World performance

Top of the IC m20 table of the world's largest crane manufacturers last published in November, were Liebherr, Manitowoc, Terex and Tadano, all showing strong sales rises.

The all terrain crane market, estimated at around 2,700 new units worldwidelast year, has contributed largely to sales figures of the top four manufacturers. Liebherr estimates that it has 40% of this market and has forecast that its mobilecranedivision will havea turnover of €1.2 billion ($1.5 billion) in 2006. Around 1,100 new mobile cranes left the Ehingen factory in Germany during 2005 and the 2006 figure was about 1,400 units. For Liebherr, Spain and the US have been the top performing regions for mobile cranes, a sentiment echoed by Manitowoc and Terex with their Grove and Demag lines.

Almost unprecedented demand for cranes from all markets is the clear reason behind the increases in sales over the year before. The more cautious observer may note that the latest financial results include the large order backlog figures that the manufacturers have on their books. As crane makers struggle to source enough components and maximise their production capacity, it couldbe that thebacklog situation will continue for a year or longer.