New Holland has French connection
New Holland has French connection
NEW Holland is set to market a telescopic loader, not as a home-built machine, but in an agreement with French manufacturer Manitou.
The agreement will provide a new product range constructed to New Holland engine, cab, operator control and styling specifications.
Production of a new dedicated facility in France will begin in Feb 1998, with new models scheduled to become available in the UK at the end of Mar 1998. They will be sold through New Holland dealer networks which have 154 dealers, 40% of which sell Manitou products.
Chief executive
Umberto Quadrino New Holland president and chief executive officer conceded that it had taken the company some time to enter the telehandler market.
"I know we are a little late but we were looking for a suitable company. Internal costs did not make home production a viable move," he added.
The New Holland-Manitou agreement follows agreements between John Deere and Matbro, Claas and Sanderson and more recently Massey-Ferguson and Sambron. But New Holland stressed the new machines will be entirely different from existing Manitou models.
Five new models are planned offering lift capacities from 2.8t to 3.2t, 6m to 9m lift height and engine power from 90hp to 105hp.