New Holland realigns North American sales organization

New Holland Construction has realigned its North American sales organization to enable a greater focus on the brand, enhancing the support to the dealer network and improving service to customers. The organization is aligned under two regions, East and West, headed by Eric Winkler and Paul Hottovy respectively. Each will be responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction, promoting sales and achieving market share growth within their region.

Eric Winkler brings to his new position extensive experience in North America and global marketing, internal sales and as a district business manager. Most recently, Winkler was product marketing manager with worldwide responsibility for New Holland construction's excavators, tractor loader backhoes and tractor loaders.

Paul Hottovy joined the company 23 years ago and brings the broad experience he has gained in sales, marketing, distribution, product support, service management and manufacturing. Prior to this new position, Hottovy managed sales, distribution, promotion, demonstration and retail revenue for Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado and Kansas in his position as district business manager.

Manitowoc tabs Lukow

Manitowoc has appointed John Lukow managing director of Manitowoc in Australia, where he is based at the company’s Sydney office. He has held executive positions in both finance and sales promotion since joining the company in 1999 and was most recently vice president of sales and marketing for National Crane. He has also been vice president of finance and treasurer for Grove and group controller for Manitowoc in the Americas region.

Peretin promoted to VP by Manitowoc

Brian Peretin has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for National Crane. In his new role, he will be responsible for all aspects of sales and marketing for the National Crane line of boom trucks. He will continue to develop the company’s market-leading position in the Americas and will also consult on growing Manitowoc’s business in Latin America.

PALFINGER to make buy

PALFINGER AG, which is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange and headquartered in Salzburg, is in the final stages of taking over the ELEVANT aerial working platforms unit of WUMAG GmbH.

The contracts have already been negotiated, and the approval of the supervisory board of PALFINGER AG and the advisory board of WUMAG GmbH has been secured.

The antitrust authorities are likely to approve the takeover this summer.

With the purchase, PALFINGER AG anticipates its revenues to increase by approximately 5 percent. 

Ortner tabbed as CEO of PALFINGER AG

The Supervisory Board appointed chief marketing officer Herbert Ortner PALFINGER AG's new CEO. He will take over the office from Wolfgang Anzengruber immediately.

Ortner was global business unit manager for industrial hoses at the public listed Semperit Group until 2001. He then joined PALFINGER, where he developed the spare parts, equipment, and service business before being appointed to the management board in 2003.

The focus of his activities as chief marketing officer included PALFINGER's railway applications, tail lifts, transportable forklifts, and aerial work platforms, as well as the further expansion of the service business.

The incumbent CEO Wolfgang Anzengruber will stay in office as per current agreement until the end of August 2008 and remain in charge of finances until he leaves the company.

The management board of PALFINGER AG will continue to be composed of four members. The search for a successor in office has already started; the company plans to appoint a new chief financial officer in early 2009.

In September, Ortner will take over responsibility for the Group's finances on an interim basis.

Hyde Park Acquisition Corp. announces strong 2008 first quarter results for Essex Crane Rental Corp.

Hyde Park Acquisition Corp. announced that Essex Crane Rental Corp. recently provided Hyde Park with unaudited financial results for Essex's first quarter ended March 31, 2008.

Essex's total revenue, which includes revenue from equipment rentals, equipment repair and maintenance and equipment transportation services (but excludes used rental equipment sales), for the first quarter of 2008 rose 18.5 percent to $17.2 million from $14.5 million in the first quarter of 2007.

The increase in revenues was driven primarily by a 29.3 percent increase in equipment rental revenue. The increase in equipment rental revenue was generated by increases in the utilization rate for Essex's fleet as well as increases in rental rates charged for Essex's equipment. A portion of the increase in rental and utilization rates is attributable to Essex's $21.7 million investment over the last 12 months in new heavier lift cranes to replace older cranes with lighter lift capacity. Essex's new heavier lift cranes generate higher utilization and rental rates than their older, lighter lift predecessors.

Rental utilization ratios (using the more conservative "days" method of calculation) also increased for this quarter vs. the same period last year. For this quarter, the total number of actual crane rental days equaled 71.8 percent of the total available days versus 68.1 percent for the comparable quarter in 2007. The average monthly rental revenue rate increased 27.2 percent to $19,163 for the three months ended March 2008 from $15,068 for the three months ended March 2007.

The increase in average equipment rental rates reflects both rental rate increases and Essex's continuing efforts to optimize its fleet mix through the purchase of new, heavier lift cranes. The investment in these new heavier lift cranes is being financed in part through the sale of older lighter lift cranes.

Essex's total cost of revenues (excluding net book value of rental equipment sold) remained constant at $7.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 as compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2007, despite the 18.5 percent growth in total revenues. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 1.2 percent from $2.46 million to $2.49 million.

Total cost of revenues (excluding net book value of rental equipment sold) and SG&A expenses as a percentage of total revenues (excluding used rental equipment sales) declined to 44.1 percent and 14.5 percent, respectively, from 52.5 percent and 17 percent in the first quarter of 2007.

The decrease in expenses as a percentage of total revenue (excluding used rental equipment sales) resulted from Essex's improved overhead management and expense controls as well as improvements in the mix of cranes in Essex's fleet through investment in new heavier lift cranes which drive higher average monthly rental rates.

As a result of the strong revenue growth and the expense control detailed above, rental EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased 43.4% to $9.2 million from $6.4 million for the three months ended March 2007.

Equipment rental revenue backlog increased by 28.7 percent to $43.1 million at March 31, 2008 from $33.5 million at December 31, 2007, reflecting what Essex's management believes is continuing strength in Essex's infrastructure-related end-markets served and its market leading position. Management estimates that based on its actual equipment rental revenues and Essex's backlog as of March 31, 2008, approximately 90 percent of projected 2008 equipment rental revenue has been booked.

"Hyde Park is pursuing the acquisition of Essex on the basis of the long-term benefits associated with Essex's market-leading position serving growing infrastructure-related end markets, as well as the attractive asset value and long useful lives of Essex's crane fleet," said Laurence S. Levy, Chairman and CEO of Hyde Park, in the press release. "As evidenced by these strong first quarter results, Essex continues to benefit from robust demand conditions prevailing in its end markets, as investments in bridge and road construction, power, water treatment, refineries, alternative energy and similar projects remain strong.

"In addition to the strong demand conditions, Essex's management has maintained strict cost control which has contributed to strong profitability for the quarter," he added. "Essex also continued to optimize its crane rental fleet by selling under-utilized, older equipment with lighter lifting capacity."

Palfinger awards innovative dealers

The Palfinger Dealer Award, bestowed upon Palfinger dealers every two years in four separate categories. Aside from discovering really creative ideas, the goal of the competition is to foster the global exchange of ideas and solutions among the dealers. The International Sales Conference 2008 thus invited 130 dealers from around the world to the Austrian resort town of Fuschl am See at the end of May. The festive gala event and the presentation of the exclusively designed awards took place at the resplendent Hotel Scalaria located in St. Wolfgang.

An independent jury was responsible for determining the best ideas. Ten Palfinger dealers of different sizes and from around the world were selected to review the total of 32 submissions and to rate them according to a predetermined point system. Criteria such as level of innovation, method of implementation, and benefits for the customer all played an important role.

The prize for Best Product Idea was awarded to the newest member of the Palfinger Group, the German company MBB Liftsystems AG. The producer of tail lifts impressed the jury with its idea of integrating calibrated scales directly into the tail lift, thereby making it possible to build vehicles for hazardous waste removal which can tabulate accounts according to weight.
 
Palfinger Australia Pty. Ltd. is an independent dealer that over the past 20 years has established itself as a leader Down Under. The Aussies landed the coveted prize for Best Marketing Idea with their CD-ROM which, under the motto: “Our service is your success,” presents the excellent service network available for end customers throughout the Australian continent.
 
Palfinger’s dealer in Germany, the Palfinger GmbH in Ainring, won in the category of Best Service Idea for a newly conceived training program designed for candidates seeking a crane-operating license. Palfinger Germany emphasized direct contact to the crane operators as a means of establishing customer loyalty.

Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental receives three Transportation Safety Awards at SC&RA Annual Conference

Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental of Milwaukee, Wis., a member of the ALL Family of Companies, was presented with three Transportation Safety Awards during the annual conference of the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) April 15-19 in Bonita Springs, Fla.

Dawes was one of four SC&RA member companies receiving a Fleet Safety Award for having the lowest accident frequency rate in different mileage categories; Dawes won in the 1.5 Million to 5 Million Miles category. Dawes also received a Zero Accident Award for having no recordable accidents or injuries during all of 2006 and a Fleet Safety Improvement Award for showing a reduction in their accident frequency rate for miles traveled, compared to their previous year accident frequency rate.

The contests are part of SC&RA's ongoing effort to encourage its motor carrier members to transport, lift, and erect oversize and overweight items safely.

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