Manitowoc and Kobelco extend supply agreement to Europe

The Manitowoc Company of the US and Kobelco Cranes of Japan have extended their OEM supply agreement to cover Europe. The initial agreement, signed towards the end of 2003, was for Kobelco to manufacture and supply a range of lattice-boom crawler cranes in capacities up to 120 US tons (108 tonnes) on an OEM basis to Manitowoc for distribution only in the US (News Dec 2003, page 6).

The new agreement, starting in the third quarter 2005, is for Kobelco to supply crawlers under 110 tonnes for sale in Europe under the Manitowoc name through the existing Manitowoc Crane Group distribution network. Kobelco will continue to sell and support its crawler range through its European distribution system.

Glen Tellock, MCG president, said, “Manitowoc Crane Group is very excited about our expanding relationship with Kobelco Cranes. The fact is that both companies have a similar outlook on customers, products, and service. These similarities have allowed us together to find ways to better serve our customers.”

Another part of the initial OEM agreement is that MCG supplies four models from its Grove all-terrain crane range for distribution in Japan under the Kobelco brand. Takashi Ishida, Kobelco Cranes president, said, “Our customers are showing good response to the newly introduced models. I truly believe that Manitowoc is the best alliance partner in the industry.”

At the ConExpo show in Las Vegas last month Kobelco announced the sale of the first two Groves under the agreement.