Manitou CEO: Strong growth in North America

Speaking at Bauma, Manitou interim CEO Dominique Bamas said the company is "enforcing new commerical aggressiveness" toward both the rental sector and its own market share, and said strong growth in North America will continue through the coming years.

"2013 should be better for the Americas with an average growth rate of 5 percent," Bamas said. Europe, meanwhile, will see 1.8 percent, and total construction trends for the next 5 years average out to 4.6 percent of growth per year.

"There is strong growth in North America," Bamas said. "Rental is investing and re-fleeting and the residential construction sector is coming back."

The company used Bauma, April 15-21 in Munich, to showcase its renewed mid-height series of telehandlers, including the MT 835, MT 1135 and MT 1335. The three models now incorporate identical designs and components, the company said. The MT 835, MT 1135 and MT 1335 all have maximum capacities of 3,500 kg, feature a Perkins type IIIB/Tier 4i engine, have overall widths of 2.28 m and turning radi of 3.85 m.

The MT 835 features a lifting height of 7.75 m, a capacity at maximum outreach of 1,150 kg and its overall length and height measurements are 5.24 m and 2.42 m respectively. The MT 1135 has 11.05 m of lifting height, a 1,200 kg capacity at maximum outreach with an overall length of 5.37 m and overall height of 2.42 m. Lastly, the MT 1335 has a lifting height of 12.55 m, 1,000 kg lifting capacity at maximum outreach, an overall length of 5.86 m and an overall height of 2.42 m.

According to Bamas, these units are ideal for non-residential work including infrastructure and confined environments.

"As they all have identical design and are easy to maintain whatever the model, the mid-height construction range is particularly adapted for hiring. They exhibit all the know how that has made the reputation of the Manitou brand in construction: compact design, robust structure, safety and manoeuvrability," said Olivier Traccucci, Manitou's marketing manager – construction market.

Manitou also debuted its M 30/M 50 all-terrain masted truck, the MRT Privilege Plus and the MRT Easy.

Lastly, Bamas told reporters at a press conference that Manitou is in the midst of searching for a permanent CEO, and that he expects his post to last another 5-6 months. "I'd like [to be CEO] for another 10 years," he joked when asked how long his interim post would last.

For a full recap of all the machines, see the upcoming issues of ALH and AI.