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TELEHANDLERS
Price challenge
Chris Watts, president and chief operating officer
of Arizona-based Sunstate Equipment, says
telehandlers are back in demand in its markets,
with 12000 lb (5.4 t) machines now growing in
popularity,
writes Lindsey Anderson
.
“People would order 10000 lb telehandlers
because the units had the capacity to do whatever
they wanted, even if they didn’t need that capacity
every day,” says Mr Watts says, “Now it’s 12000 lb
telehandlers. There’s definitely been a shift.”
Another significant change coming will be the
move to Tier 4 Final engines, which manufacturers
have started to roll out. That will have an impact
on machine costs and rental prices.
“The problem is getting rates up to be on par
with the percentage increase in costs that have
happened,” Mr Watts says. “If you have a fleet
with only a certain percentage having Tier 4
Final engines, it’s hard to raise rates on a broad
category because of an engine that some classes
of those machines might not have. It’s going to
be a challenge over time – to make that shift and
change.”
Manitou has launched updated
versions of three mid-height models,
the smallest being this MT835.
Bobcat’s upgraded TL470HF is now powered by a Stage
IIIB compliant Deutz TCD3.6 L4 engine.
cycle times at a lower engine speed when performing
both single and combined boom movements. This
helps to reduce fuel consumption and improve
efficiency.
The use of the Deutz engine is part of a new
agreement between the engine manufacturer and
Bobcat that will see the Deutz TCD 3.6 L4 engine used
in Bobcat’s TL360, TL470, T40140 and T40180 series
models.
Manitou has one of the widest range of machines in
the market, although recent launches have tended to
be revamps of mid-sizes machines – for the example,
the mid-height MT 835, MT 1135 and MT 1335 models
have recently replaced the MT732, MT932 and MT1030
units. All three use a 4 cylinder, Perkins Stage IIIB/Tier
4 Interim engine.
Magni makes entrance
The new kid on the block in terms of handlers is
Magni Telescopic Handlers in Italy, the business
established by Riccardo Magni, the former Manitou
Italia manager.
The company is making a wide range of fixed boom
and rotating models, but the focus here is on mid-
sized or very large models. The fixed boom HTH
machines, for example, have lifting capacities of 25
and 30 t, while the rotating RTH machines each have
5 t lifting capacities and boom lengths of between 18
and 30 m. Not compact, in other words.
IRN
This is obviously not a compact machine, but is notable for
being one of the first Western-style telehandlers to come from a
Chinese manufacturer - Sunward. Called the SWTH3915, the unit
weighs 12.8 t and offers a maximum lifting capacity of 4 t and a
maximum lifting height of 14.46 m. The handler was launched at
the BICES show in Beijing in October.
Sunstate’s
Chris Watts.
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IRN NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013
