New crane purchases enhance Essex's position in the 100 to 125 ton market segment by combining the superior capacity and efficiency required for liftcrane service while also providing the ability to perform duty cycle & foundation applications.

BUFFALO GROVE, IL [July 7, 2003] Essex Crane Rental announced today that it has entered into an agreement to purchase an undisclosed quantity of the model HS855SX from Liebherr-Nenzing Crane Co. This new 115 ton capacity crawler crane is the latest in the ongoing and continuing investment by Essex to expand, enhance and improve its crawler crane rental fleet.

These new Liebherr crawler cranes are the first non-Manitowoc crawler cranes to be added to the Essex fleet since the company was acquired in May of 2000 by Kirtland Capital Partners and Ronald Schad, the former Manitowoc Cranes executive. The HS855SX was selected after a long and careful review of product specifications available from the world¡¦s leading crane suppliers. Mr. Schad said that his decision to add these machines to his fleet of crawler cranes was relatively easy after a thorough market and technical examination of the available product choices was completed.

"The Essex mission has long been to provide their customers with the highest quality, most versatile lattice boom crawler cranes and at the best overall value." Mr. Schad went on to state: "Essex has always led the industry in identifying the needs of its customers by supplying rugged, market leading crawler crane products that provide innovation, versatility, and value."

"Liebherr listened to our requirements and then worked with us to customize and develop this 115 ton liftcrane enabling Essex to provide it's customers with superior capacity and efficiency for liftcrane service while providing a platform of unsurpassed duty cycle capabilities. I'm confident that these cranes will prove to be invaluable to increasing the construction capability of the North American contractor."

The HS855SX offers impressive lifting capability in the 100 to 125 ton liftcrane class and dramatically outperforms Essex¡¦s traditional fleet of model 3900's. There is no other crane in its class that can provide the lifting capacity, ease of mobility, self erect capacity and also offering high engine horsepower, unsurpassed line pull and duty cycle hydraulics designed to meet the North American contractors most severe applications.

Powered by a hefty 8-cylinder 544 horsepower Liebherr engine, the HS855SX will not fall short on power. This power drives the impressive hoist drums which supply 44,100 pound continuous duty line pull and spool 1-1/8" diameter wire rope. In addition, these units are equipped with a large capacity third drum, and special auxiliary hydraulics with separate circuits to power pile driving equipment, vibratory hammers, and other specialty foundation equipment.

With the significant investment in the Liebherr HS855SX; Essex Crane Rental is positioned to supply the construction industry with whatever lifting capability they require from a crawler crane anywhere in North America. Essex Crane Rental has been the foremost leader in providing new and innovative equipment that expands their rental capability while providing new and affordable equipment that meets the ever changing demands of contractors.

For more information regarding this new and exciting rental offering from Essex Crane Rental, please contact your Regional Sales Manager by calling our toll-free sales line (1-888-991-4100) or by calling our Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Bill O'¦Rourke (1-847-215-6503) or our Marketing Manager, Mark Marzion (1-847-215-6518).

About Essex Crane Rental Corp.

Acquired by Kirtland Capital Partners in May of 2000, Essex Crane Rental Corp. has grown steadily in its 42 year history into the world's largest provider of lattice-boom crawler cranes and attachments. With over 480 cranes and attachments in its fleet, Essex supplies cranes for construction projects related to power generation, petro-chemical, refineries, water treatment & purification, bridges, highways, hospitals, shipbuilding, and commercial construction.

In addition to the company's main headquarters in Buffalo Grove, Essex currently has five fully-equipped service centers in North America located in Alabaster (Birmingham), Alabama; Arcola (Houston), Texas; Longmont (Denver), Colorado; Fontana (Los Angeles), California; and Tampa, Florida.