Manitou expands in USA

The Manitou Group has plans to invest 70 million euros (US$80 million) in its two North American manufacturing facilities in Yankton and Madison, South Dakota. This investment is to be spent on the extension of both sites, an innovation drive, and the development of new ranges. Through this programme, the group reasserts its strong ambitions to achieve the targets set in its strategic plan New Horizons 2025.

With an order book standing at an all-time high of over 3 billion euros, Manitou Group is investing amid a period of sustainable growth. This 70 million euro plan will initially finance the extension of the production facilities of Yankton (articulated loaders and telehandlers) and Madison (skid steers and track loaders) and subsequently fund the modernisation of industrial equipment.

Elisabeth Ausimour, president of the Product division,  said,“We have an extremely promising outlook on our markets, which entirely substantiates these investments. These new developments will enable us to absorb peaks in demand, permanently increase our production capacities and increase the safety of our workers, in particular by optimising flow management. Consequently, we expect to increase our output on these sites by more than 150% by 2026. These projects also fall within our low-carbon transition, through the development of new electric ranges.”

The Yankton facility will see its surface area increase by more than 6000sqm (65,000sqft), compared with 18,500sqm today , while more than 7500sqm (80,000sq t) will be added to the 30,000sqm of production space at Madison. The equipment upgrading relates to mechanical welding and assembly, with the notable additions of new welding robots and laser cutting machines. To support its development, the group intends to hire 50 people on each of these sites between now and 2023, in job categories such as welders, assemblers, maintenance technicians and purchasers. Manitou Group will draw on an attractive employer brand and particularly advantageous benefits packages to attract skills in a State with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the USA.

In parallel with the industrial investment, which will account for approximately 50 million euros (US$57 milllion), nearly 20 million euros (US$23 million) will be dedicated to research and development. The group’s major R&D projects include accelerating the renewal of product ranges and designing electric compact loaders and telehandlers between now and 2026 on these two North American sites.

Franck Buisard, vice president of  Product Unit Compact and Articulated Loaders and managing director of Manitou Equipment America, adds: “This massive investment is a clear indication of the group’s ambition in North America, where there exists considerable market potential. The R&D teams are particularly excited about working on these highly strategic projects, aligned with the priorities in our CSR roadmap.”

Included within the €460 million (US$530 million) global investment envelope in the New Horizons 2025 strategic plan, these projects will launch in the second quarter of 2022 and will continue through 2026.