Manitou: Hydrogen Powered Telehandlers & Connected Machine Solutions
Manitou South Asia discusses their hydrogen telehandler prototypes, explores connected machine solutions, and highlights their commitment to safety and efficiency.
The first outcome of these tests is that our hydrogen powered machines will be ready sooner than the hydrogen ecosystem, which will include storage, green hydrogen supply, pumping and charging stations, etc. Working closely with the entire supply chain and infrastructure management entities will be key to effective development of this promising technology. We also hope that the various governments and public authorities will take initiatives to speed up such developments in the infra construction industry.
No doubt, there will be an increasing demand for low-emission and more efficient machines. We might also see the emergence of new and more promising alternative fuels. We will also have machines with more connectivity with even more refined data that will allow operators to increase their efficiency, uptime and maintenance.
Manitou is well recognized for its innovative products that bring a high level of safety to the users. Our aim is to increase this level in the next 5-10 years – also the reason why we are working with a start-up to make specific software for our machines. We are also working with Lhyfe, a French producer of green hydrogen, with the aim to avoid any CO2 emission during H2 production.
We are using some specific machines in one of our factories in France (Candé) so that the workers do not have to carry heavy loads. User interface and machines will be simplified as it is difficult to find and train operators. However, autonomous machines for construction jobsites or for use in farms are not being adopted because of the rules and regulations on their specific use.
Manitou Group proposes a unique customer experience by providing associated services with each product – a personalized approach to help customers select the right equipment to its replacement. The challenge is to support customers with a range of services, parts and attachments through the life of our machines. We aim to personalize the solution so that it responds closely to the clients’ needs and thereby optimizes their usage, and also get a higher resale value for the machines with the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) in the market. It is, therefore, very important to work closely with all the stakeholders such as suppliers, dealers, and rental companies to bring more value to their businesses.
Thanks to connected solutions, the equipment manager and the user receive real-time machine data on a mobile app or a platform. Fleet monitoring is made easier due to the wealth of data collected. This includes information on the condition of the machine, fuel/battery level, operation cycle, location, maintenance alerts, etc, which allows operators to focus on their work with more efficiency.
Through these connected services, Manitou Group encourages sharing of information between users and support teams (fleet managers, technicians, site managers) to reduce machine downtime and optimize performance of both the machines and their operators. Facilitating exchange between teams and helping them make the right decisions on-site and remotely are just some of the benefits resulting from connectivity.
At Manitou Group, our aim is to pioneer green hydrogen in the material handling sector so that we can offer customers zero emission solutions that are best suited to their needs, and which guarantee the same high level of performance and autonomy as other energies.
Hafeez Khan - Managing Director, Manitou South Asia
What progress has Manitou made in developing Hydrogen-powered machines for the Indian market?
The Manitou Group started a hydrogen development program in 2021 with the first drive test in December 2022 of a fuel cell telehandler prototype with a maximum height of 18 meters and a loading capacity of 4 tons. Two prototypes of these hydrogen powered telehandlers are being tested this year on job sites in real operating conditions to better understand the ecosystem required on an actual construction jobsite.The first outcome of these tests is that our hydrogen powered machines will be ready sooner than the hydrogen ecosystem, which will include storage, green hydrogen supply, pumping and charging stations, etc. Working closely with the entire supply chain and infrastructure management entities will be key to effective development of this promising technology. We also hope that the various governments and public authorities will take initiatives to speed up such developments in the infra construction industry.
No doubt, there will be an increasing demand for low-emission and more efficient machines. We might also see the emergence of new and more promising alternative fuels. We will also have machines with more connectivity with even more refined data that will allow operators to increase their efficiency, uptime and maintenance.
Manitou is well recognized for its innovative products that bring a high level of safety to the users. Our aim is to increase this level in the next 5-10 years – also the reason why we are working with a start-up to make specific software for our machines. We are also working with Lhyfe, a French producer of green hydrogen, with the aim to avoid any CO2 emission during H2 production.
Please tell us about Manitou’s autonomous machines for warehouses.
We are working on the development of autonomous machines adapted for logistics centers or factories (warehousing equipment) such as AMR & AGV through partnerships such as "Effidence".We are using some specific machines in one of our factories in France (Candé) so that the workers do not have to carry heavy loads. User interface and machines will be simplified as it is difficult to find and train operators. However, autonomous machines for construction jobsites or for use in farms are not being adopted because of the rules and regulations on their specific use.
What connected solutions and services is Manitou offering customers?
At Manitou Group, we are not just selling products; in fact, we are providing total solutions with our vast range of attachments for all markets, and service packages that can be adapted to meet the specific needs of our customers, in terms of warranty, connectivity, financing, rent to rent etc.Manitou Group proposes a unique customer experience by providing associated services with each product – a personalized approach to help customers select the right equipment to its replacement. The challenge is to support customers with a range of services, parts and attachments through the life of our machines. We aim to personalize the solution so that it responds closely to the clients’ needs and thereby optimizes their usage, and also get a higher resale value for the machines with the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) in the market. It is, therefore, very important to work closely with all the stakeholders such as suppliers, dealers, and rental companies to bring more value to their businesses.
Thanks to connected solutions, the equipment manager and the user receive real-time machine data on a mobile app or a platform. Fleet monitoring is made easier due to the wealth of data collected. This includes information on the condition of the machine, fuel/battery level, operation cycle, location, maintenance alerts, etc, which allows operators to focus on their work with more efficiency.
Through these connected services, Manitou Group encourages sharing of information between users and support teams (fleet managers, technicians, site managers) to reduce machine downtime and optimize performance of both the machines and their operators. Facilitating exchange between teams and helping them make the right decisions on-site and remotely are just some of the benefits resulting from connectivity.
NBM&CW - July 2024
