Enterprise Ireland
Annual Report and Accounts 2007

Mantis Cranes hoists exports to new heights

• Homepage
• Chairman’s statement
• Chief Executive Officer’s report

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• Section 1
  Achieving export sales
• Section 2
  Industry-led research and innovation
• Section 3
  World class productivity and management development
• Section 4
  Starting and scaling companies
• Section 5
  Driving regional enterprise
  • Mantis Cranes hoists exports to new heights
  • Competitive businesses in all regions the goal of cross-border collaboration
  • Longford's Moulding Technologies shapes up for rapid expansion
  • Campus Incubation Programme encourages high growth start-ups throughout the country

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• Membership of the Board and Committees
• Organisation structure
• Corporate governance
• Financial statements
• Global office network

Having introduced the concept of hydraulic self erecting cranes to the Irish and British markets, a Donegal company is now expanding its reach in US and European markets.

Mantis Cranes is consolidating a sustained period of growth that has over the past four years seen an average of a 35 per cent increase in turnover per annum, a doubling of production capacity, a boost to R&D investment by a factor of 18, and a major breakthrough into the US market.

The Killygordon company established two new bases in England in 2007 and anticipates the setting up of a further two in the UK before the end of 2008. There are also plans to build a presence in the Baltic States.

According to General Manager Robert Rowlette, the company is expecting further growth due to the development of a new type of self erecting crane, the TC25. Launched last year, the crane is a new concept in the market and has been designed totally in response to customer need.

Supported by Enterprise Ireland, the Donegal company, the only manufacturer of self-erecting cranes outside mainland Europe, has increased its performance in recent years due to a focus on technology, customer service and overseas expansion.

Mantis has received assistance under Enterprise Ireland’s Productivity Improvement Fund to install a new computer controlled machining centre and environmentally sensitive paint finishing line, as well as improve business processes and information systems. In 2007 the company also secured an opening into the US market during an Enterprise Ireland trade mission.

This contract involves the Donegal company teaming up with an American partner, Celtic Self Erecting Cranes Inc to introduce Mantis’ cranes for sale or rent in the US market. Having shipped several orders since the deal in September, Mantis believes there is long-term potential for it in this relatively niche market.

Rowlette believes that the US contract win is the result of the company’s basic Donegal philosophy of serving the customer, and a willingness to reach out to new markets. “Adapting our cranes to US market specifications took a lot of work,” he says, “but I think it shows that a company and a team like ours can, if it is ready and willing, meet the challenges that come its way.”

As well as designing and manufacturing self-erecting tower cranes, Mantis supplies tower cranes, crawler cranes, generators and crane attachments.

www.mantiscranes.ie (link opens in a new browser window)