Shawmut Equipment named newest Manitowoc EnCORE partner

Shawmut Equipment, a Manitowoc distributor based in New England, is the newest company in the Manitowoc Crane Care EnCORE Partner program network. As part of the program, Shawmut can now fully remanufacture Grove, Manitowoc, National Crane and Potain cranes to original Manitowoc specifications, including all product updates.

EnCORE Partners is one of Manitowoc Crane Care's newest initiatives. Its objective is to create a strategic network throughout North America with the ability to totally remanufacture cranes as well as make major structural repairs. EnCORE Partners perform both these activities in line with the latest OSHA guidelines.

Shawmut Equipment is one of seven dealers in the United States to receive EnCORE Partner status. Others include Aspen Equipment, Cowin, H&E Equipment Services, Hoffman Equipment, Ring Power Crane and Walter Payton Power Equipment.

Dave O'Connell, president of Shawmut Equipment, said becoming an EnCORE Partner means his company can provide more value to its customers.

"We are pleased to be named Manitowoc Crane Care's latest EnCORE Partner," he said. "This allows us to establish deeper relationships with our customers and help them get even more value and repair options for their Manitowoc cranes."

To qualify for the program, dealers invest considerable time in training technical staff, including advanced training for welders to earn the proper certifications for welding structural components on cranes. Each dealer must also add a trained structural engineer to its staff to interface directly with Manitowoc on technical issues. Manitowoc Crane Care provides full commercial, technical and financial support for all EnCORE Partners.

Gilberto Ferreira, EnCORE director with Manitowoc Crane Care, said the program is designed to not only extend the service life for cranes, but to also ensure the work is done to the highest quality standards and meets all Manitowoc guidelines and OEM specifications.

"Our program will provide customers a cost-effective fleet management solution. Remanufacturing significantly extends the life of the crane and, because it is done in close collaboration with Manitowoc, customers are assured of the quality and reliability of the repairs," he said. "In fact, Manitowoc fully certifies the load charts of the remanufactured crane after completion."

Ferreira said that barring any major structural repairs, remanufacturing typically costs about 50 percent of the price of a new crane.

"This not only saves the customer money, but it also extends the life of a crane that would otherwise be sold for scrap value," he said.