News Release

14 December, 2005

Potain Brings Swedish Style to Chinese Consumers

The Potain MC 480-M20 Tower Crane

A Potain MC 480-M20 tower crane has been hard at work building the world’s second largest IKEA store just outside Beijing, in the popular Wanjing area of the city. The MC 480-M20 is currently the largest tower crane manufactured by Manitowoc Crane Group at its Chinese factory in Zhangjiagang.

The 20 t (22 USt) MC 480-M20 (known as the MC 475-M20 outside of China) has been working around the clock, lifting a variety of materials including concrete blocks and steel frames. The crane was fitted with 70 m (230 ft) of jib, just short of its maximum of 80 m (262 ft). Erected at a free standing height of 61.2 m (200 ft), the MC 480-M20 dominates the jobsite with its impressive frame standing taller than the other cranes on site.

The crane was supplied to contractor Beijing Jiangong Group by Potain tower crane rental company Beijing TianDieWeiYe Construction Equipment Rental Co.

TianDieWeiYe Construction began to build its fleet in 2002 and currently owns seven tower cranes, six of which are Potains. These include two MC 120 models, an MC 200, an MC 230 and two MC 480-M20 units. Wang Yansheng, president of TianDieWeiYe Construction is optimistic about the tower crane market in China.

“We already have some Potain units working on a jobsite at Beijing airport, and in the current hive of construction activity, have found them essential equipment when working in urban and industrialized areas. There is a lot of competition in China with dozens of tower cranes in the over 100 m (328 ft) class being produced, but we found that Potain’s focus on manufacturing quality and its excellent Manitowoc Crane CARE after-sales service made our choice of the MC 480-M20 much easier.”

Wang recently placed another order for four more MC 480-M20 units.

“The approaching 2008 Olympic Games are providing huge opportunities for construction companies, and the post 2008 market is looking good too,” he said. “In fact, work is likely to start on even more projects, particularly those that have been postponed for the Olympics. We need to start planning ahead now, and feel that we will be able to maximize our profitability if we purchase cranes we know will perform well – like the MC 480-M20. ”

IKEA has had a presence in China since 1998, with existing stores in Beijing and Shanghai. The new Wanjing store is costing RMB 320 million (US$40 million) and, when completed, will resemble IKEA stores in Europe and North America, with seven stories in total: three underground and four above ground.

The jobsite currently stands at a total construction area of 110,000 m2 (1,184,030 ft2) and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2005.