News Release

April 24, 2006

Potain Completes New Car Showroom in Paris

A Potain MDT 178 towers above the Paris skyline.

A Potain model MDT 178 Topless City crane has completed work on a dramatic new flagship showroom for French car manufacturer Citroën. The showroom is located on one of Paris’s most famous streets, the Champs-Elysées, and has been widely acclaimed for its innovative architecture.

The MDT 178, which has a maximum capacity of 8 t (8.8 USt), arrived on site in December 2004 to work for main contractor TMB, a subsidiary of construction group Spie Batignolles. The crane was dismantled in the past few weeks having completed its work which involved lifting large parts of the project, including the single largest part – the showroom’s steel frame. The crane also worked installing glass and steel panels directly into the frame, while one of its final tasks was the placement of concrete panels to the rear of the building.

The MDT 178 belongs to rental company, Sofral, based in Jouy-en-Josas, near Paris, France – one of the largest tower crane owners in the world. The company has service facilities and regional branches throughout France, and over 450 cranes in its fleet, 95% of which are Potains.

Sofral chairman, Jack Stive, was pleased to have one of his company’s cranes on the famous Parisian street and was more than pleased with its performance.

“Working in prestigious locations is always very gratifying,” Stive said. “But, high-profile jobsites require the very best and most reliable machines – which is why we are so committed to Potain tower cranes. The MDT 178 on site at the Champs-Elysées was an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the latest in tower crane technology. These MDT cranes are ideal for city center work. We have a range of them on similar projects all across France. They are simple to erect, lightweight and excellent lifters.”

The MDT 178 offers a maximum jib radius of 60 m (197 ft) and is able to lift its maximum capacity of 8 t (8.8 USt) out to 14.3 m (47 ft). It can handle 1.5 t (1.7 USt) at its jib end of 60 m (197 ft) while maximum height under hook is 67 m (220 ft).

The Citroën project is actually a renovation based on a design by French architect Manuelle Gautrand. Citroën has owned the building since 1927, but the site has undergone extensive work for its reincarnation as a state-of the-art car showroom. The unique modern design covers 1,200 m2 (12,917 ft2) and will display a variety of Citroën vehicles, including current and past models. The total cost of construction was €11 million (US$13 million) and the building will open to the public in the next few weeks.