Customers were clamouring to book Vernazza Autogru’s new Grove GMK5250XL-1 months before the 250 t capacity five-axle all-terrain crane had even joined the Italian company’s rental fleet.
When Diego Vernazza, general manager of Italian rental company Vernazza Autogru, first laid eyes on the new Grove GMK5250XL-1 at Bauma 2019, he knew he was onto a winner. The 78.5 m length of the extended seven-section TWIN-LOCK boom, combined with the compact dimensions, simple transport requirements and independent MEGATRAK suspension with steer-by-wire system, made a strong and lasting impression on him.
“We were immediately attracted by the GMK5250XL-1,” he said. “A 250 t capacity telescopic mobile crane with a 78.5 m boom presents an extraordinary resource for us. We can rely on the compactness of a five-axle carrier paired with the typical boom length of a six-axle crane, enabling us to complete a broader range of jobs.”
“And we were not the only ones to be excited by this new model,” he continued. “Many of our specialized customers wanted to book the GMK5250XL-1 for their projects as soon as they learned of our purchase decision. That was before the crane had even been delivered.”
Diego Vernazza and his colleagues recently travelled to the Manitowoc plant in Niella Tanaro for a special handover of their new machine – one of the first units to be sold in Italy.
Center of excellence
Vernazza Autogru is a longstanding Manitowoc customer, having purchased its first Grove crane – a 40 t GMK2035 model – in 2001. With the new GMK5250XL-1, the company’s fleet now counts a total of eight all-terrain and three rough-terrain cranes from Grove with capacities ranging between 35 t and 450 t.
In all Vernazza Autogru’s years working with Grove cranes, Manitowoc’s Italian operations in Niella Tanaro have proved a center of excellence for service, maintenance and technical support.
“We can communicate perfectly with the team and appreciate the way they react immediately to take care of any issues. The availability, reliability and professionalism are excellent,” said Massimo Mastrorilli, technical director and purchasing manager at Vernazza Autogru.
Giorgio Angelino, senior vice president for mobile cranes in Europe and managing director of Manitowoc in Italy said: “I want to thank the whole Vernazza Autogru team for their trust in Grove and our continued business over the last 20 years. We work hard to deliver industry-leading customer care and technical expertise but the loyalty of influential players such as Vernazza Autogru is a key contributor to our enviable reputation on the Italian market.”
