Our Products
Innovation is the act of turning an idea into a solution that brings value to our products, and therefore to our customers. It is also about staying relevant in a changing landscape due to new or evolving customer requirements, new regulations, and new market demands.
Every year, Manitowoc’s engineering teams build the next generation of products and develop our patent portfolio to stay at the forefront of innovation and improve our customers' on-site performance.
Manitowoc has 32 active patents registered to improving the environmental footprint or energy efficiency of our products.
Our focus is not solely on improving products and enhancing customer value, but on doing so in an environmentally conscious way.
Manitowoc’s ongoing commitment to safety as our number one priority throughout the product lifecycle drove numerous innovations throughout the year. Among them were:
Throughout 2023, we focused on our commitment to invest in tools and process advancements aimed at enhancing the functional safety of our mobile cranes, with emphasis on refining control systems. We have implemented cutting-edge technologies in software development and system modeling, leveraging the full capabilities of next generation hardware. This strategic approach ensures the consistent and reliable performance of our cranes’ safety system throughout their operational lifespan.
In November 2023, the Tower Crane Trophies were awarded by the French Professional Commission for Tower Crane Trades and Equipment (CPMDG), which is focused on promoting and communicating around lifting innovations and jobs.
Our Potain brand was once again awarded the “Technical Innovation of the Year 2023”; this year for its ProTECHtor device. This patented product allows the technician, during the maintenance operations, to control the movements normally initiated by the crane operator. The Commission’s jury noted: “This system … limits the risks related to errors in communication and coordination with the crane operator, or to the latency of movements. The principle and simplicity of the product are a plus, especially in the multilingual environment of the construction site."
The new Potain MR 309 and MR 329 Tower cranes are equipped with performance improvements including improved load charts and higher free-standing heights and with fewer tie-ins required for high-rise construction projects. In addition, these Crane Control System (CCS)-enabled models deliver quick set-up with simplified operations combined with leading Potain CONNECT telematics capability.
Due to its innovative, compact packaging, the Potain Hup 32-27 can be transported in a single 40-foot shipping container; along with user-friendly crane installation assistance via remote control.
Thanks to Manitowoc's spirit of innovation and our voice of customer process, a new self-erecting crane has been launched this year: the Potain Evy 30-23 4t.
This self-erecting crane is designed to eliminate all manual operations to maximize productivity. Crane erection is now done with a remote control device with guided step-by-step instructions via the Smart Set-Up. This technology combined with the Crane Control System (CCS) was developed to simplify both erecting and operating the crane.
In addition, this new design allows the operator to set the crane closer to the building, as the jib nose is unfolded in the air, which is key for using such a crane in a city center for any project large or small.
The Evy is the first self-erecting crane fully connected to the Potain CONNECT telematic solution. With Potain CONNECT, all of the crane operating information is available remotely and can be used for remote troubleshooting support.
In late 2022 at the bauma construction industry trade fair held in Munich, Germany, we showcased a concept All-Terrain mobile crane that demonstrated what is possible in terms of energy efficiency and flexibility. Energy sources such as B7 diesel, HVO, or electricity from a 112-kWh battery that may be charged from zero emission sources were highlighted as being compatible with the crane's operation. Based on the positive reception at bauma, teams in the EU and US in 2023 continuously tested hybrid-electric protype crane components to further optimize their performance and reliability. A highlight of this development was presenting a demonstration GMK4100L-2 Hybrid All-Terrain mobile crane to the Swedish Mobile Crane Association. Manitowoc continues to review similar applications in other product lines to expand upon our positive customer feedback from these initiatives.
In 2023, it became clear that these products will enable customers to reduce and transform their environmental footprints.
Our customers look for more value with their Manitowoc products by extending the useful life of their cranes. In response to that market need, Manitowoc provides a service; EnCORE Premium Rebuild. This service returns a crane to like-new factory condition for a productive second life with less materials and cost than a new crane purchase. We have expanded our capacity to rebuild and overhaul cranes at all of our Manitowoc-owned distribution locations and at some of our dealer partners around the world. For example, our US Distributor, MGX, successfully rebuilt an MLC300 crawler crane that was damaged from an accident to like-new condition. We expect to grow EnCORE Premium Rebuild and continue delivering more value to our customers. Additionally, Manitowoc’s EnCORE Remanufactured (Reman) parts and EnCORE Repair service also provide lower cost parts and repair options for our customers while reducing waste.
To expand our capacity for full crane rebuilds and overhauls, we applied The Manitowoc Way lean approach to our Langenfeld, Germany facility to accommodate higher volume of used cranes being rebuilt and refurbished. Some of the improvements included new racking for parts, reconfiguring the workshop layout, four additional workshop technicians, 5S and safety initiatives. Our Manitowoc-owned distributor in the US, MGX, has a long history of rebuilding crawler cranes at their Belle Chasse, Louisiana facility with a minimum of four (4) rebuilds at the same time, assuming standard business conditions.
This year, MGX added a new 30-acre facility in Aiken, South Carolina, which is ideal for large crane rebuild projects. Other MGX facilities, such as Baltimore, Birmingham, and Omaha are also increasing their workshop activities to support increasing demand for crane rebuilds and overhauls. MGX secured a rebuild project from one of the largest crane rental houses in North America to rebuild 14 MLC2250 Manitowoc crawler cranes that will keep many technicians busy through 2026.
