Manitowoc Appoints G Machinery its Grove Distributor in Japan

As part of its ongoing drive to strengthen its presence in Asia, Manitowoc has announced the appointment of G Machinery as its new distributor for Grove all-terrain cranes in Japan. Based in Tokyo, the company will provide sales and service support to customers across the country, Manitowoc said. Shortly after coming on-board as a Grove distributor, G Machinery scored its first success, selling and delivering its first two cranes: one GMK5150L-1J and one GMK5250XL-1J (the crane models have the “J” denomination at the end to reflect that their design is tailored specifically for the requirements of the Japanese market).

Both cranes were sold to a leading Japanese crane rental company. Shohei Konno, president of G Machinery, said the reputation and product quality of Grove cranes will make them an attractive option for customers in Japan.

“We see a lot of potential for Grove cranes in Japan,” he said. “It’s one of the most famous mobile crane brands in the world and it is known locally for its high-quality products with proven reliability We are delighted to have delivered the first two all-terrain cranes to one of the country’s best-known crane rental companies. The fact our first two units were sold to a company of this stature shows the high regard the market has for the Grove brand and points to an exciting future.”

G Machinery will offer the full range of Grove all-terrain cranes, but expects the six-axle and five-axle models (such as the GMK5150L-1J & GMK5250XL-1J) to be a particular success, with their combination of excellent load charts and easy maneuverability. The GMK5150L-1J is the most powerful crane in its category with a capacity of 11.8 t at the end of its 60 m main boom which can be lifted out to a radius of up to 18 m. With the GMK5250XL-1J, meanwhile, customers get a 78.5 m boom (the longest in the five-axle class) together with a 250-ton capacity. Both cranes feature Grove’s unique Megatrak suspension as well as the Twin-Lock boom pinning system. Features such as these, and more, allow the cranes to deliver solid lifting performance alongside easy off-road mobility and fast highway speeds, the manufacturer said. 

Marco Zucchet, Manitowoc’s sales director for mobile and tower cranes in Asia, said Manitowoc’s rapid new product development of recent years means it is a good time for Grove to re-assert its presence in Japan.

“Our history in Japan stretches back over many decades but with the appointment of G Machinery as our distributor we see the opportunity to begin a new chapter in the country,” Zucchet said. “Over the past five years we have also executed a series of rapid new product development that has given rise to some of the most advanced mobile cranes in the industry. With our presence in Japan now confirmed through G Machinery, we are in a perfect position to help mobile crane owners in the country gain a competitive advantage and boost their productivity and profitability for lifting operations.”