For Immediate Release

January 21, 2005

Manitowoc Crane Group to open new manufacturing facility in China

Manitowoc Crane Group's new manufacturing plant in Zhangjiagang city, China

Manitowoc Crane Group will build a new manufacturing plant in Zhangjiagang city in the province of Jiangsu, China. The new factory is being constructed from scratch in response to growing demand for the company’s products within the region. The company already manufactures Potain tower cranes at its existing plant in Zhangjiagang, and has done so since 1984. All manufacturing production will transfer to the new site, once completed in early 2006.

Work areas will be significantly boosted at the new multi-million dollar facility which will also benefit from an upgrading in manufacturing equipment thanks to substantial investment in the latest state-of-the-art machine tools. Overall land area occupied by the new location will be 139,000 m2 (1,496,000 ft²), more than double the area at the current facility. Manufacturing operations will cover 70,200 m2 (755,627 ft2); the testing ground will occupy 16,500 m2 (177,605 ft2); and office space will cover 4,479 m2 (48,211 ft2).

As well as significantly increasing output of the current product line, the new factory will produce an additional model and components for other tower cranes and Manitowoc Crane Group products. Also being built at the new factory will be counterjib sections for some of Potain’s MD range of Special Application cranes. These units have enjoyed great success appearing on some of the biggest construction and industrial production sites in China, Vietnam and South Korea.

The new facility will be on the southern side of the Zhangjiagang Economic Development Zone, 20 km (12.4 miles) from the existing plant and five minutes from the main Shanghai Expressway. The existing workforce of approximately 250 people will be transferred to the new plant.

Glen Tellock, president and general manager of Manitowoc Crane Group, says the new facility will allow Manitowoc Crane Group to strengthen its presence in the region and also improve service to its customers.

“We’re all very excited by this new manufacturing plant which represents a significant investment on the part of Manitowoc Crane Group and also forms a central part of our worldwide development strategy.

“Product produced at the Zhangjiagang plant continues to grow in popularity and in response to demand from the market. We will further improve our manufacturing quality at the new plant through investment in the very latest equipment.

“Strengthening our presence fits well with our belief that the only way to truly serve the worldwide crane market is to act locally. The team at Zhangjiagang, led by Eric Etchart, EVP for the Asia-Pacific region, has done a great job in consolidating and growing the Manitowoc Crane Group network in the region. I am certain this new facility will strengthen that network even further and help drive us to even greater achievements in the future.”

About The Manitowoc Company
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. is one of the world's largest providers of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes,tower cranes, mobile telescopic cranes, and boom trucks. As a leading manufacturer of ice-cube machines, ice/beverage dispensers, and commercial refrigeration equipment, the company offers the broadest line of cold-focused equipment for the foodservice industry. In addition, the company is a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and conversion services for government, military, and commercial customers throughout the U.S. maritime industry.

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