Manitowoc's Top Tracing II system for Potain tower cranes.
Manitowoc renewed and enhanced its partnership with Ascorel, its supplier of anti-collision technology for Potain tower cranes. Ascorel and Manitowoc jointly developed the Top Tracing II anti-collision system that is featured on some 3,500 Potain tower cranes in use throughout France and around the world.
Remi Deporte, Manitowoc’s global product manager for tower cranes, said that going forward, both Manitowoc and Ascorel would benefit from the long history of cooperation between the two companies.
“Our relationship with Ascorel dates back 20 years, and our companies have grown closer over that period,” he said. “The Top Tracing II system has been a hugely successful anti-collision system, both in France and other markets. By renewing the relationship between Manitowoc and Ascorel, we can work on the next generation of anti-collision technology for tower cranes.”
Under the new long-term agreement, Ascorel will begin developing an updated and enhanced Top Tracing system for Potain tower cranes. Manitowoc will offer this new system to Potain customers through its Manitowoc Crane Care customer support brand. Additionally, the agreement allows Manitowoc Crane Care to act as a distributor for Ascorel’s own MC 602 anti-collision system, giving customers two options.
The MC 602 and Top Tracing II both offer the same functionality and performance; however, the MC 602 is more tailored to the retrofit and rental market, whereas Top Tracing II is designed to stay with the same crane for a longer period of operation.
Ascorel is widely-recognized as a world-leading supplier of anti-collision systems for tower cranes. It also supplies a range of other control technology for all types of cranes and construction equipment.
Ascorel CEO, Francis Lemahieu, said close communication would continue between the two companies.
“Our head office is in Lyon, which is near Manitowoc’s regional EMEA headquarters in Ecully, and we talk almost daily,” he said. “We’re committed to providing industry-leading technology for Potain cranes, which we believe are the best on the market. It’s great news that our companies have signed this new agreement, and we hope the first products developed under the new partnership will launch soon.”
This latest agreement between Manitowoc and Ascorel stands apart from the agreement announced in January between Manitowoc and Trimble. Manitowoc and Trimble are working together on another range of GPS technologies for cranes to enhance jobsite productivity.
Remi Deporte said the two agreements would ultimately offer increased benefits to customers.
“We use the latest technology so Manitowoc customers can improve productivity with our cranes. Partnering with two industry-leaders in the field of control technology allows us to enhance that even more,” he said. “Both Ascorel and Trimble have strong reputations built up over time, and through these new agreements, we will offer customers the latest technology from these firms before anyone else.”
Ascorel was founded in 1988 and originally offered systems for mobile cranes, before moving into tower crane anti-collision systems and other technologies for construction and fire-fighting equipment. Today the company employs 80 people and has a turnover of €15 million.