At Conexpo 1999 Link-Belt and Demag organised themselves to have neighbouring stands, in the expectation of announcing some kind of deal between the two companies. This time around it is Manitowoc whose stand is next to Demag’s.
According to industry rumour, Manitowoc has made a first bid for Demag which was rejected, and the sale documents were passed on to other interested parties. Whether Manitowoc returns with an acceptable offer in time for a Conexpo announcement, or whether it turns its attention instead to Grove, which is also being hawked around, remains to be seen. Any such talk is, of course, mere speculation and cannot be substantiated – especially where publicly listed companies are involved.
But with both Demag and Grove – two of the biggest names in mobile cranes – known to be open to offers, such speculation is inevitable.
Among crane manufacturers with well publicised acquisition ambitions are Manitowoc and Terex. Other construction equipment manufacturers with the resources and appetite to make a major acquisitions include Volvo and JLG, but both appear to be very much outside bets.
