Grove is one of the best-known crane brands in the Middle East, and it is continuing to expand its presence in the region. Looking Up sat down with Orascom Services, Egypt’s Grove dealer, to learn more about how Grove cranes are involved in the country’s most high-profile infrastructure projects.
Across the world, Grove rough-terrain cranes are known as the ultimate solution for conquering the most challenging jobsite conditions. In Egypt, it’s no different. Grove is synonymous with quality and dependability among contractors in all parts of the country.
Currently, the preservation of Egypt's famous Karnak Temple in Luxor is being aided by a Grove RT600E. The crane has been owned by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities since 2009 and has operated on other impressive historical projects.
Sudheesh Mohan is a regional sales manager for Manitowoc in the Middle East covering Egypt. He says the quality of the cranes, combined with excellent local representation through Orascom Services has delivered many decades of success in the country.
“A strong partnership is essential for any product to grow its market presence and exposure. We are pleased with our success so far in Egypt and confident that when the market is ready to move to the next level, our team—and Orascom—will be ready. We are the most trustworthy brand in the country and look forward to helping the country continue its journey to building something real!”
To learn more about Grove’s presence in the country, Looking Up spoke with Ahmed Marey, commercial director at Orascom Services, Grove’s exclusive dealer in Egypt.
Looking Up: How long have Grove RT cranes been working in Egypt?
Ahmed Marey: Orascom Services (Orascom Trading) is the sole distributor for Grove in Egypt since 1995. Over the years, Orascom Services has expanded its services to meet the needs of numerous crucial sectors in the Egyptian market. Our extensive portfolio covers a wide range of industries, including construction, infrastructure, industrial manufacturing, and agriculture. We support many of those industries with Grove RT cranes.
LU: Why do companies in Egypt value Grove RT cranes so much?
Marey: Many contracting companies in Egypt use Grove RT cranes because of their high efficiency and quality, high engine capacity, and ease of operation and maintenance.
LU: Have Grove RT cranes worked on any famous projects in Egypt?
Marey: Grove cranes are the most popular mobile cranes used by Egyptian contractors. These cranes are being used in a large variety of infrastructure projects taking place in Egypt now! These include the development of the New Suez Canal digging and the construction of New Alamein City and New Administrative Capital, which will become a new center for government and more.
LU: What resources are available in Egypt and ready to support Grove cranes?
Marey: Orascom Services has a fully equipped workshop in ‘6th of October City’ for all kinds of repairs and refurbishments. We have a highly experienced, fully equipped and trained team for on-site repairs aware of market needs, product data and high customer relationships. This team is deployed at a customer's facility or on a jobsite as needed. Our technical team includes factory-trained engineers while our sales team has specialisms spanning all the major industries in Egypt, to ensure customers receive the best support and service for their Grove RT crane.
LU: What is the oldest Grove RT crane still working in Egypt?
Marey: We know of a Grove crane currently operating with one of the largest customers for Orascom Services that has been there since the 1980s. This is the oldest one on our books, but it’s possible there may be even older Grove RT cranes working in Egypt!
LU: What is the newest Grove crane delivery?
Marey: We’ve had several deliveries for industries during the last period. The latest delivery was a 30 t (30 US t) Grove RT530-2 which was designated for one of the leading construction and infrastructure companies in Egypt.
LU: How do you expect the demand for Grove RT cranes in Egypt to continue in the future?
Marey: Grove RT cranes are a popular option with Egyptian customers, and we expect demand for them to continue to rise in the coming years. Orascom Services is committed to offering customers the highest quality products, the best after-sales service and spare parts availability in our warehouses. Our team works daily on expanding our position in Egypt and helping even more new customers experience the power and productivity of Grove rough-terrain cranes.