Manitou Group's new compact telehandler for construction, agriculture, and landscaping industries
The Manitou Group has launched a new compact telehandler.
To meet the needs of users who want a versatile machine to transport between job sites, Manitou has designed a lightweight model with a transportable weight of less than three tons, which can be loaded onto a trailer with a PTAC of 3,500 kg.
The telehandler has a width of 1.49 m and a height of 1.92 m. This model comes in two versions with a lifting capacity of 1.25 t and 1.5 t respectively and a lifting height of 4.30 m. The telehandler is available in two different versions at Manitou dealers and another two versions at Gehl distributors.
Operating costs of the new telehandler
The telehandler was built to be used in a number of sectors, such as construction, agriculture, and landscaping. The telehandler enables users to work efficiently thanks to a rapid familiarization process and small size. It also enables operators to travel to their customers easily with a single trailer. This means machine transportation times are greatly reduced and user productivity is more efficient.
A range of attachments designed for this model allows it to be used for more applications, providing users with even more attachment options such as forks, carriages, pot clamps, branch cutters, and snow blades. Proving its usefulness on rough terrain, the four-wheel-drive telehandler has an oscillating rear axle, a wide range of tires, and a ground clearance of 29 cm.
A number of features help to reduce the total cost of ownership. The Stop & Start option ensures a reduction of around €10 per hour idling of the machine's TCO (reduced machine depreciation, fuel consumption, and preventive maintenance). The capacity of the hydraulic tank is also reduced by around 25 percent due to an anti-aeration filter. The hydraulic compensator is replaced by an electronic compensation, allowing the compensating cylinder to be dispensed with, reducing hydraulic oil requirements and reducing the weight of the machine. Removing the compensating cylinder also reduces the width of the telehandler, making it easier to move in tight spaces.
Maintenance is also ideal with facilitated access to the main components of the engine due to a wide engine compartment opening. A hatch in front of the engine allows straw or dust near the radiators to be removed. The Gehl and Manitou versions are connected as standard and the user can manage maintenance via their smartphone on the MyManitou and MyGehl apps.
The wide range of telehandler versions allows customers to concentrate on their business, with numerous extended warranties of up to six years, or around 6,000 hours. Financing solutions or maintenance contracts are also offered for each customer according to their needs. To avoid downtime, Manitou keeps a stock of spare parts, which can be delivered within 24 to 72 hours. A network of 1,050 dealerships in 140 countries is available to support every user on a daily basis.
Comfort and safety of the ULM/GCT telehandlers
The new ULM/GCT telehandlers are designed to make handling operations safer. Access to the cab is easy with no added step. Inside the cab, the operator has an unobstructed 360° view to work safely.
"We worked with our design office to find an innovative solution that provides even more safety and comfort," said Camille Rouvrais, Manitou Group product manager. "We replaced the roof grille with a transparent, shock-resistant polycarbonate window, which complies perfectly with the requirements of the FOPS standard".
The visibility improvements also apply to the operator's lateral view. The side view is clear because of the position of the hydraulic hoses inside the boom and the engine cover positioned low down to the right of the operator. The user can also make use of driver assistance, with a screen on the dashboard displaying all the information needed for driving. The joystick is positioned as standard on a floating armrest for more flexibility of use and two vents are situated on the windshield for optimal demisting. For prolonged driving comfort, the group has also introduced an automatic parking brake and offers three steering modes: two-wheel steering for travelling at high speeds, four-wheel steering for maneuvering in tight spaces, and crab mode for lateral maneuvers.
Equipped with a 35 hp engine, the telehandler offered by the group has a maximum hydraulic flow of 48 L/min. The telehandler is equipped with a flow-sharing distributor, enabling several hydraulic movements to be carried out at the same time. With a transportable weight of between 2,550 kg and 2,900 kg, depending on the configuration, the ULM/GCT can be transported on a trailer.
The first deliveries will take place from the third quarter of 2022 in Europe, North America, and Australia. A specific offer will be made by the group for the first 180 machines produced with the Stop & Start option, the pneumatic cloth seat, a four-year warranty, and an attachment supplied in addition to the forks carriage.
