On Mother’s Day in 1993, the trajectory of Georgetown, Texas, changed. That was the day Manitex was born, beginning what is now a more than 32-year bond with this Central Texas community.
From the very beginning, Manitex has been more than just a workplace. Fathers and sons, siblings, aunts and nephews, and other family ties have woven the company into the fabric of Georgetown. Many of the men and women who report to the factory floor each morning also call Georgetown home, deepening the connection between the company and the community.
That connection was celebrated during this stop on the AEM Manufacturing Express as city leaders, employees, and community members gathered at the Manitex facility. Attendees included Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Pitts, members of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, staff from Congressman Carter’s office, and others who came to honor the role Manitex has played in Georgetown’s growth and prosperity.
“Manitex came to Georgetown in 1993 when the population was 18,000. Today our estimate of the population of Georgetown is 101,000,” Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Pitts said. “The average household income when Manitex came to Georgetown was $28,000. Today we estimate about $95,000 average household income in Georgetown. Great employers like Manitex help bring employees here and help our citizens have jobs, work, and live here in Georgetown.”
Manitex, now part of Tadano after being acquired earlier this year, manufactures cranes that serve a wide variety of industries. Safety and reliability are paramount, and the company’s reputation for quality is well known. CEO Dean Barley said the transition “has been going great” and noted that the team in Georgetown “has been a breath of fresh air.”
“Our objective is pretty simple. It’s all about efficiency and safety,” Barley said. “With on-highway boom trucks, bucket trucks, and articulated cranes, they can go down the highway at highway speeds. They can lift things more safely and efficiently. If you ask the industries that we serve, why Tadano? They’ll say ‘because the product goes to work, it works every day, it’s very efficient, it’s highly reliable, and gives the customer peace of mind.’”
Barley’s colleague Jeff Long, Director of Sales for Boom Trucks, Bucket Trucks, and Sign Cranes, added, ”What gives us the competitive advantage is all of our people that are outside here today.”
The truck-mounted cranes, aerial work platforms, and other equipment Manitex manufactures in Georgetown are shipped all over the world and play a critical role in a wide swath of industries. “Powerline distribution, oil fields, commercial and residential construction, tree care, signs and lighting, it’s a hodgepodge,” said Long. “Some of the bigger equipment is more suited for oil and gas. Some of the smaller trucks are used for signs, lighting, and tree care. We have a lot of mid-size equipment that’s used for everything from propane tank truck deliveries to cemetery headstones. Everywhere in between.”
Manitex’s equipment keeps infrastructure projects running, allows workers to reach high into the air for maintenance and repairs, and provides the lifting power behind industries that keep America moving forward.
That global reach is impressive, but the impact begins right here in Georgetown. For longtime employees, that story is deeply personal. Jeff Long joined Manitex shortly after it opened its doors, following in the footsteps of his aunt, who already worked at the plant. He noted that not only does Manitex strengthen Georgetown, but the community, family ties, and natural beauty of Georgetown also help strengthen Manitex.
That sense of pride was evident throughout the event. Marie Alvarado, District Director for Congressman Carter’s office, strongly emphasized to employees that “each and every day, you do the work that keeps America moving.”
As Manitex looks to the future with Tadano, the outlook is as big and bright as the Texas sky. It remains a strong example of how important it is to have manufacturing running through the Lone Star State.
