Potain expects increase in Asia crane sales<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Reuter): French tower crane manufacturer Potain
\nexpects to see its annual sales in Asia including Indonesia grow
\n20 percent for the next few years, a senior company official said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
"We believe that significant sales increase can be achieved in
\nIndonesia, Vietnam and Philippines, which can be booming areas
\nfrom the market overall," said Eric Etchart, Asia sales director.<\/p>\n
"Our targets would be to achieve something like 20 percent
\nevery year," he told a news conference.<\/p>\n
Potain, a subsidiary of Paris-listed construction equipment
\nmanufacturer Legris Industries, saw sales turnover of US$244
\nmillion for financial year ended Dec. 31, 1996.<\/p>\n
Etchart said Asian sales accounted for about 25 percent of its
\nincome, with Hong Kong one of its largest markets.<\/p>\n
Manta Equipment, a unit of Mulpha International has also been
\nappointed exclusive distributor to expand Potain's tower cranes
\nsales and leasing business in the region.<\/p>\n
Manta executive director Richard Liao said the partnership was
\ntimely as the equipment replacement market was likely to rise due
\nto a Singapore government decision to place a 15-year age limit
\non tower cranes for safety standards.<\/p>\n
"The age limit policy has resulted in more contractors
\npurchasing and renting cranes for their projects," Liao said.<\/p>\n
The Manta Group has a rental fleet or more than 150 tower
\ncranes in the region.<\/p>\n
"We intend to double this number in the next two years," Liao
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Liao said he expected the company to generate about Singapore
\n$15 million (US$10.4 million) in the first year of operation from
\nthe sale, rental and servicing of cranes.<\/p>\n
Potain, which has had a 20-year relationship with Manta Hong
\nKong, has captured a market share of 70 percent in Hong Kong and
\nan overall Asian market share of about 20 percent, Etchart said.<\/p>\n
He said trends were "very positive" in the Far East and not
\nreally set back by intermittent local factors such as the
\neconomic crisis in Thailand.<\/p>\n
Part of Potain's expansion includes the shifting of its Asian
\nheadquarters to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur from September 1,
\nEtchart said.<\/p>\n
"We have to be where we anticipate substantial growth," he
\nsaid, adding that Singapore was well placed and a center for
\nservice and spare parts.<\/p>\n
Potain also intends to set up a training school and a regional
\nspare parts center here to support its distribution network,
\nemploying expatriate staff and local engineers.<\/p>",
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