National Crane launches Modification Centre

Manitowoc has opened its National Crane Modification Centre, specializing in the modification of boom trucks, with the aim of streamlining the process and producing faster turnaround times for customers.

The opening of the new centre in Shady Grove, PA follows 18 months of planning an a multi-billion-dollar investment to create a state-of-the-art facility fitted out with truck modification bays, inspection bays, hydraulic installation bays, an overhead crane, a jib crane, a jib welder, Huck hydraulic fastener tools and a Flowtron air cleaning system, among others.

The modification centre will take on a wide variety of projects, but at its core will be wheelbase changes, lift axle installation, racks and cribbing, hook block stowage, custom trailer hitches, trailer brake controls, custom vehicle programming and specialty beds.

The modification centre is staffed by a team of application engineers, who will document every job with the aim of creating a database of modification solutions.

“The modification centre really takes the guesswork out of modifying boom trucks,” said Brian Peretin, vice president of National Crane. “We can get involved so much earlier in the process, which helps us provide expertise and options for customers. They can bring us a goal or a challenge, and our engineers can come up with solutions long before the machines are purchased or the wrenches start to turn.”