More than 40 customers from four countries visit the Manitowoc factory
in Zhangjiagang, China. Visitors get a sneak preview of the new Potain MCT 565 topless crane.
A group of more than 40 customers from across Asia Pacific toured Manitowoc’s Potain factory in Zhangjiagang, China, in June to see firsthand the production improvements at the manufacturing plant. The group were also given an exclusive preview of the Potain MCT 565 topless crane, which will officially launch at bauma China this November.
The MCT 565 is the largest topless crane from the factory in China and has increased capacity options to reflect the growing scale of projects in the region. The new model is a significant addition to the Asian range of topless cranes which includes the MCT 85, MCT 205 and MCT 385.
“This crane will set new standards in terms of customer choice, ease of transport, lifting capability and performance,” said Francois Rotat, product manager for Manitowoc Cranes. “Potain is the leading brand in Asia and we expect this new addition to quickly establish itself. We look forward to sharing full details when the crane launches at bauma China.”
The MCT 565 will be available in three versions, offering customers a choice of maximum capacities of 20 t, 25 t, and 32 t. All three have a maximum jib length of 80 m. They feature a compact design that enables easy transport, with the basic crane able to ship in nine containers (four fewer than similar-sized Potain cranes). The crane needs only two days for erection and has one of the best load charts in its class.
During the three-day tour, customers from Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea also learned about improvements to the factory and visited the new Product Verification Center, where component testing is done.
“The Manitowoc Way is about a customer-centric approach to business,” said Brian Wang, senior vice president for APAC for Manitowoc Cranes. “Hosting this visit for our Asia-Pacific customers enabled us to showcase our manufacturing processes. This helped reinforce the confidence they have in our cranes and their reliability. It was also a good opportunity for us to get feedback from customers.”
