Skip to main content

Manitowoc’s new structure for African sales

Manitowoc is setting up a new structure for its tower crane business in Africa. The firm’s self-erecting tower cranes (GMA cranes) and top-slewing cranes (GME cranes) are now being operated separately when it comes to production and product management. The company claims that this reorganisation allows for increased customer focus, market intelligence, operations efficiency and crane production. Being run independently in terms of production and product management, the new structure has the sole objectiv
October 4, 2018 Read time: 3 mins
Manitowoc is setting up a new structure for its tower crane business in Africa.


The firm’s self-erecting tower cranes (GMA cranes) and top-slewing cranes (GME cranes) are now being operated separately when it comes to production and product management. The company claims that this reorganisation allows for increased customer focus, market intelligence, operations efficiency and crane production.

Being run independently in terms of production and product management, the new structure has the sole objective of better serving 2123 Manitowoc’s tower customers and dealers. According to the firm this allows a better customer focus, market intelligence, operations efficiency and high-quality crane production.

Two years ago, Manitowoc split its tower and mobile businesses to increase customer focus and enhance the capabilities of both businesses. Since then, the crane manufacturer has identified similar potential in managing its tower business differently, as Orlando Mota, sales vice president for tower cranes in Europe and Africa, explained: “GMA and GME are two different products that serve different types of applications,” he said. “They require different market approaches and ultimately follow two different roadmaps. In addition to giving independent visions to GME and GMA, we have recognised the need to create operations strategies that individually cater to GMA and GME. Allowing our factories to focus on a specific product will make them more effective, particularly regarding production capacity and delivery times.”

The new tower cranes organisation is based on five fundamental pillars: GME, GMA, Sales & Aftermarket, Engineering, and Finance & Administration. Manitowoc’s regional sales and Crane Care teams remain unchanged.

GME pillar is headed by Christophe Simoncelli, VP GME Tower Cranes, who is leading the two GME factories in Moulins and Porto, and is responsible for GME product management. GMA pillar is managed by Giorgio Angelino, VP GMA Tower Cranes, who is leading the GMA factories of Charlieu and Niella Tanaro and is responsible for GMA product management.

Sales & Aftermarket activities are headed by Orlando Mota, VP Sales & Aftermarket. His new role involves taking on the Aftermarket division, which is grouped by High Service Support, Parts, Logistics, and Used Cranes & EnCORE programs, in addition to all marketing communications activities.

Engineering for all tower crane ranges is headed up by Bruno Roni-Damond, VP Engineering, who is working closely with Simoncelli and Angelino to provide superior engineering support.

Finally, Finance & Administration is managed by Jean-Noel Gros, VP Finance, who has taken over all Administrative Services including finances and Human Resources responsibilities.

Each of these executives is reporting to Aaron Ravenscroft, who holds the position of Tower Senior Vice President for Europe and Africa within his role of executive vice president of Manitowoc.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Topcon expanding operations with acquisition
    February 21, 2018
    Topcon Corporation has acquired all the outstanding shares of ClearEdge3D for an undisclosed sum. This deal adds a technology leader in the engineering and construction software industry to Topcon’s portfolio. ClearEdge3D’s EdgeWise software is intended to speed as-built modeling workflows by utilising automated feature extraction algorithms and other patented technologies. Its Verity construction verification software compares laser scan point cloud data of recently completed construction work against
  • FEHRL holds successful infrastructure research event in Brussels
    June 22, 2015
    FEHRL recently held the FIRM15 event in Brussels, focussing on innovative maintenance of transport infrastructure In all some 110 transport infrastructure research experts from Europe and beyond met for the 2015 FEHRL Infrastructure Research Meeting (FIRM15) at the Diamant Centre in Brussels, Belgium. These professionals discussed the overall theme of 'Innovative maintenance of transport infrastructure: Faster, cheaper, more reliable, safer and greener'. Throughout the two-day conference, several solution
  • CECE Summit – is Europe ready for a digital construction worksite?
    November 20, 2015
    The CECE has voiced his concern over government regulations that could strangle innovation for the digitalisation of construction machinery. China’s imploding economy was another topic at the recent conference in Brussels, reports David Arminas. The CECE has urged the European Parliament and European Commission to enact legislation that promotes rather than hinders the construction sector’s transition to a digitalised way of working. “We need a smart regulatory framework that helps to unlock the full poten
  • LiuGong discusses manufacturing upgrades with Chinese premier
    September 1, 2017
    LiuGong chairman Zeng Guang’an was recently invited to discuss manufacturing upgrades and economic restructuring with Chinese premier Li Keqiang. This came when the Chinese premier Li Keqiang presided over a government meeting on manufacturing upgrades and economic restructuring in Beijing, according to China’s official Xinhua News Agency.