<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 4.13

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1

                  This AMENDMENT NO. 1 ("Amendment") is made as of August 28,
1998 by and among MMH HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Holdings"),
MORRIS MATERIAL HANDLING, INC., a Delaware corporation, as a U.S. Borrower,
MATERIAL HANDLING, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as a U.S.
Borrower, MORRIS MATERIAL HANDLING, LTD., a company organized under the laws of
England and Wales, as the U.K. Borrower, MONDEL ULC, an unlimited liability
company organized under the laws of Nova Scotia, as a Canadian Borrower, and
KAVERIT STEEL AND CRANE ULC, an unlimited liability company organized under the
laws of Nova Scotia, as a Canadian Borrower, the lending institutions listed on
the signature pages hereto (each, a "Bank" and, collectively, the "Banks") and
the new York branch of CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ, as syndication agent for the
Banks (in such capacity, the "Syndication Agent"), and CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF
COMMERCE, as administrative agent and as collateral agent for the Banks (in such
capacities, the "Administrative Agent" and, together with the Syndication Agent
and the Document Agent, the "Agents"). This Agreement is made with reference to
that certain Credit Agreement dated as of March 30, 1998, by and among Holdings,
the U.S. Borrowers, the U.K. Borrower, the Canadian Borrowers, Agents and the
Banks (the "Credit Agreement"). All capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit
Agreement.

                  WHEREAS, Holdings, the Borrowers, Agents and the Banks entered
into the Credit Agreement; and

                  WHEREAS, the U.K. Borrower desires the ability to obtain
letters of credit and guarantees, including bid bonds and performance bonds,
under the limits of the U.K. Swingline Loan from the U.K. Swingline Bank; and

                  WHEREAS, the Required Banks desire to amend the Credit
Agreement to permit the U.K. Borrower to obtain such back-up obligations and to
amend certain other provisions of the Credit Agreement;

                  Now, therefore, for good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:



<PAGE>
                                      -2-





                  SECTION 1.  AMENDMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT

                  1.1 Section 6.14 of the Credit Agreement (Pledge of Additional
Collateral) is hereby amended by deleting clause (i) of the first sentence
thereof and inserting the following:

         "(i) Real property in the United States or the United Kingdom; provided
         that for purposes of this Section 6.14, leased Real Property shall only
         be included if manufacturing operations take place on such leased Real
         Property,"

                  1.2 Section 7.06(p) of the Credit Agreement (Advances,
Investments and Loans) is hereby amended by deleting the proviso contained
therein.

                  1.3 Section 7.09(viii) of the Credit Agreement (Transaction
with Affiliates) is hereby amended by deleting such clause and inserting the
following:

         "(viii) loans or advances to employees and officers of the company or
         its Subsidiaries on or within 30 days after the Closing Date the
         proceeds of which are used to acquire Management Stock."

                  1.4 Section 7.20 of the Credit Agreement (Sale and
Lease-Backs) is hereby amended by adding the following on the second line
thereof after the word "hereof" and before the comma:

         "or the Exempt Sale and Lease-Back Transaction"

                  1.5 Section 9 of the Credit Agreement (Definitions) is hereby
amended by deleting the definitions of Designated Acquisition, U.K. Swingline
Loan and U.K. Swingline Loan Commitment and inserting the following:

         "'DESIGNATED ACQUISITION' means such acquisition as shall be effected
         by the U.S. Borrowers in compliance with Section 4.03 (or, in the case
         of a Designated Acquisition paid for with funds other than the proceeds
         of an Acquisition Term Loan, in compliance with the informational
         requirements of Sections 4.03(b) and (d)-(h) as if proceeds of an
         Acquisition Term Loan were used) and Section 6.18; PROVIDED that the
         Designated Acquisition entity engages in the MHE Business, and
         businesses or activities similar or reasonably related thereto."


<PAGE>
                                      -3-




         "'U.K. SWINGLINE LOAN' means any Swingline Loan, documentary letter of
         credit or guarantee, including any bid bond or performance bond made or
         issued by a U.K. Swingline Bank to or for the benefit of the U.K.
         Swingline Borrower; provided that the terms and conditions of any
         documentary letter of credit or guarantee, including any bid bond or
         performance bond shall be as agreed between the U.K. Swingline Bank and
         the U.K. Swingline Borrower."

         "'SWINGLINE LOAN COMMITMENT' means, with respect to each Bank, the
         amount set forth below such Bank's name on the signature pages hereto
         directly across from the entry entitled "U.K. Swingline Loan
         Commitment," as such amount may be reduced from time to time pursuant
         to Sections 2.01, 2.02, 3.02 and/or 8; provided that the U.K. Swingline
         Loan Commitment of ABN AMRO Bank shall be reduced in an amount equal to
         twelve and one-half percent (12.5%) of the notional amount of, and for
         the time during which there exists, any outstanding forward foreign
         exchange contract with the U.K. Borrower."

                  1.6 Section 11.12 of the Credit Agreement (amendment or
Waiver) is hereby amended by adding the following sentence to the end thereof:

         "No provision of Sections 3.02(A)(f) through (l) may be amended without
         the written consent of (a) Banks holding 51% of the Total A Term Loan
         Commitment, the Total Acquisition Term Loan Commitment and the Total
         Revolving Loan Commitment (or, if the Total A Term Loan Commitment, the
         Total Acquisition Term Loan Commitment and the Total Revolving Loan
         Commitment shall have been terminated, at least 51% of the outstanding
         A Term Loans, Acquisition Term Loans and Revolving Loans) and (b) Banks
         holding 51% of the Total B Term Loan Commitment (or, if the Total B
         Term Loan Commitment has been terminated, 51% of the outstanding B Term
         Loans)."

                  SECTION 2. RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENT

                  2.1 To induce the Required Banks to enter into this Amendment,
the Borrowers and the Guarantors jointly and severally represent and warrant
that after giving effect to this


<PAGE>
                                      -4-



Amendment no violation of the terms of the Credit Agreement exist and all
representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement are true,
correct and complete in all material respects on and as of the date hereof
except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to
an earlier date in which case they were true, correct and complete in all
material respects on and as of such earlier date.

                  2.2 Except as expressly set forth in this Amendment, the
terms, provisions and conditions of the Credit Agreement and the Credit
Documents are unchanged, and said agreements, as amended, shall remain in full
force and effect and are hereby confirmed and ratified.

                  SECTION 3. COUNTERPARTS; EFFECTIVENESS

                  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts,
and all such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and
the same instrument. Signature pages may be detached from counterpart documents
and reassembled to form duplicate executed originals. This Amendment shall
become effective as of the date hereof upon the execution of the counterparts
hereof by the Borrowers, the Guarantors and the Required Banks.

                  SECTION 4. GOVERNING LAW

                  THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED
AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT
REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

                  SECTION 5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CONSENT
                             BY THE GUARANTORS

                  Each guarantor hereby acknowledges that it has read this
Amendment and consents to the terms hereof and further confirms and agrees that,
notwithstanding the effectiveness of this Amendment, its obligations under its
Guarantee shall not be impaired or affected and such Guarantee is, and shall
continue to be, in full force and effect and is hereby confirmed and ratified in
all respects.

                                    * * * * *

<PAGE>
                                      -5-



Witness the execution hereof by the respective duly authorized officers of the
undersigned as of the date first above written.

                                     MMH HOLDINGS, INC.


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   VP/Treasurer

                                     MORRIS MATERIAL HANDLING, INC.



                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Vice President

                                     MATERIAL HANDLING, LLC


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Manager

                                     MORRIS MATERIAL HANDLING LTD.


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Director

                                     MONDEL ULC


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   President

                                     KAVERIT STEEL AND CRANE ULC


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   President


<PAGE>
                                      -6-



                                     MHE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
                                       as a Guarantor


                                              By:      /s/  Richard F. Klumpp
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Richard F. Klumpp
                                              Title:   Vice President

                                     PHMH HOLDING COMPANY,
                                       as a Guarantor


                                              By:      /s/  Richard F. Klumpp
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Richard F. Klumpp
                                              Title:   Vice President

                                     MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT NEVADA
                                              CORPORATION,
                                              as a Guarantor


                                              By:      /s/  Ivan Farris
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Ivan Farris
                                              Title:   Vice President

                                     CMH MATERIAL HANDLING, LLC


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Manager

                                     EPH MATERIAL HANDLING, LLC


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Manager
<PAGE>
                                      -7-


                                     HARNISCHFEGER DISTRIBUTION &
                                              SERVICE LLC


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Manager

                                     HPH MATERIAL HANDLING, LLC


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Manager

                                     MORRIS MATEIRAL HANDLING, LLC


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Manager

                                     MORRIS MECHANICAL HANDLING, INC.


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   VP/Treasurer

                                     MPH CRANE, INC.


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   VP/Treasurer

                                     NPH MATERIAL HANDLING, INC.


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   VP/Treasurer



<PAGE>
                                      -8-


                                     PHME SERVICE, INC.


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   VP/Treasurer

                                     SPH CRANE & HOIST, INC.


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   VP/Treasurer



<PAGE>
                                      -9-



                                     MHE CANADA ULC


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   President


                                     3016117 NOVA SCOTIA ULC


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   President

                                     HYDRAMACH ULC


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   President



<PAGE>
                                      -10-



                                     BUTTERS ENGINEERING SERVICES
                                              LIMITED


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Director

                                     IVERCOE ENGINEERING LIMITED


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Director

                                     LOWFILE LIMITED


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Director



<PAGE>
                                      -11-



                                     HERCULES S.A. DE C.V.


                                              By:      /s/  David D. Smith
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    David D. Smith
                                              Title:   Director


<PAGE>
                                      -12-



                                     CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF
                                              COMMERCE, as Administrative
                                              Agent and Collateral Agent
                                              and as a Bank


                                              By:      /s/  Timothy Doyle
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Timothy Doyle
                                              Title:   Managing Director

                                     CIBC Inc., as a Bank


                                              By:      /s/  Timothy Doyle
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Timothy Doyle
                                              Title:   Managing Director

                                     CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ,
                                              as Syndication Agent and
                                              as a Bank


                                              By:      /s/
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

                                              By:      /s/
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

                                     BANKBOSTON, N.A.
                                              as Documentation Agent and
                                              as a Bank


                                              By:
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

                                     ABN-AMRO BANK N.V., as a Bank


                                              By:      /s/ Denis J. Campbell IV
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Denis J. Campbell IV
                                              Title:   Vice President


                                     CREDITANSTALT CORPORATE FINANCE,
                                              Inc., as a Bank
<PAGE>
                                      -13-


                                              By:       /s/ Patrick J. Rounds
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Patrick J. Rounds
                                              Title:   Vice President

                                              By:      /s/Jack R. Bertges
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:   Jack R. Bertges
                                              Title:  Senior Vice President

                                     THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
                                              CHICAGO, as a Bank

                                              By:      /s/ Noreen St. Lawrence
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Noreen St. Lawrence
                                              Title:   Asst. Vice President

                                     FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as a
                                              Bank

                                              By:      /s/ Scott Santa Cruz
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Scott Santa Cruz
                                              Title:   Vice President

                                     FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as a Bank

                                              By:      /s/ Howard J. Diamond
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Howard J. Diamond
                                              Title:   Asst. Vice President


                                     ARCHIMEDES FUNDING, L.L.C.,
                                              As a Bank

                                              By: ING Capital Advisors, Inc.,
                                              as Collateral Manager


                                              By:      /s/ Jane M. Nelson
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Jane M. Nelson
                                              Title:   Sr. Vice President


<PAGE>
                                      -14-



                                     RIGGS BANK N.A., as a Bank


                                              By:      /s/ Ana G. Tejblum
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Ana G. Tejblum
                                              Title:   Vice President

                                     SANWA BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION,
                                              as a Bank


                                              By:      /s/ Peter L. Skavla
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Peter L. Skavla
                                              Title:   Vice President

                                     CRESCENT/MACH I PARTNERS, L.P.,
                                              as a Bank

                                              By: TCW Asset Management
                                              Company, Its Investment Mgr.

                                              By:
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

                                     WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as a Bank


                                              By:      /s/ Dana D. Cagle
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Dana D. Cagle
                                              Title:   Vice President


<PAGE>
                                      -15-



                                     ML CLO XV PILGRIM AMERICA
                                              (CAYMAN) LTD., as Assignee

                                              By: Pilgrim America Invest-
                                              ments, Inc., as its
                                              Investment Manager


                                              By:     /s/ Robert L. Wilson
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:    Robert L. Wilson
                                              Title:   Vice President

                                     SENIOR DEBT PORTFOLIO, as a Bank

                                              By: Boston Management and Re-
                                              Search, as Investment Advisor

                                              By:
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

                                     CYPRESS TREE INVESTMENT
                                              MANAGEMENT CO. INC.,
                                              As attorney-in-fact and on
                                              Behalf of First American
                                              Financial Life Insurance
                                              Company, Inc., as Portfolio
                                              Manager


                                              By:
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:
                                              Title: