Manitowoc celebrates Italian expansion

Manitowoc has celebrated the latest expansion of its factory in Niella Tanaro, Italy, with an event for customers and dealers.

The plant now manufactures all the company's two and three axle Grove all terrains, after production was transferred from the Wilhelmshaven factory in Germany. Niella Tanaro also builds Potain self erecting and top slewing tower cranes.

"The expansion here is important because it gives us greater capacity to build more cranes but, equally important, is the capacity that is freed up at our other facilities. We are now building all our two axle and three axle all terrain cranes here, allowing us more capacity at our factory in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Building rough terrain cranes here for the Italian market gives us greater flexibility at our factory in Shady Grove, Pensylvania, US," said Eric Etchart, Manitowoc president and general manager.

Manitowoc first began manufacturing cranes at Niella Tanaro, near Turin, in 2000 when it started assembling Potain self erecting tower cranes. In 2005, it began production of top slewing tower cranes and built a 2,500 m² factory for assembly of Grove rough terrain cranes and two axle all terrain cranes.

In 2007 construction began of a 5,000 m² plant with the first cranes leaving the production line in 2008. The 2,500 m² building was expanded to assemble the two and three axle all terrain cranes.