What are Raimondi’s plans for the Terex Cranes divisions?

Terex and Raimondi tower cranes on site together in Dubai. Photo: Raimondi Cranes

Following the 2 September news of Terex selling its tower and rough terrain crane businesses, Alex Dahm shares here some more details and initial comment from buyer Raimondi on its plans for the future of the combined Italian companies.

Italy-based tower crane manufacturer Raimondi Cranes, owned since 2014 by Saudi Arabian holding company KBW Investments, will buy the Terex tower and rough terrain crane manufacturing facilities in northern Italy, and the North American cranes service and support centre.

It is a big deal for Raimondi to acquire the Terex tower crane and rough terrain crane divisions. Image: Raimondi Cranes

The deal includes Terex’s tower crane manufacturing facility in Fontanafredda, the rough terrain crane manufacturing facility in Crespellano, and the crane service and support centre in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Terex Franna pick and carry cranes, built in Australia and India, are not part of the deal and will remain as the only cranes now built by Terex Corporation.

No price has been disclosed for the acquisition expected to close before the end of 2025 subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

Diversification and expansion

For Raimondi it is a big deal, constituting significant crane product diversification and strengthening the company’s presence in north America.

Luigi Maggioni, Raimondi Cranes group CEO. Photo: Raimondi Cranes

There is also a suggestion of a possibility that more product types could be added to the portfolio with further acquisitions in future. “This strategic acquisition represents a milestone in our journey to become a full-fledged global lifting conglomerate,” said Luigi Maggioni, Raimondi Group CEO.

“The target is ambitious, but realistic. There are key drivers to achieve this; from portfolio diversification with the addition of self erecting and rough terrain cranes, we can now serve additional markets and sectors, directly impacting our revenue,” Maggioni continued.

Crane products

In addition to flat top towers and self erectors Terex offers large luffers and hammerhead models beyond the sizes already offered by Raimondi.

What are the ‘jewel in the crown’ products the Terex Cranes acquisition will bring to Raimondi, ICST asked Maggioni. “The acquisition brings products that strategically complement Raimondi’s offering. Among these, the luffing jib cranes, which with their exceptional lifting capabilities will allow us to deepen and consolidate our presence in key markets such as the UK, Australia, and North America. These cranes not only expand our portfolio but also reinforce our position in segments where performance is a key driver.”

A 65 tonne capacity Terex TRT 65 rough terrain crane at work in Italy. Photo: Raimondi Cranes/Terex

On the Terex Rough Terrain Cranes business Maggioni commented, “Equally important are the rough terrain cranes. This segment opens entirely new market opportunities and applications. They allow us to serve customers in sectors and regions where mobility and adaptability are essential.”

It is estimated around 150 Terex RT cranes are built each year with most of them going to the Italian and US markets. In more detail on the product line Maggioni said, “The rough terrain crane business represents a cornerstone of this acquisition and marks a significant milestone in Raimondi’s long-term diversification strategy. For the first time in decades, Raimondi is entering a product segment that brings not only new opportunities, clients, and markets, but also introduces a distinct business model. This is an area we are not simply aiming to maintain, but to actively grow and develop.”

To that end Maggioni disclosed the RT crane division will operate as a separate entity with its own operational independence to ensure focused management and agility.

Having said that, “At the same time, we will carefully explore potential synergies with our tower crane operations, leveraging Raimondi’s existing expertise where it can create value,” Maggioni explained.

“Together, these product lines complement Raimondi’s existing strengths, enabling us to provide a broader and more integrated solution set to our clients.”

Down the line

Looking ahead Maggioni said, “As part of our larger plan, the next few years will be about integration, innovation, and expansion. By bringing these businesses under the Raimondi umbrella, we will combine two rich Italian engineering legacies driven by passion and innovation.

“This will allow us to accelerate product development, streamline the supply chain, and broaden the company offering.

“Clients will benefit from a more comprehensive portfolio, stronger service coverage, and solutions tailored to jobsite needs. The Raimondi and Terex combined teams will create new opportunities for learning and collaboration across markets and disciplines,” Maggioni continued.

Of the many questions that come to mind about development plans is one about branding. Take, for example, the newly added Terex Self Erecting Cranes, a product line linked with the Terex acquisition of Ferro (a business started in Milan in 1927) in 2001, just after Terex Comedil itself was born out of the acquisition of Italian tower crane maker Comedil, before it became Terex Tower Cranes in 2002. So will the new self erecting cranes be rebranded as Raimondi?

“At this stage, it is too early to provide specific details regarding the branding of the self erecting cranes. However, I can assure you that a thorough evaluation of different branding strategies is currently underway and will be communicated at the right time. Our goal is to determine the approach that best aligns with Raimondi’s long-term vision, market positioning, and commitment to delivering high-quality products to our customers,” Maggioni said.

Global markets

Geographically the acquisition brings benefits, Maggioni explained, “Geographic expansion is a major driver of our growth strategy; Terex Tower Cranes and its USA-based service hub, gives us much more solid footing into one of the world’s largest construction markets, North America. The other business lines will strengthen our presence in Europe, Australasia, and Africa.”

Operational advantage

In addition to new products and a wider reach geographically the acquisition provides it with significant operational advantages. “By consolidating manufacturing, optimising procurement, and integrating service infrastructure, we will boast operational efficiency and unlock economies of scale. Together, we will keep investing in R&D and digitalisation to create long-term competitive advantages,” Maggioni concluded.

The roots of the RT and US businesses Raimondi is acquiring go back a long way. The rough terrain crane operation was established as Bendini SpA in 1968. It was acquired by PPM of France in 1989, before PPM itself was acquired by Terex in 1995. Around 2002 the legacy brands were phased-out as Terex rolled all of its crane acquisitions into Terex Cranes. The Wilmington (USA) crane service centre was historically a premises of American Crane Corporation, a crawler crane manufacturer Terex acquired in 1998. ACC’s history goes back to 1882, initially as Franklin Manufacturing Corp and then American Hoist & Derrick (AmHoist) in 1892, before changing its name in the 1980s to American Crane.

Check back at craneandtransportbriefing.com for more details as they become available.