(VPC) system for ourManitowocModel
31000. In2008, we began to explore
the applicationofVPC technology to
smaller capacity cranes. By January 2009,
our engineers had created anewVPC
architecture thatwould allow the crane
toutilize aVPC inboth a lift crane and
max configuration. While the launch
and testingof the 31000 cranewas being
performed, our engineerswere applying
this new, innovative and game-changing
architecture to the designof smaller
cranes – theMLC300 and theMLC650
–whichwere launched atConExpo in
March2014.
Protecting the industry
Whatwe are doing toprotect our
intellectual property and trade secrets
is important forManitowocCranes, but
I believe it is also good for the industry
as awhole. Inmy experience, there
have been relatively few intellectual
propertydisputes among themajor crane
manufacturers. Historically, therehas
beenmutual respect bymost companies
of the intellectual propertyof others.On
behalf of the industry, we felt thatwe
needed todefendour innovation andour
designprocess.We spend a tremendous
amount ofmoney indevelopment.
But ifwe don’t defendour intellectual
property, thenwhy spend thatmoney?
GUEST COMMENT
M
anitowocCranes’ ITC
Complaint against Sany is
more than just defending
the company’s intellectual property. It’s
about defending the industry.
Iwas inWashingtonD.C. recently to
testify in thehearing regarding the ITC
Complaint thatManitowocCranes filed
in2013 against SanyAmerica and Sany
Heavy Industrial.With that hearing
process now complete, we expect to
receive the ITC’s initial decision early this
summer.
This ITC investigation involves
ManitowocCranes’ claims of both
misappropriationof trade secrets and
patent infringement.We invented a first
type ofVariablePositionCounterweight
JUNE 2014
ACT
25
Whatwouldmotivateus to spend that
muchmoneyon research anddesign
ifwe knew a competitorwas going to
copyour technologywithout adverse
consequences? Is the industry just going
tobecome a “let’swait until the other
guydoes it type of industry?”Pretty
soon youwould see the industrymoving
backwards becausenoonewants to invest
all thatmoney intoR&D just tohave it
copied. We strongly feltweneeded to
enforce our intellectual property via our
ITCComplaint. AtManitowocCranes,
one of the thingswe dowell is innovate
with respect to features of crawler cranes,
andwewill defendour intellectual
property for our designs.
As I said, we are defendingour
company, our employees andour
shareholders, butwe alsobelieve that
there’s a broader benefit toour industry
aswell.Wehave some very good
competitors andwe respect that they
are going to come outwith innovative
technologies andnew cranes.Wewill
do the same; this iswhat propels the
industry forward. It propelsManitowoc
Cranes toprovide better lift solutions
for our endusers. As an industry, we
must all continue to innovatewith the
assurance that our innovationswill
not be immediately copiedbyothers.
Otherwise, innovationwill cease.
■
LarryWeyers
is global
executive vice president of
Manitowoc Cranes.
LarryWeyers
speaks
on the public record
for the first time about
Manitowoc’s federal lawsuit
against Sany America and
Sany Heavy Industrial.
Sound off
Manitowoc launched the newMCL300
andMLC650 crawlers, both featuring the
Variable Position Counterweight technology,
at ConExpo inMarch 2014.
ACT
EXCLUSI
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