Knuckle boom crane manufacturer Palfinger is relocating its production of hydraulic cylinders from Lengau, Austria and Caussade, France to Bulgaria.
The reorganisation represents the next phase of its ‘location optimisation programme’. Other main features of this two-year project are the construction of an after-sales service centre at group headquarters in Salzburg, Austria and relocation of mid-size crane assembly to Lengau. Annual cost savings of some Euro 10m are predicted to result form the changes.
Mid-size cranes rom 10tm to 32tm are currently assembled at the group headquarters site in Bergheim, on the outskirts of Salzburg, from components machined in Slovenia. This assembly work will now go to the crane element factory in Lengau where sub-assemblies like the extension systems and knuckle booms are made. This will turn Lengau in the group’s central crane production facility.
The head office in Bergheim, on the edge of Salzburg, will be home to marketing, R&D, after-sales service and training.
Heavy cranes and special hydraulic systems like the railway equipment, Mobiler container handling systems and Crayler truck-mounted forklifts remain in Köstendorf. Production of light cranes continues in Cadelbosco, Italy, and the production of all hook loaders in Caussade. Production of Epsilon agricultural and forestry cranes remains in Elsbethen, Salzburg. Maribor will continue to specialise in mechanical crane components and preassembly.
