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

  • Showcasing global road innovation at key event
    August 27, 2019
    IRF Global R2T Conference & Exhibition to Present Winning Strategies Now in its second edition, the IRF Global R2T Conference & Exhibition has quickly established itself as the international meeting point. Leading industry innovators, researchers, and stakeholders can acquire essential engineering and business insights, and help build tomorrow’s transportation infrastructure today. A newly-released programme featuring more than 150 speakers spread across 50 policy and technical sessions offers an exc
  • Liebherr open new sales and service centre in Miami, Florida
    September 25, 2013
    More than 300 invited customers and guests attended the grand opening of Liebherr’s new sales and service centre in Miami, Florida. The new state-of-the-art facility will serve as a major hub for Liebherr’s maritime cranes division and will further strengthen business relations with Central and South America and the Caribbean region. In terms of logistics, the sales and service centre is said to be ideally located: the port of Miami and Miami International Airport are in close proximity to the new
  • Liebherr open new sales and service centre in Miami, Florida
    September 25, 2013
    More than 300 invited customers and guests attended the grand opening of Liebherr’s new sales and service centre in Miami, Florida. The new state-of-the-art facility will serve as a major hub for Liebherr’s maritime cranes division and will further strengthen business relations with Central and South America and the Caribbean region.
  • BOMAG is launching new road construction machines
    October 6, 2015
    German firm BOMAG continues to grow its presence in the road construction equipment sector. In the 10 years since BOMAG was purchased by the French Fayat Group, BOMAG has broadened its product range beyond being a leader in the compaction sector and invested heavily in its manufacturing facilities. It has also forged strong links with its Italian sister company Marini, the asphalt plant manufacturer, with the two jointly developing a wide array of asphalt road construction technologies. BOMAG recently he