Manitowoc
Proplate and Manitowoc: A Partnership Since 2002
Att skära 12 meter långa och tunna stag i specialstål kräver precision. Och Manitowoc chooses Proplate. A partnership that has lasted since 2002.
"Proplate has the equipment and expertise. The quality of their products is exceptionally good," says Manitowoc's Purchasing Manager Anthony Sternberg.
Exceptional Manufacturing of Tension Bars for Cranes
The collaboration with Manitowoc began in 2002. Then came the financial crisis, and Manitowoc retreated to the domestic market in the USA. But in recent years, they've chosen a completely new strategy.
"All manufacturing in America was moved to Pennsylvania. Three factors aligned: the timing was right, business was good, and the economy was stable. That's when we reviewed which partners we wanted to return to. Proplate was one of them."
The custom-manufactured straps in Manitowoc's crawler cranes now once again come from Oxelösund, Sweden. A choice that Purchasing Manager Anthony Sternberg is very satisfied with.
Why Proplate?
"Proplate does many things well, but one thing exceptionally well: the production of straps, boom-straps as we call them. The company is definitely a world leader in this field and supplies all the major players – Liebherr, Manitowoc, Kobelco. Quality is crucial. Meeting the safety requirements in our products demands extremely high quality."
How is this high quality evident?
"They have the equipment and technical expertise. They're specialists in their field. Not many can cut to the lengths we need. Proplate does an outstanding job and has made important technical investments over the years. It's also an advantage that they're neighbors with SSAB, which supplies the specialty steel. That relationship is important. The quality of the components is simply unmatched."
Anthony Sternberg explains that Manitowoc has confidence in Proplate and trusts the company. This is also part of the quality concept. Many American companies, unlike Manitowoc, choose to stay in the domestic market. There are perceptions that fees, customs, and transportation make global operations complicated.
Is it difficult to have a supplier in Sweden?
"No, absolutely not. Honestly, it makes no difference to me whether a company is nearby or on the other side of the Atlantic. Not as long as quality and cost are comparable."
Is anything different when working with Proplate compared to working with a local supplier?
"Essentially no. The prices are in dollars, and Proplate handles all aspects of deliveries, including transportation, customs issues, and such. For us, it doesn't create additional work or extra costs. We haven't encountered any problems. I would say there's no difference at all compared to buying locally."
How does your future collaboration with Proplate look?
"I hope it can grow. They are experts at what they do, and we appreciate doing business with them."
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