Construction World July 2019

EQUIPMENT

The Manitou MXT 740.

EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEWWORLD ORDER Manitou Group recently launched two new telehandlers specifically designed for developing markets in Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Africa. These machines were launched in Thailand, the poster child for development in an emerging market. Without compromising the core Manitou DNA of innovation and offering the best to customers, these new machines are adapted to the needs of emerging markets. As such, they enable the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO)

possible. Construction World attended this launch. T he two products that Manitou launched in Thailand are the Manitou MXT 740 and the Gehl TX 408 telehandlers. Even though these models are an adapted version of what is available in the developed world, they offer emerging markets increased versatility, productivity, safety, reliability, and simplicity. “We have not compromised on safety and reliability when developing these machines,” says Laurent Bonnaure, VP Sales & Marketing at Manitou. “Being a premium brand does not mean we cannot be cost effective.” A strategic focus Of the emerging markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Michel Denis, President and CEO of Manitou Group says Manitou considers these as strategic as it extends the brand, particularly telehandlers, after the decades of success it has had in Europe and the US. Manitou’s expertise has always been in material handling & access and in compact equipment. This is a focus that has not changed and is part of the success of this company. “For Manitou innovation, passion, collaboration, and customer centricity are key,” he says. “However, these markets expects machines for them, machines that suit their needs, their conditions, and their economies. We listened and created these machines to suit their needs.” He maintains that these markets required simplicity, robustness,

reliability, and above all cost efficiency. He is confident that the new Manitou MXT 840 and Gehl TX 408 fulfils these needs. A new world order Developing countries are fast catching up with the rest of the world. “There has been a shift where major activity is,” says Bonnaure. “China is now the world’s second biggest economy and by 2020 India will overtake the UK to become the world’s fifth biggest economy,” he explains. Africa, especially, will see rapid urbanisation. “By 2050, the continent’s population is expected to double to 2,2 billion,” says Bonnaure. This rapid urbanisation is true for all the other countries in emerging markets. In fact, research shows that 90% of urban population growth will happen in Asian and African cities. “With urbanisation comes massive opportunity. The developing world will house most of the megacities that will be created. Every week 1,5 million people move to cities,” he says. “The world is changing – a new world order is emerging. These massive urban populations will need shelter, roads, bridges and malls. There will be a need for increased materials handling and productivity in these markets,” he adds. He makes the statement that the telehandler market will grow 17 faster than the current

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD JULY 2019