Manitou is a French heavy equipment manufacturer that makes

forklift A forklift (also called industrial truck, lift truck, jitney, hi-lo, fork truck, fork hoist, and forklift truck) is a powered industrial truck used to lift and move materials over short distances. The forklift was developed in the early 20th c ...

cherry picker An aerial work platform (AWP), also an aerial device, aerial lift, boom lift, bucket truck, cherry picker, elevating work platform (EWP), mobile elevating work platform (MEWP), or scissor lift, is a mechanical device used to provide temporary ...

s, telehandlers, and other heavy equipment. Manitou started in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

in 1957 when Marcel Braud designed the first forklift truck for use in rough terrain. Its headquarters are in

Ancenis Ancenis (; ) is a former Communes of France, commune in the Loire-Atlantique Departments of France, department in western France. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the new commune Ancenis-Saint-Géréon. It is a former Subprefectures in France ...

. The firm expanded internationally, with Manitou UK formed in 1971, Manitou Italia in 1985, Manitou BeNeLux in 1990, Manitou Portugal in 1993, Manitou Australia in 2004, Manitou Vostok (Russia) in 2005, and Manitou Poland in 2007. Company revenues first exceeded €1 billion in 2007.

Yanmar is a Japanese diesel engine, heavy machinery and agricultural machinery manufacturer founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1912. Yanmar manufactures and sells engines used in a wide range of applications, including seagoing vessels, pleasure boats, cons ...

purchased 6.26% of the company in 2012. Manitou was a finalist at the European Rental Awards 2019 organised by the

European Rental Association The ERA - European Rental Association is a trade association representing the equipment rental sector in Europe. History and Mission ERA was set up in 2006 to promote and represent the equipment rental industry, which was largely overlooked and ...

. In November 2022, it was announced Manitou had acquired one of its authorised service and repair companies, the Castelfranco-based, Gi.Erre. In December 2022, it was announced Manitou had acquired an 82 percent stake in easyLi, the

Chasseneuil-du-Poitou Chasseneuil-du-Poitou (, literally ''Chasseneuil of Poitou'') is a commune in the Vienne department, administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, western France. It lies 7 km north of the centre of Poitiers. Its inhabitants are called th ...

-based producer of

lithium-ion batteries A lithium-ion or Li-ion battery is a type of rechargeable battery that uses the reversible intercalation of Li+ ions into electronically conducting solids to store energy. Li-ion batteries are characterized by higher specific energy, energy ...

References

External links

Manitou company page
Manufacturing companies established in 1957 Construction equipment manufacturers of France Forklift truck manufacturers French brands French companies established in 1957 Companies listed on Euronext Paris {{manufacturer-stub