Manitou aims to double output

French manufacturer Manitou aims to double output by 2014 and has started to renew its medium and high-reach telehandlers with the introduction of the Privilege series, which will replace Evolution machines.

The 14m and 18m machines have undergone a complete redesign with a thicker and sturdier chassis, the 90° bevel drive incorporated into the gearbox and a new cab. Frame levelling of ±8° is available. The range remains compact with an overall width of 2.38m and height of 2.45m.

Practical changes include attaching the mudguards to the stub axles so they steer with the wheels, and the entire machine will turn within the 4m radius scribed by the wheels on full lock. A hydrostatic transmission option is available by special order in the UK, while torque converter versions get a smoother shift. There is a selectable auto-brake facility, which applies the park brake if the forward speed drops below 0.2km/h.

Updated styling includes a new cab, which at 2m3 is 30% bigger than on the Evolution series. The computer mouse-style joystick used in the agricultural range has been utilised and the new dashboard incorporates a keypad for the security system as well as a display of fault and errors.

If the machine becomes unstable, it locks all functions and displays a symbol to tell the operator what needs to be done. "If the machine won't move, it's telling the operator there's something wrong," said Manitou's Nick Egan. "But it then shows them how to get out of the situation."

Privilege machines come in standard and rental versions, while the 'A' suffix denotes the machine has remote controls ready to be fitted with one of Manitou's 1t capacity access platforms. The EP versions can be retrofitted to accept a platform. Not all versions will be imported into the UK.

The new cab has already found its way onto some of the MRT series of rotating telehandlers and is likely to be seen on Manitou's other machines.