Manitou Group, manufacturer of material handling, personnel lifting and earthmoving, presented a comprehensive range of connected solutions at the Conexpo show. Innovations includes two new mobile elevating work platforms for the North American market and a new Manitou telehandler. The group's latest innovation, a Gehl electric compact skid loader concept, was unveiled for the first time.
Since January 2019, Manitou Group marketed its connected machines worldwide as standard equipment. The Group recorded more than 10,000 active connected machines. The connectivity of the machines ensures optimized machine use and reduced downtime, thanks to simplified preventive maintenance and improved spare parts delivery times. All the data is collected using the dedicated EasyMANAGER system, accessible via a web platform and a smartphone application. An API solution has been developed by Manitou Group for connection of the systems already used by the rental companies and key accounts for their fleet management, making it possible to meet their specific needs.
Pascal Graff, service development manager, said, “Our goal is to bring added value to the entire value chain, from our distribution networks, comprising our dealerships and the rental companies, to the end users. Our connected machines ensure a net decrease in their total cost of ownership.”
In keeping with its goal of offering users innovative solutions, Manitou Group provides owners of Manitou, Gehl and Mustang by Manitou connected machines with two smartphone applications to track all pertinent information about their machine. As part of the group's drive for digital transformation, the “MyMANITOU” and “MyGEHL” applications are conceived and designed first and foremost to provide immediate service. The operator can at any time find out the location of their machine or machines (up to five), their fuel consumption and fuel level, and detect potential technical problems. To avoid productivity-sapping downtime, it is possible for the operator to contact their dealership easily via these applications to anticipate any work by a technician on the machine.
Manitou Group premiered its new telehandler, the Manitou MTA 12055. This model, designed and distributed only in North America, has the largest lifting capacity in the construction telehandler range. With a maximum lifting capacity of 12,000 pounds (5.5 t), this new model offers a lifting height of 55 feet, 5 inches (17 m) (and can take 5,500 pounds/2.5 t to full extension). The MTA 12055 is designed for
infrastructure, bridge and construction projects. With a turning radius of 12 feet 2 inches (3.7 m), this model maneuvers on tight work sites. Equipped with a 120 hp engine and powershift transmission, the MTA 12055 telehandler has a maximum travel speed of 22.8 mph.
A super-compact model launched in 2019, the Gehl RS 4-14 telehandler is presented at Conexpo with a new sealed cab, which provides optimal protection of the dashboard and the electrical components. The boom head has also been redesigned to improve visibility of the load carried on the forks, providing greater safety for the operator. With a width of 4 feet 9 inches and a height of only 6 feet 24 inches (1.49 m x 1.90 m), the RS 4-14 is designed for home renovation work, where space is often limited. Although it is the most compact model offered by the group, the RS 4-14 has a maximum load capacity of 4,000 pounds (2 t) and a lift height of 14 feet 3 inches (4.3 m). This new version of the RS 4-14 ensures that the user's total cost of ownership is optimized, with a 10 percent reduction in preventive maintenance compared with the previous version.
Recently introduced in the United States, the range of MEWPs dedicated to the North American market has expanded, with four telescopic platforms ranging from 60 to 85 feet. Two of these models, the TJ 85 and the all new vertical mast electric platform VJR 26 were on display at Conexpo. The TJ 85 has a platform height of 85 feet (26 m) for a lifting capacity of 770 pounds (350 kg) or three people with equipment. It also has a remote control, which gives the ability to fold the jib under the telescopic arm to reduce the length of the machine when loading onto a truck. This means that transportation is optimized and the driver can carry out this operation safely. The working height of 85 ft (28 m) and horizontal outreach of over 70 feet (21 m) ensure that it meets the requirements of many sites (ports, industrial maintenance, construction, etc.). The TJ 85 features a telescopic jib, which makes it possible to reach working areas that are inaccessible with a conventional machine. It enables operators to work with greater accuracy and flexibility. Another feature of the Manitou rough-terrain platform is the on-board diagnostics screen, so that technicians do not need to carry a tablet to resolve potential problems. Downtime and total cost of ownership are therefore reduced.
The VJR 26 is designed for interior applications at medium height. Thanks to its working height of 26 feet (8 m), this new platform facilitates maintenance operations, including fitting electrical conduits, plumbing and other tasks related to industrial finishing. Its compact size enables it to access narrow spaces for a smooth ride. Easy to operate because of its compact size and intuitive controls, the VJR 26 gives the operator a high level of safety with unobstructed visibility due to the compactness of the telescopic mast. There are fork pockets on each side of the turret to safeguard loading operations onto trucks and reduce the time taken.
Manitou Group premiered a Gehl electric skid steer loader concept at the Conexpo show. Powered by lithium-ion batteries, this zero emissions concept machine showcases the group's focus on alternative energies. Based on the R 165 compact skid loader model, this electric concept has the same rated capacity of 1,650 pounds (750 kg). Noise levels are reduced drastically in this concept machine. It is designed for sites where noise emissions are a particularly sensitive issue: schools, hospitals, shopping malls or any other highly populated environment. Another key advantage of this concept machine is the simplified servicing, thanks to the reduction in the quantity of hydraulic oil needed.
Launched on the market in September 2019 and designed to meet the needs of rental companies, the RT 135 compact track loader has a Pilot joystick, which facilitates maneuvering. It is particularly used for renovation projects and by landscape companies. Equipped with the automatic track tensioning system, Ideal Trax®, this model has a load capacity of up to 1,350 pounds (612 kg), a hydraulic flow of 16.9 gpm (64 L/min) and a maximum lift height of 9 feet 18 inches. (2.80 m). The RT 135 loader has an hourly preventive maintenance cost of $1.07/h (€0.97/h), 30 percent less than previous versions. This difference can partly be explained by an increase in oil drain intervals: 1,000 hours vs 500 hours previously for hydraulic oil, and 500 hours vs 250 hours for engine oil.
The group also presented two models from its Mustang by Manitou articulated loader range: the AL 608 and AL 708 T. Launched in the United States in January, the AL 708 T model is the largest articulated loader in the range and is equipped with a telescopic arm that extends to 16 feet 6 inches (5 m) for a maximum capacity of 7,714 lb (3.5 t). Loading trucks and high-level pallet handling are among the main applications of this model. The AL 608, with a capacity of 6,409 pounds (2.9 t) for a lift height of 10 feet (3.3 m), is now available with a Tier IV engine. Dedicated in particular to road construction and snow-clearing operations, this loader's preventive maintenance costs are 38 percent lower than those of the previous version, according to Manitou.
Nine forklift models will be marketed during 2020* equipped with a new engine compliant with the Tier IV standard, including the MC 30, presented in preview at Conexpo. This new engine will help reduce emissions levels in this range. This development is therefore perfectly in line with the Manitou group's CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) policy. The compact and versatile rough-terrain MC 30 is the ideal companion on work sites and is particularly popular with rental companies. The total cost of ownership is reduced with this new model, with preventive maintenance down by 22 percent compared with previous versions, the maker said.
A new mast is also available on the whole range of rough-terrain forklifts with less than 3.6 t capacity. Thanks to a new mast profile design, visibility is improved by 35 percent (up to 45% depending on the model), significantly improving safety for the operator and the surrounding area. Designed by its R&D department and manufactured on its principal production site in Ancenis (France), Manitou Group says it remains the only manufacturer of rough-terrain forklifts on the market to produce its own masts.
