Manitowoc Plans to Build New Crane Manufacturing Facility in China

January 19, 2005 • Manitowoc Crane Group, Manitowoc, Wis., announced it will begin building a new manufacturing plant in Zhangjiagang, China, later this quarter. The new plant will replace the company's existing plant, which currently manufactures Potain tower cranes.

Scheduled for completion in early 2006, the new plant will be more than twice the size of the existing 1.3 million square-foot plant and will include upgraded manufacturing equipment and state-of-the-art machine tools. In addition to assuming all of the current manufacturing work, the new plant will produce additional tower crane models and components for Manitowoc crawler cranes and Grove mobile telescopic cranes. Terry Growcock, Manitowoc's chairman and chief executive officer said the new facility will stengthen the company's presence in Asia, and it will better serve the worldwide crane market.

The number of plant employees is expected to reach 400 by 2008, up from approximately 300 at the current plant. Ground-breaking for the new plant is scheduled for February 16.