Manitou factory expansions focus on green energy

Manitou Group has announced an €80 million ($97 million) investment plan for the redevelopment and expansion of its France-based production sites in Ancenis, Candé and Laillé.

The investment, which will take place over the next five years, is part of the manufacturer’s New Horizons 2025 roadmap and will support the expansion of its electric and hybrid ranges.

Elisabeth Ausimour, president of the product division, said, “The dynamics of our markets observed since the last quarter of 2020, and the need to industrialise our future electric and hybrid models, reinforce our decision to invest in this innovative equipment, in line with our determination to accelerate our green transition.

“These installations will enable us to better absorb our activity peaks, as we are currently seeing with an order book at an historical level, to sustainably increase our production capacities in France and to improve the safety of our employees.”

The telehandler production units in Ancenis and Laillé, as well as the new aerial platform site in Candé, which will start operations at the end of 2021, are the focus of the future investments. The project will include the construction of new buildings on each of the sites, as well as the reorganisation of existing infrastructures to optimise production flow.

Ausimour added, “The design of these new facilities will be consistent with our CSR commitments to an eco-responsible industry. This will enable us to reduce our environmental footprint and strengthen our local presence.”

As part of Manitou’s €460 million investment in its New Horizons 2025 strategic plan, announced in January, construction of the new buildings will start this year.