Agritechnica: Manitou shows off souped-up prototype loader
Like most makers, Manitou saved its biggest and best machinery announcements for Agritechnica, showing a prototype of its new MLT960.
It looks as if it started life in the construction business, but with a lift capacity of 6,000kg up to 9m it should be well suited to those shifting biomass in bulk or huge amounts of grain.
It can be ordered with a 4cu m bucket to make the most of the lift capacity, too. It weighs a whopping 11,700kg, with plenty of weight hanging off the tail to keep all four wheels on the ground during work.
Like several other high horsepower machines in the Manitou portfolio, the MLT960 calls on a John Deere engine for power. The 4.5-litre unit maxes out at 141hp and maximum torque of 534Nm comes at 1,500rpm.
The Dana transmission is stepless and top speed is 40kph. In the hydraulics department there’s a 180-litres/min pump. Loading cycles look pretty reasonable with lifting timed at 8.5secs and lowering two seconds quicker.
The success of the smaller MLT840 has also prompted the French maker to build a bigger version. The MLT 1040 gets an extra 2m reach but uses the same five-speed powershift and Deere powerplant.
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