MEC using innovation to beat downturn

US manufacturer MEC Aerial Work Platforms is grasping the challenges set by an economic downturn with both hands. With its sales revenues up 5% in the first three quarters than last year, the company is developing new products and pursuing an aggressive marketing campaign.

David White, president of MEC said, "At a time when companies are pulling back we are investing heavily in developing new products, reaching out to new customers and making some significant strategic changes for 2009.

"One of those changes includes concentrating our resources on developing and manufacturing unique specialised lift equipment that we believe will help our customers be more competitive in the equipment rental market."

Jim Tolle president of the sales division for MEC said "Our engineering department and R&D teams are diligently working on five new products, some of which are so unique; this industry has never seen them before. For the first time in our industry we're creating machinery for specific tasks and end-user needs, rather than just building higher quality run-of-the-mill commodity items. We are striving to become the true leader of innovation in the industry."

Alongside the new product development MEC has undertaken an "aggressive" marketing campaign to rental companies in the North America, called "Dare to Compare" which the company claims has delivered an "amazing" response.

"This is a great time to get our name out there," said Mr Tolle, "We're a smaller manufacturer than many of the other industry players but we have well built and reliable products, great customer service, and what we believe is an incredible 2009 ahead of us."

MEC plans to show some of the new products at the ARA (American Rental Association) The Rental Show in Atlanta Georgia, March 2009.