percent greater chart capacity than competing cranes at that radius.

Netherlands-based Montarent purchased four new Potain Igo 21 units, WATM Crane Sales & Services added a new Grove all-terrain crane to its fleet by purchasing a new GMK745 and Cropac Equipment is the proud owner of a new Potain Igo T 85 A tower crane. R.H. Marlin Crane Rental has taken delivery of a new Grove GMK5250L all-terrain crane while Custom Truck & Equipment, a division of Utility 1 Source, has finalized a deal to add 75 National Crane boom trucks to its fleet.

California’s Coastline Equipment Crane Division also headed home with a new Shuttlelift in tow after purchasing a new CD5520 and Multi-Crane International is leaving with four new Potain tower cranes in its fleet. The Netherlands-based company purchased two Potain MDT 319s and two MDT 389s at the trade show.

In addition, North American Crane & Rigging purchased two new Potain MDT 389 tower cranes from Shawmut Equipment—based in Manchester, Connecticut—and celebrated with Manitowoc Cranes during a ceremony at the Manitowoc booth, which included a champagne toast between the three companies. To commemorate the celebration, Davis Motor Crane Service, Bigge Crane & Rigging and Groves Equipment Rental were also presented with celebratory plaques and a customized, hand-painted hard hat, one of only a dozen ever made.

Bronson Crane was the first North American equipment distributor to purchase Potain’s new Hup 40-30 self-erecting tower crane. An additional plaque was also made in honor of Bronson’s heavy investment in the Potain brand—from 2014 to 2016, the company purchased more cranes than any other Potain distributor in the U.S.

Manitowoc Cranes also held a special ceremony to announce the expansion plans of Forteza Equipo, Puerto Rico’s premier Potain dealer since 2005. The Bayamon, Puerto Rico-based company will open a new Potain GMA tower crane dealership—dubbed Forteza Crane Rental—that will serve the state of Florida, U.S. Also announced was Forteza’s purchase of two new Potain Igo T 130 self-erecting tower cranes. Manitowoc hosted Forteza at its ConExpo booth to commemorate both company milestones with a champagne toast.