Despite the downturn in the market, Manitowoc and Terex have both made it into the Forbes Platinum 400, a ranking of the “Best Big Companies in America” as defined by the US business magazine Forbes.

Manitowoc Company Inc, whose sales have risen at an average rate of 16.8% a year over the past five years, was ranked 212th on the list. Over the past five years Manitowoc has seen its sales increase by an average of 16.8% a year and its earnings rise by an average of 16.7% a year. It has a five-year average return on capital of 22.9%.

Terex squeezed in at number 388 on the list. It has enjoyed an average annual sales growth rate of 25.7% over the past five years and it has a five-year average return on capital of 14.7%.

Both companies, of course, have achieved their growth primarily through acquisition, and neither depends solely on cranes. Manitowoc has a food services division whose products include ice making machines, and it has a shipbuilding division. Terex produces a wide range of construction machinery and mining trucks.

The Forbes 400 Platinum list selects companies with revenues of more than $1bn across 23 industries with the best aggregate scores for long- and short-term financial performance. Results are measured over 12 month and five year periods using a variety of financial metrics including return on capital, revenue growth, and earnings performance.