Positive outlook for Manitou - five new machine launches

French manufacturer, Manitou, is confident that after a couple of slower years the access market will recover in 2010. With this in mind the company is going ahead with the launch of five new access machines which it will show for the first time at the APEX exhibition.

Talking at Manitou's Nantes headquarters yesterday (1 July) Patrick Demot, marketing director, said that the access market is subject to a six year cycle driven by the rental market, "After three good years 05 to 07," he said, "We must expect decreases in 08 and 09 but the rental market and the economy will recover in 2010."

Mr Demot bases his prediction on the expectation that by 2010 the US economy will have recovered, rental companies will be investing in new equipment and the MEWP (mobile elevated work platform) market in emerging economies will be continuing to develop.

Manitou's new products are two bi-energy articulated booms, 150 and 170 AETJ L; an additional model in the internal combustion articulated boom range taking the working height to 20 m, 200 ATJ, and the 80 and 100 VJR Evolution vertical mast platforms with jib.

The bi-energy booms are similar to Manitou's electric models but the addition of a low noise, two cylinder, water cooled, Lombardi Focs 702 - 10.7 kW engine allows the machines to be used outside as well as inside. The 150 AETJ L and 170 AETJ L can run entirely from the battery in electric mode, or from the diesel engine and have 15 and 17 m working heights respectively.

The machines are not designed for rough terrain but bigger tyres and a larger ground clearance (17.5 cm compared to 10 cm on the all electric machines) makes them suitable for external work. The engine has the additional advantage of being able to recharge the battery, while in diesel operation, from 80% discharged to full in just three hours.

The 200 ATJ 20 m articulated boom which will go into production in the first quarter of 2009, differs from Manitou's smaller 160 (16 m ) and 180 (18 m) models in that the articulating elements are aligned on top of each other not side by side. This construction, says Manitou, provides more rigidity for the higher working height and 12 m outreach. The 200 ATJ has a new motor, which meets the Euro III standards, this will later be incorporated into the smaller models.

The VJR Evolution series have been designed with weight and ease of transportation in mind. The 80 VJR Evolution weighs just 2250 kg while the 100 VJR Evolution weighs 2600. The decreased weight of the evolution models and the additional flexibility provided by the jibs makes them easy to use in a wider range of internal applications.

The new machines have been developed very much with the demands of the rental market in mind. Mr Demot said, "Our success over the last few years is due to the quality of our sales network and relies on the products we have developed and the products we are developing."