Eric Etchart, president of Manitowoc Cranes, at the Shady Grove opening.

Twelve months after announcing major expansion plans, Manitowoc has officially opened its Shady Grove crane manufacturing plant at a special ceremony.

Manitowoc has expanded its operations in response to customer needs. Larry Weyers, executive vice president of the Americas region, says the additions and renovations will help "streamline the manufacturing process and improve manufacturing efficiency."

"This will go a long way toward increasing manufacturing capacity in the United States and help the company respond more quickly to customer requests and service needs."

The two new additions include a 50,000 square foot (4,600 sqm) area in the final assembly building and a 10,000 square foot (920 sqm) addition in the boom assembly area. The new areas will enhance the rough-terrain crane and all-terrain crane production lines and add 170 new jobs to the facility.

Eric Etchart, president of Manitowoc Cranes, says Shady Grove is one of Manitowoc's flagship factories and plays an important role in the company's global strategy. "For our customers, it represents everything that is great about our company - tradition, strength, reputation and quality. We want to build on our success here. Grove has enjoyed 60 strong years in the community. We want to lay the foundations now for the next 60 years, and beyond."

The plant produces Grove all-terrain cranes, rough-terrain cranes, truck-mounted cranes and industrial cranes and makes boom trucks under the National Crane brand name.