German rental company Klema has revealed that it signed an agreement to purchase a Grove all-terrain crane on the back of a beer mat.
The GMK4080-1 was one of five Grove cranes added to the Klema fleet during 2013. The firms contend that the unusual circumstances of the beer mat deal reflect the close relationship enjoyed by Klema and Grove’s parent company Manitowoc.
“We have found the perfect partner in Manitowoc that allows us to be flexible and to do real business with friends,” said Klema CEO Wolfgang Klenner. “The company reacts to our suggestions and consistently meets our requirements, giving our business the flexibility to grow. During a recent dinner meeting, it became clear that the GMK4080-1 would be ideal for our expanding fleet – so we decided on it right there and then.”
Klema’s recent purchases range from an 80t-capacity four-axle model to a 400t-capacity GMK6400, which is the latest Grove machine to be added to the rental firm’s fleet. With all five cranes purchased during the space of a year, a steady procession of Grove units were delivered to Klema’s Munich yard during 2013.
Manitowoc’s vice president for sales in Central and Eastern Europe Klaus Kroeppel says that the beer mat transaction is indicative of the strong bonds that the manufacturer shares with many of its clients.
“This transaction may have taken place on a beer mat, but it symbolises the mutual trust we share with our customers,” commented Klaus Kroeppel, Manitowoc’s vice president for sales in Central and Eastern Europe. “The fact that these five cranes have been purchased in such close succession highlights the instant impact these Grove cranes have made to Klema’s business.”
