INTERNATIONAL crane group Manitowoc is maintaining its century-old connection with Sunderland by building a UK technical and administration centre there.
The 9,000sq ft development at Hylton Court replaces the company's offices at the nearby Doxford International Business Park. It will house a team of up to 50 people who provide essential elements of technical and administrative support for the sales and service of the group's crane products in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
It will also continue to provide full support to the UK sales and service operations facility in Cowley, Middlesex, and will be an important link between customers and European and US factories.
The link between Sunderland and Manitowoc's Grove brand, formerly Steels and Coles Cranes, goes back more than 100 years to when production began at the Crown Works site at Pallion.
A Grove mobile telescopic crane began the installation of the structural steel components of the building, which is being developed by Arrow Commercial Ltd, of County Durham.
Arrow has appointed another County Durham firm, MMP Construction (NE), of Bishop Auckland, to build the office block and carry out ancillary and enabling works.
Steve Barnett, managing director of UK group sales and operations at Manitowoc, said: "Although the former Grove manufacturing and European HQ facility at Pallion was closed four years ago, we have retained a strong core of technical and administrative expertise in the area.
"That now plays an important role in the worldwide European management of the enlarged business."
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