Operating Sustainably

Reducing our environmental impact on the planet

Energy Efficiencies

Energy management system

As a result of the ISO 50001-2018 Energy Management System certification at all Manitowoc manufacturing facilities, all sites support our ongoing sustainability efforts to improve energy performance efficiency. Based on PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) methodology combined with the use of The Manitowoc Way, the Company's energy use continues to improve.

We are pleased to report that, due to our improved performance from the previous year, we have reviewed our goals to ensure they remain challenging and relevant. We are committed to continuous improvement and use this opportunity to set new targets that align with our strategic objectives.

2023 Targets

5% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions intensity normalized by revenue from 2022 performance.
5% reduction of Waste to Landfill intensity normalized by revenue from 2022 performance.
Complete environmental lifecycle assessment of one Tower crane, All-terrain, and Rough-terrain model.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

*The adjustments to prior year Corporate Sustainability reports reflect updated calculations based on updated data and/or emissions factor updates.

Energy Kaizen

Each manufacturing location's management is responsible for implementing an energy management system, but its success depends on the involvement of the whole team. In 2022, all manufacturing plants were certified to ISO 50001. In addition, the Wilhelmshaven, German and Pune, India entities implemented an environmental management system, achieving ISO 14001 certification. With these systems, we can manage the energy consumption and other aspects of our environmental footprint and set targets to reduce the impact on the environment. By meeting these certifications, the teams achieved remarkable results in reducing energy consumption and disposing of waste.

Energy Kaizen Methodology

For six years, we have used The Manitowoc Way principles for continuous improvement. One of the tools used in operations is the kaizen (change for good) workshop.

As the energy management system implementation relies on PDCA principles, we have applied the kaizen workshops to our energy consumption reduction efforts. An energy kaizen is a tool for investigating manufacturing processes to identify potential changes with the purpose of improving how energy is consumed in an area.

Change in Surface Treatment
Start Up Procedure

Moulins, France

Crawler Fabrication Paint
Cure Cycle Change

Shady Grove, Pennsylvania

Our kaizen workshop team analyzed the cure process in the crawler fabrication painting process and found that the cycle time could be optimized:

BEFORE: Cure cycle was set for 60 minutes with a throughput restricted to cure cycle intervals.

AFTER: Shortened cure cycle to 45 minutes and increased throughput capacity.

Our kaizen workshop team identified energy waste during the startup procedure of our painting oven:

BEFORE: When the team started the painting line, they would set the ovens at operating temperature, and no parts would be painted for the next hour and fifteen minutes.

AFTER: Start painting booth and set the oven temperature at one third of the operating temperature. One hour later, bring the oven to the operating temperature.

SAVINGS: 160 MWh of natural gas which equals
29 tons of CO2e emissions.

SAVINGS: 25% gas usage reduction on this paint line
(320 MWh) – equivalent to 64 tons of CO2e emissions.

Pre-paint heating automation

Charlieu, France

*The adjustments to prior year Corporate Sustainability reports reflect updated calculations based on updated data and/or emissions factor updates.

Pre-painting involves drying and warming up parts that are stored outside before painting. To complete the process, the facility uses a heating chamber to guarantee the correct temperature to ensure paint adhesion. During an energy consumption assessment, the team identified that the heater chamber was operating even when idle.

As a process improvement, the heating chamber is switched off as a default when not in use. In addition, the paint oven is turned on only if the temperature is below 10°C or if the parts are wet. This change now enables the facility to save 85,000 kWh of natural gas per year – or 15 tons CO2e per year.

2022: 11% decrease vs 2019

2022: 20% intensity decrease vs 2019

Electricity Usage

*The adjustments to prior year Corporate Sustainability reports reflect updated calculations based on updated data and/or emissions factor updates.

2022: 13% decrease vs 2019

2022: 21% intensity decrease vs 2019

2022: 33% renewable increase vs 2019

Fuel Consumption

*The adjustments to prior year Corporate Sustainability reports reflect updated calculations based on updated data and/or emissions factor updates.

2022: 11% decrease vs 2019

2022: 19% intensity decrease vs 2019

Waste Reduction

Transform waste to reuseable material Zhangjiagang, China

The painting process in the China facility has historically generated 80 tons of paint slag waste per year. Previously, the facility incinerated or sent this waste to landfills. As a method of reducing landfill waste, the team found a way to use paint slag as a raw material for putty powder.

Reduce single usage material

Baltar, Portugal

The Baltar, Portugal facility previously utilized single usage material to clean grease or other substances during our manufacturing process.

The team replaced paper with textile cloths, which are cleaned after contamination and reused – a good example of material reuse implementation.

Previously, four rolls of paper were used per week (100 meters per roll, 192 rolls for 48 weeks). Now the team uses only two rolls of paper – a 50% reduction in contaminated paper waste.

Use of Recycled Cardboard

Saint Pierre de Chandieu, France
Aftermarket Parts Warehouse

In 2022, the team began working with our corrugated goods supplier to develop more recycled cardboard shipping boxes to package service parts. Within one year, the recycling rate of cardboard boxes increased significantly from 1% to 85%.

Circular Economy

Remanufacturing

We are committed to maximizing our customers’ investment and extending the life of their equipment through our EnCORE program – a comprehensive rebuild and remanufacturing service. In 2022, we continued to grow these capabilities organically and through our acquisitions: Aspen Equipment and MGX Equipment Services.

In 2021, we started a rebuild program for a Grove RT58 Rough-terrain crane at our Bauxite, Arkansas facility. In addition to extending the life of the machines by 10-12 years, this rebuild program also comes with a one-year warranty. Currently, two cranes have been rebuilt and sold with a third crane currently undergoing a remanufacturing process.

In 2022, we added a Potain Igo 50 Self-erecting tower crane to the rebuild based on pent-up new crane demand. Leveraging the team’s excellent work and solid reputation, we have received two orders for a full rebuild.

Aftermarket Facilities

Beginning with four U.S. aftermarket facilities in 2019, by 2022 we had 11 aftermarket facilities with plans for additional locations to foster growth in our remanufacturing business. This expanding market coverage allows us to better serve customers with locations closer to their operations.

Innovation

Employee Engagement: Eco-Design Strategy

In July 2022, a cross-functional team in France leading new product development for Potain tower cranes embarked on an Eco-Design strategy utilizing the Voice of the Customer (VOC) process of new product development while creating the innovative design and manufacturing processes to reduce the environmental impact of our cranes. Given the magnitude of the strategy, the multidisciplinary team consisting of engineering, marketing, and sustainability teams established the following actions:

In 2023, the team will conduct training with engineering department members on the scope of the Eco-Design strategy and approach, including advancing alternative material and battery-electric options.
The product development team will pilot a lifecycle analysis of a Potain MDT 219 tower crane to better understand the environmental impact of our products.
The team will agree on measurable objectives to achieve our sustainability goals.

Our internal stakeholders are working together to ensure sustainability is built into our product development process, while continuing to offer our customers innovative, market-leading products.

GMK4100L-2 Plug-In Hybrid Concept

Electrification is a primary element we will consider in order to supply more sustainable mobile crane products to our customers. Our approach to sustainable products and electrification relies on flexibility. Our strategy is to develop platforms that can accommodate both electric and internal combustion engines, allowing us to operate with unmatched efficiency and flexibility. At the bauma 2022 trade show, we introduced a Grove GMK4100L-2 All-terrain crane Plug-In Hybrid concept, which garnered considerable interest from customers given its potential to reduce environmental impacts compared to current crane technologies.

The Plug-In Hybrid includes the latest Euromot 5 diesel engine and features a battery system which manages the hoist and slew plus powering the hydraulics for the luffing and telescoping operations. The battery is also charged by the diesel engine and regenerates energy from the rotary functions. While further testing is required to advance its battery-only performance, the Hybrid concept has proven to be promising with better efficiency and excellent capabilities during operations. Test results from the concept machine are now being applied to optimize our designs for future models.

Telematics Solutions

Manitowoc’s telematics solutions equip crane owners and operators with real-time services and information. With Potain CONNECT and Grove CONNECT telematics solutions, we provide a comprehensive scope of functionalities, allowing crane owners, rental fleet managers, and crane operators to make better use of their machines.

For example, with the “Access” function, customers can perform advanced remote diagnostics. If an issue is discovered requiring an on-site repair, a field technician can then be dispatched to the crane with access to instructions and spare parts needed to fix issues for expeditious repair, saving time, fuel, travel, and increasing crane uptime.

^{We have seen an immediate benefit after retrofitting a GMK5150L-1 crane with Grove CONNECT. It helped identify an issue three weeks prior to a scheduled customer support visit. That allowed us to proactively order needed replacement parts ahead of the visit and reduce crane downtime. Additionally, Grove CONNECT helped us view and understand a pinning issue a crane operator was experiencing, and we were able to remotely guide the crane operator through the steps to troubleshoot the issue and bring the crane back into operation. Both customers and service technicians like the direct crane document download feature.}

Anton Tschan, Service Manager Mobile Cranes, Stirnimann

Potain E-Catalog

Beginning in 2022, the three Potain tower crane product range brochures used as key reference materials by customers and dealers were offered in digital versions. These voluminous (476 pages each) brochures are now available on PC and smartphone and remotely accessible anywhere. This advance allowed us to avoid the distribution of 700 books during the bauma 2022 trade show. In 2023, we expect to reduce printing by 30% or 1,500 brochures.

Manitowoc MLC250

New Product Highlights

The new MLC250 Crawler crane includes significant updates while retaining the characteristics that have built the legendary 999’s reputation serving infrastructure, refinery, and commercial building end markets. Operators and service technicians will benefit from the design improvements. Fleet owners benefit from the extra flexibility and cost savings offered by this crane, as it shares components with many of Manitowoc's legacy and current models. Manitowoc’s Crane Control System (CCS) integrated in a wider cab offers a user-friendly interface, full graphic display, and intuitive controls with excellent ergonomics.

A clean and durable Tier 4 Final Cummins QSL9 delivers one of the best power-to-weight ratios in its class, now in a more efficient 340 hp at 2100 RPM version that complies with EU Stage V regulations.

Grove GMK4070L

With the longest boom in the 70-ton class, the Grove GMK4070L All-terrain crane can take on jobs that would normally require a larger crane. Plus, it offers unmatched roading versatility. The GMK4070L can easily be driven with 10-ton/axle, 12-ton/axle, and 16.5-ton/axle configurations with a class-leading amount of taxi counterweight. The crane is also equipped with Grove CONNECT, our new telematics platform.

Waste

*The adjustments to prior year Corporate Sustainability reports reflect updated calculations based on updated data and/or emissions factor updates.

Optimization of Paint Color Change

Moulins, France

Our facility optimized the color change process using scheduling tools, which led to the reduction of solvents used for purging hoses in order to paint new colors.

BEFORE: During the manufacturing process, the distribution of shot-blasted parts between the two painting lines was inefficient, which led to many color changes causing waste.

AFTER: An initial schedule was provided in the manufacturing process that split the parts between the two paint booths, allowing the painters to:

Identify the sequence of parts to paint in real-time and anticipate color changes.
Distribute parts between the two paint lines in real-time, so operators can monitor the number of purges linked to color changes.

These improvements drove a significant reduction of usage of solvent and paint wastage.

Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)
and Water Use

*The adjustments to prior year Corporate Sustainability reports reflect updated calculations based on updated data and/or emissions factor updates.

Grove
GRT8100-1

The new versatile and powerful Grove GRT8100-1 takes our 100-ton Rough-terrain crane to the next level. The wider cab with the MAXbase variable outrigger system brings improved comfort, flexibility, and productivity on a jobsite.

Potain MDT 159

The Potain MDT 159 top-slewing tower cranes features a 6-ton maximum capacity and 1.75-ton at its maximum jib radius of 60 m. In addition to its many ergonomic features, a new automatic trolley is available on the MDT 159, allowing the crane operator to change the reeving independently from the control panel in the cab, thus eliminating the need for a ground technician. This model is also equipped with Potain CONNECT, our new telematics platform.