For Immediate Release

January 28, 2005

Manitowoc 999 crawler goes to Latin American rental giant

The first 250 t (275 USt) Model 999 in Brazil.

Locar, Latin America’s largest crane-owning company, has taken delivery of the first 250 t (275 USt) Model 999 in Brazil. The Manitowoc crawler crane was sold through local dealer Geomax Equipamentos and has been put to work on an expansion project at a paper and pulp plant owned by Veracel in the Brazilian state of Bahia. The 999 was supplied with 67 m (220 ft) of main boom and 73 m (240 ft) of #149 luffing jib, as well as 15 m (50 ft) of fixed jib.

The first task handled by Locar’s Model 999 was to lift a rotating oven. The biggest sections, which measured 18.5 m (60.6 m) x 2.2 m (7.2), were picked and placed on 27.4 m (90 ft) of main boom. In total, the oven weighed 109.5 t (120 USt). Another noteworthy lift handled by the 999 involved a 42.2 t (46.5 USt) tank that had a 60 m (197 ft) diameter.

All lifts were carried out without a hitch, causing Locar operations director Camilo José da Silva to praise the Model 999. “The lifting work at Veracel was a try out for the Model 999. It worked really well. Such was its power and smooth lifting abilities we believe maintenance costs will be better over time than comparable cranes in our fleet. Manitowoc’s Model 999 is very easy to operate. We especially like the Portuguese language capabilities its control panel can be programmed with.

“The challenge on this job was a very demanding schedule. The Model 999 proved to be exceptionally versatile, picking and placing whatever load we placed in front of it. It made a good impression with us and the client,” da Silva said. “Manitowoc is becoming known as a tough crane to beat in Brazil.”

In addition to the Model 999, Locar has 16 Grove mobile cranes in its fleet. The company was established in 1988 and has its main headquarters in Sao Paulo, as well as depots in the four main states of Brazil. The company employs about 600 people and specializes in supplying cranes to clients in the petrochemical, cement, pulp and paper, and construction industries.

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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