Another month, another trade show. Unable to get to Verona for the Samoter show, I settled instead for the SED show in the UK. Many crane manufacturers have pushed this event down their list of priorities, which is a pity, and Las Vegas it certainly isn’t, but there was still enough of interest to make the trip worthwhile. There was the world launch of Hitachi Sumitomo’s 40t tele crawler – surely the first time a Link-Belt ‘Boss’ boom has been seen in Milton Keynes. This was on the stand of distributor NRC, which also had the 8t Hitachi mini crawler that was launched last year. Mini crawlers seem to be quite the fashion in the UK today. The marketing efforts of each player are contributing to the uptake of the mini crawler concept, to the benefit of all players. Kranlyft UK (formerly Kato Cranes UK) showed a newly CE-marked Maeda LC 785. Like the 8t Hitachi, the LC 785 is based on a mini excavator – a Komatsu in this case. Kranlyft also showed its range of the more familiar ‘spider’ type mini crawlers, as did Unic Cranes Europe (who also offered the finest steak sandwiches for miles around). Valla of Italy also offers a mini crawler – the 2t rated 20dTRX, which is a walk-behind unit operated by cable remote controls. Independent distributor Valla UK had a surprisingly large stand at SED with all kinds of good stuff on it. As well as the two tonner, there was a new 12t crawler, the 120TRX, with 13.5m working height, extendable to 17m with a fly jib. This is a conventional-looking, heavy duty, slewing cab machine. Valla UK is also the UK distributor for Locatelli. The first fruit of that relationship is the sale of an ATC20 city crane (20t) to rental company NMT. This unit was also on Valla UK’s stand. Add in three Spierings truck-mounted tower cranes, Fassi, Pesci, Hiab and Cormach loaders, Raimondi towers, an array of below the hook devices and PAT distributor/Grove service agent Samuel Walker and SED remains a thoroughly worthwhile day out – as long as the rain holds off, which it did on my day.
Over-achievers
I had spent the previous day at the International Powered Access Federation’s annual conference and dinner, to support my old friend (and former Cranes Today editor) Tim Whiteman, who took over as managing director of IPAF last year. The access industry has really got its act together on the training front and expects to issue more than 50,000 Powered Access Licence (PAL) Cards to operators that pass through its international network of approved training centres this year. It is a remarkable achievement and mirrors the good work of another former CT editor, Graham Brent, who runs the Certification of Crane Operators (CCO) programme in the USA. They both make me feel very inadequate.
Tellock’s appetite
It seems that Manitowoc has recovered from any indigestion it may have had after gobbling up Potain and Grove in such close succession and is now hunting for more food.
During a conference call, Manitowoc Crane Group CEO Glen Tellock told analysts: “I would like to say that we have really a three-pronged growth strategy that we’re driving to. Obviously, one is organic with all of our efforts internally with new product development and cross-selling. The second one would be our globalisation and taking our products and regionalising our products and strengthening our position around the world. But then, the third is we have been an acquisitive company. We’ve made a number of acquisitions since 1995. And, as I said earlier, we think that we are strategically positioned and we will look and continue to grow the company in all of those areas.”
Hmmm, who’s next then? It could be more of the same – in which case Kobelco would obviously come to mind. But having added telescopics and towers to widen out the product offering, Manitowoc has positioned itself to managed peaks and troughs of demand of different segments. A return to the marine business would add another cycle to the mix, as would EOTs, which Manitowoc has also tried before. If I were Glen I think I’d be looking more to a European knuckle boom to add to the under-leveraged National brand. Manitowoc’s track record is for acquiring the top players, but I can’t envisage a deal being agreed for Palfinger or Hiab. However, B&S Private Equity has now had three years’ ownership of Autogru PM. I wonder what their exit strategy is.
Central casting
Responses have started to come in following my request last month for suggestions on casting Cranes: The Movie. James Gandolfini (aka Tony Soprano) and Joe Pesci have been suggested as Ron de Feo and Fil Filipov, but I think the suggestion that Tom Cruise play Steve Filipov may possibly have come from Steve himself (…unless someone thinks he has a Mission Impossible at Terex…). I’m not sure what Weldex’s Dougie McGilvray will think of the suggestion of Billy Connolly. I’m sure he sees himself as more of a Sean Connery. Most plausible suggestion so far is Christian Slater as energetic Erich Sennebogen Jr. I also received an email that read: “Judging by the photo in the May issue of Cranes Today, Woody Allen should play Phil Bishop.” Thank you. Keep them coming (pjwbishop@yahoo.co.uk).