The Price of Admission
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July 21, 2004 - Some industry insiders say the global market for rotating telescopic handlers has grown to as many as 1,200 units per year with a 10% annual growth rate. Yet, many describe these versatile forklifts as niche products. With these numbers, they can hardly be boxed into that description -at least not in the global marketplace.
In the U.S. market, however, which is dominated by rental organizations modeled to rent mainstream products, few companies are willing to take the time or risk the capital to develop the “niche” demand for this type of telehandler. It is reasonable to expect that the appeal of rotating telehandlers will remain and grow among retail customers. Its multi-tasking capabilities make it ideal for heavy industry, contractors, and owner-operators looking for a do-it-all piece of equipment.
Manitou, which first introduced a rotating telehandler here in 2000, has recognized the need to address two distinct markets in order to develop the concept in North America . The MRT 2150 and MRT 1432, introduced earlier this year, have vastly different capabilities and carry price tags to match. These units replace the MRT 1850, the company's original introduction in North America . Part One of a two-part series follows on Manitou's new MRT models. Watch the next issue of Lift and Access 360 for a full evaluation of the MRT 1432.
Looking back
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The rotating telehandler is not a new concept—first introduced in the early 1990s by French manufacturers Manitou BF and Merlot. Later these producers were joined by Italian maker Italmacchine, which is now a part of the Terex family. In 2000, Manitou was the first to launch a rotating telehandler in North America with the MRT 1850. But success in North America has been limited. Shortly after the MRT 1850 was launched, Terex took a shot at the market with its newly acquired Italmacchine product. That endeavor ended almost as fast as it began when Terex withdrew the product in 2002.
I recall being impressed with the versatility the MRT 1850 offered when I evaluated it in the Fall of 2000—part telehandler, part crane, and part personnel lift. But I also remember how expensive it was. At the time, the list price for a base model was nearly $190,000—quite a premium over a traditional fixed boom machine with similar lift and reach capability. Additionally, the model had a couple of issues that needed to be resolved. With the introduction of the MRT 2150 and MRT 1432, Manitou has addressed all of these concerns.
Although sold on its ability to multi-function, the MRT 1850's hydraulic tools attachment ports were difficult to use due to the tremendous back pressure that was captured in the hydraulic system. The operator had to follow a series of annoying steps in order to release the back pressure. On the new models, this problem has been resolved by incorporating an open-center valve. Other across-the-board improvements include a new load indicator system that was developed by Manitou and produced to the company's specifications by Italian-based 3B6; steel fenders replace plastic ones; and wiring and circuitry have been upgraded to military specs.
A closer look
Key specifications for the high-end and more fully equipped MRT 2150 include its 10,000-pound maximum lifting capacity, vertical reach of nearly 68 feet, and forward reach of almost 60 feet. Other features that set this unit apart from the more price-sensitive MRT 1432 include 360° continuous rotation, frame leveling, and telescoping stabilizers. The stabilizers, as shown in Image 2, are built with a cross over “scissor” design and can be set at intermediate positions.
Both models get their power from a Perkins 268 cubic inch displacement (cid) , four-cylinder, direct injection diesel engine. The MRT 1432 at 27,450-pound GVW uses the standard 1104C-44T engine, while the 35,483-pound MRT 2150 needs the extra oomph of a 132-hp 1104-44TA. The majority of the extra power the latter Perkins engine delivers is derived from the addition of an inter-cooler. Both units utilize a Rexroth hydrostatic transmission.
Both models share all the requisite features of a rough-terrain telehandler such as three-way steering and four-wheel drive. Additionally, the MRT 2150 accepts a myriad of tools and attachments, the most interesting of which is a 3D Rotating Pendulum Basket.
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This particular feature can be used with limitation on the MRT 1432, but its capabilities are fully appreciated on the MRT 2150. This attachment extends the working range of the boom by almost 40 feet in the positive reach position. After doing the math, that means the 67-foot reaching MRT 2150 can achieve a 106-foot working height with this attachment. Even more impressive, is the attachment's ability to place a person as far as 35 feet below grade and reach nearly 14 feet under and behind the unit's centerline of rotation. Notice in Image 3 that this enables the telehandler to be an effective bridge inspection tool. At $22,430 retail price, the 3D Rotating Pendulum Basket is not cheap, but it's a small price to pay if you have to do any type of bridge or overpass work.
Other great platform attachments include a 13-foot wide work platform featuring 800 pounds capacity. Featuring a patented Manitou design, the platform can be collapsed for storage to just 7 feet wide. And, although the work envelope is limited, a 16-foot wide platform with a massive 2,200-pound capacity is also available.
In the crane mode, the winch lifts a maximum of 6.000 pounds at a 27-foot radius and can lift the load up to 42 feet high at that capacity.
Pricing
It takes time to develop any new concept. And when rental is still the largest market for telehandlers in North America , price can be a barrier to market development. While the MRT 2150 may still be too rich for rental blood, at $177,260 it is in fact less expensive than its predecessor, the MRT 1850. It's also a bigger machine with significant improvements over the old model. (Note: the MRT 1850 is still available in markets outside North America.) For end-user applications where the machine's versatility might mean owning one machine instead of two or three, price becomes less of an objection.
The MRT 1432, however, is what I call an entry-level model. See Image 1. With a base price of $121,760, it offers all the benefits of the original MRT 1850 and the larger MRT 2150 at a lower capacity, but with just a few trade-offs. Most notable is that the MRT 1432 only has 400° of turret rotation. It also uses a simpler stabilizer system limiting outriggers to one position.
In telehandler mode, the MRT 1432 can lift 6,300 pounds at a forward reach of nearly 38 feet. All three of the platform attachments can be used with the model, although some restrictions apply when using the 3D Rotating Pendulum Basket. (Consult factory for details.) A 6,000-pound winch and a variety of other tools can also be used with the MRT 1432.
