To meet the demand for a versatile machine that is easy to use and transport, Manitou Group has introduced a very lightweight model with a transportable weight of less than 3 t, which can be loaded onto a trailer with a PTAC of 3,500 kg. This new ULM/GCT model was designed entirely by the design office at the Laillé (Ille-et-Vilaine) site in France, dedicated to producing ‘super compact’ telehandlers for the group.
The compact machine features a width of just 1.49 m and a height of 1.92 m. It has a lifting capacity of 1.25 t and 1.5 t – for a lifting height of 4.30 m. Two versions are available for Manitou dealers – the ULM 412 H and ULM 415 H for Ultra Light Manitou – and also for Gehl distributors with the GCT 3-14 and GCT 3- 14+ for Gehl Compact Telehandler.
Profitability
Targeted at a number of sectors, such as construction, agriculture and landscaping, this ultra-compact telehandler enables users to work efficiently thanks to its rapid familiarisation process and small size. It also allows artisan masons and landscapers to travel to their customers easily with a single trailer. This means machine transportation times are greatly reduced, thus increasing user productivity.
The telehandler is suitable for various applications, owing to a range of attachments like forks carriage, pot clamp, branch cutter, Big Bag handler and snow blade. Proving its usefulness on rough-terrain, this four-wheel drive machine has an oscillating rear axle, a wide range of tyres and a high ground clearance of 29 cm.
Several innovative features help to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of this model. The Stop & Start option ensures a reduction of around €10 per hour idling of the machine’s TCO (reduced machine depreciation, fuel consumption and preventive maintenance). The capacity of the hydraulic tank is also reduced by around 25% thanks to the presence of an anti-aeration filter.
The hydraulic compensator is replaced by an electronic compensation, allowing the compensating cylinder to be dispensed with, thereby reducing hydraulic oil requirements and reducing the weight of the machine. Removing the compensating cylinder also reduces the width of the truck, making it easier to move in tight spaces, particularly when entering farm buildings, loading straw bales, or manoeuvring on renovation sites when handling pallets of cinder blocks or bricks, for instance.
Maintenance is optimised with facilitated access to the main components of the engine thanks to the wide engine compartment opening. A hatch in front of the engine allows straw or dust near the radiators to be removed, and access to the fuel and hydraulic oil tanks is facilitated by their eye-level position. The Gehl and Manitou versions are connected as standard, and users can completely manage maintenance via their smartphone thanks to the MyManitou and MyGehl apps.
Comfort and safety
The new ULM/GCT telehandler is designed to make handling operations safer and more enjoyable. Access to the cab is easy with no added step. Inside the cab, the operator has an unobstructed 360° view to work safely.
“We worked with our design office to find an innovative solution that provides even more safety and comfort. We replaced the roof grille with a transparent, shock-resistant polycarbonate window, which complies perfectly with the requirements of the FOPS standard,” said product manager Camille Rouvrais.
The visibility improvements also apply to the operator’s lateral view. The side view is very clear due to the position of the hydraulic hoses inside the boom and the engine cover positioned low down to the right of the operator. The user can also make use of driver assistance, with a screen on the dashboard displaying all the information needed for driving in the form of pop-ups.
The joystick is positioned as standard on a floating armrest for more flexibility of use, and two vents are situated on the windshield for optimal demisting. For prolonged driving comfort, the group has also introduced an automatic parking brake and offers three steering modes: two-wheel steering for travelling at high speeds; four-wheel steering for manoeuvring in tight spaces; and crab mode for lateral manoeuvres.
The ULM/GCT is distinctive for its small height but paradoxically has a large ground clearance of 29 cm, enabling it to move across difficult terrain without any problem. Powered by a 35 hp engine, this ultra-compact truck provides a maximum hydraulic flow of 48 l/min. The machine is equipped with a flow sharing distributor, enabling several hydraulic movements to be carried out at the same time. With a transportable weight of between 2,550 kg and 2,900 kg depending on the configuration, the ULM/GCT can be transported on a trailer.
According to Manitou, the first deliveries will take place from the third quarter of 2022 in Europe, North America and Australia. A specific offer will be made by the group for the first 180 machines produced with the Stop & Start option, the pneumatic cloth seat, a four-year warranty and an attachment supplied in addition to the forks carriage. This offer will be effective until 31 May 2022.
Manitou Group was supported in this project by the Brittany region and particularly by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), which helped it to invest in research, technological development and innovation, through the call for ‘Innovation for Industry of the Future’ projects aimed at SMEs and mid-cap companies in Brittany.
