Konecranes sends Juosila to China

KCI Konecranes has promoted Arto Juosila to group vice president in charge of Asia Pacific operations.

Juosila, aged 47, will be directly responsible for operations of the Standard Lifting Equipment division in China, Japan and Korea and will be in overall charge of other business area operations within the region.

Konecranes has also relocated its Asia Pacific headquarters from Singapore to Shanghai, China. This appears to be a growing trend among crane manufacturers. Manitowoc Crane Group relocated its regional HQ from Singapore to Shanghai in 2002.

Konecranes has a hoist manufacturing plant in China and also has license agreements with Chinese manufacturers.

Juosila takes over from Rainer Aalto, aged 57, who has moved back from Singapore to group headquarters in Finland as business development director.

Juosila's previous position of president of the Standard Lifting Equipment division is being taken by 41 year old Pekka Päkkilä, who since June 2002 had been director of industrial cranes and components in Standard Lifting Equipment.

Meanwhile in the USA, Chuck Vanarsdall has retired from his position of group vice president for the Americas, having turned 65 back in June, 2002. Vanarsdall will continue his employment in an advisory capacity on a part time basis.