Manitou Group highlights International Ambitions at Conexpo

Manitou Group highlights International Ambitions at Conexpo

Manitou Group, a major player in the handling, aerial work platform and earth moving sectors, announces the complete overhaul of its global compact loader line-up, along with the launch of a new line of telehandlers dedicated to the North American market, at Conexpo, the largest construction event in the United States.

Huge ambitions on the North American market

One year after announcing a massive $74 million investment plan to expand and modernize its US production facilities and develop innovative product lines, Manitou Group is at Conexpo to present a brand new range of compact skid steer and track loaders for which the North American market represents half of the global market.

Manufactured at the Madison facility in South Dakota, this line meets many needs such as road construction, demolition, or land levelling. A brand new range of telehandlers, specifically designed for the North American market and assembled in Yankton, South Dakota, is also presented on the group’s booth.

Global launch of six new compact loader models

Three “V-Series” compact skid steer loaders and three “VT-Series” compact track loaders, available under the Gehl and Manitou brands respectively, make up this completely renewed range. These six new models have a capacity of 2,100 lbs to 2,750 lbs. Nathan Ryan, Compact Loader Line Manager, says: “We have focused on improvements in five main areas: safety, comfort, productivity, simplification, and serviceability. All models are vertical lift and feature a new lift arm design. The driver’s station has also been redesigned with an improved version of our patented folding door. The new cab also offers some of the best visibility on the market thanks to a new window and roof design.”

The breakout force is now 12% higher on average (compared to the previous range) and the tank capacity is increased by 14%, allowing users to enjoy greater productivity. The new loaders feature keyless start requiring only code activation, LED lighting, and a patented Pilot joystick system as standard, adjacent to the operator’s seat. Numerous innovations also facilitate maintenance with a lifting cab and centralized maintenance points.

For added comfort, the track loader range is equipped as standard with the patented “IdealTrax” system, ensuring automatic track tensioning and extending the life of the tracks. Numerous options (additional LEDs on the sides, high hydraulic flow, rear camera, etc.) are also available to meet the requirements of each user. It is worth noting that the total cost of ownership (TCO) of these models has been reduced, with the VT 210 model, for example, boasting a TCO of only $20 per hour, representing an average reduction of 7.2% over the previous model range. With these six models, Manitou Group highlights its desire to streamline the design of its models by offering its users a simplified range that meets all their needs.

Main specifications of the track loader range

Main specifications of the skid steer loader range

Telehandlers made in the USA for the USA!

For this new range of telehandlers for the North American market, Manitou Group offers seven models, available under the Manitou (MTA range) and Gehl (TH range) brands. Manufactured at the Yankton facility in South Dakota, the new telehandler series is designed to meet the needs of the construction and rental markets in North America. This range offers a lifting height of 43 to 56 feet, and lifting capacities of 6,000 to 12,000 lbs.

The new design also offers improved visibility, enhanced comfort and performance, and a lower total cost of ownership.  The design has been completely redesigned with a new cab, providing enhanced comfort and better visibility around the machine and on the attachment. Noise pollution is greatly reduced to 80 dBA inside the cab. In the driver’s cab, an intuitive dashboard provides operating and maintenance alerts, and the JSM (joystick switch and move) allows fingertip control of every function. For enhanced comfort and safety, this range also features an automatic parking brake.

Steve Kiskunas, US Telehandler Product Line Manager, explains: “We have done a great deal of work on the comfort and performance of this new range. The new load-sensing hydraulic system improves smoothness and accuracy, and the combined hydraulic movements provide greater efficiency for increased productivity. The new transmission’s automatic mode offers greater flexibility and optimum torque with less operator fatigue, with the option to switch to standard powershift transmission at any time.” 

Manitou Group has also worked on reducing TCO with more robust components for better residual value. Design innovations have also been introduced, including easier access to the engine, reducing preventive maintenance costs by 8.7% compared to the previous range.

Main specifications of the new telehandler range

A lift truck perfect for rental companies

To meet the demands of North American rental companies, Manitou Group has upgraded its range of heavy-duty rough-terrain lift trucks. Equipped with a 45-degree tilting mast, the lift trucks can be easily transported on trucks in North America without the problem of getting under bridges where the clearance height is often reduced compared to European infrastructures. This sliding mast also gives the operator greater visibility.

The M40 model, presented at Conexpo, has a load capacity of 8,800 lbs, for two lifting heights of 22 feet with the triplex mast version, and 15 feet with the duplex mast version. This range is particularly suited to residential construction, public works or road infrastructures, as well as container handling in port areas.

Launch of the electric platform range in the US

The Group continues to roll out its “Oxygen” low emissions range. After Europe last October, the ATJ 60e all-terrain aerial platform (200 ATJe in Europe), with a working height of 66 feet, is now available in a four-wheel-steered version for greater maneuverability and a basket that can now accept 550 lbs of full load, 66 lbs more than the two-wheel-steered version. The TCO is reduced with an almost 50% decrease in maintenance costs compared to the internal combustion version.

A new ATJ 46e model is also added to this range of all-terrain electric telescopic articulated platforms. With a working height of 52 feet, this model has a basket with a full load capacity of 551 lbs. A second version, the ATJ 46+e, is also available on the North American market, significantly increasing the capacity up to 882 lbs. An extended range solution known as “E-Xtra generator” is also presented at Conexpo. It is a removable generator common to all the platforms in the range, delivering up to one week of autonomy.

Arnaud Boyer, VP Marketing & Product Development, adds: “Conexpo is a great opportunity to present new electric solutions. This continues the expansion of our US-bound aerial platform line, initiated in 2019. With 14 models now on offer, we are strengthening our position in a market with very high potential for Manitou Group. We will continue to extend electrification to other ranges in accordance with the objectives of our CSR roadmap”.

Launch of the MT 625e electric telehandler

Manitou Group is also adding to its range of compact lift trucks with the commercial launch of its first 100% electric compact telehandler. The MT 625e, with a capacity of 5,500 lbs and a height of 20 foot, guarantees performance as good as the internal combustion version and is the same size. Fitted with a 25 or 33 kWh lithium-ion battery, this model reduces the maintenance budget by 56% and significantly reduces the total cost of ownership for the user.

Ideal for indoor applications, downtown or renovation of historical buildings, the MT 625e benefits from the optional Operation Safety System and Harmony on-board display for safe and easy operation. Made in France, this model is available for the European and North American markets.

A new range of electric rotative telehandlers: 2 models – 6 versions

The group presents an electric version of its range of rotative telehandlers with the MRT 2660e from the recent VISION+ range. With a loading capacity of 13,000 lbs for a respective lifting height of 85 feet, this model performs just as well as the internal combustion models and even allows simultaneous boom movements.

The 700 V/65 kWh lithium-ion battery ensures optimum use of these models, even in difficult climate conditions like in Northern Europe. In order to boost the range by an additional 4 hours, a second 700 V/65 kWh battery can be added. Users have a third option with a hybrid version of these models using a range extender.

This configuration improves flexibility, in particular to make long journeys between two sites or to charge the battery on sites that do not always have electric charge points. There are also several charging mode options on these two models, with an on-board 11 kW charger for charging in 4 hours 30 minutes, and an on-board 22 kW charger that takes just 2 hours 15 minutes.

An even quicker solution is available to users with another on-board charger that allows charging in under an hour. Please note that the charging source must be 400 VAC. With these options, the Group is offering greater flexibility to operators according to their needs.

To make it easier to get started and to support the transition to electric machines, a dedicated training course is available for operators as an option. This training is delivered on the end customer’s site, in its environment, with its applications and attachments – by an expert from the Manitou Group.

A new range of heavy-duty telehandlers

The new MHT range has been designed for safe handling of heavy and bulky loads, on all types of terrain. Its performance has been improved with capacities from 20,000 to 73,000 lbs, for a working height up to 39 feet. Ergonomics have been enhanced with a comfortable and easy to access driver’s cab with wide non-slip steps, a large door and the cut-out of the floor with “Easy step” access for getting into and out of the cab safely.

The new Manitou JSM joystick now features capacitive technology that automatically and accurately detects the operator’s hand for safe operation. Among the models in the range, the group is presenting at Conexpo the new MHT 11250, with a lifting height of 36 feet for a maximum load of up to 55,000 lbs. It features a new, easy-to-use and ergonomic touch panel. Fitted with a hydraulic system providing a 60 gallon/min flow rate and a load detection pump, the MHT 11250 guarantees a very high productivity level.

It should be noted that the engine speed adapts automatically to the needs of the transmission thanks to the Eco-Mode system that can be activated from the cab, thus reducing fuel consumption during travel. This heavy-duty range is particularly suited to mining sites.

An ever-expanding service

In order to provide a high level of service quality, Manitou Group connects all of these new ranges as standard, providing customers, especially rental companies, with more data on machine use for optimized fleet management. This connectivity also makes it possible to anticipate maintenance work and thus avoid downtime.

In order to provide offers adapted to the various financing needs, the Group launched Manitou Group Finance three years ago. This program offers future machine buyers several options. The Group also offers extended warranties tailored to the new electric ranges with full support for parts and labor for up to 6 years or 6,000 hours of machine use. This subscription is available at any time during the initial warranty period, up to 2 years.

Currently launched only in Europe, the Easy Care offer combines warranty, financing and connectivity in a single solution. The idea is to provide users with a turnkey offer so they can concentrate solely on their work with complete peace of mind. The Group plans to extend this solution to other countries, with the goal of rolling it out in the US by 2024.