Haulotte marks 40 years

Pierre Saubot.

Haulotte is celebrating its 40th anniversary of MEWP production.

Since its inception in the early 1980s, the France-based MEWP and telehandler manufacturer has been a leader in the European access sector.

The Haulotte story took a decisive turn in 1985 when Pierre Saubot acquired both Pinguely and Haulotte, which had produced cranes together, from the French group Creusot Loire.

Under his leadership, Haulotte gradually shifted its focus away from general construction equipment to aerial platforms, while military-oriented mobile crane manufacturing remained in Pinguely.

This strategic decision paved the way for Haulotte’s rapid expansion in the access industry, with its first model being the H46N boom lift, launched in 1986.

The Haulotte factory in 1975.

Core values 

Reflecting on the journey, Pierre Saubot said, “It was a bold gamble and, in retrospect, almost foolish. At the time, French industry was going through a crisis, and investing all my savings in a heavy engineering company seemed unreasonable.

“However, driven by my passion and knowledge of the sector, I rose to the challenge. Today, I have fond memories of this adventure, with its mix of excitement, doubts, and the unfailing support of my family.”

Alexandre Saubot.

Remaining true to its values, Haulotte has retained its independence through majority shareholding and continuous reinvestment in the company.

Looking ahead, Pierre’s son and current CEO Alexandre Saubot said the company continues to drive forward with a commitment to innovation and sustainability.

“Our core mission is to protect people by offering advanced, environmentally-friendly solutions. As we celebrate this milestone, we reaffirm our dedication to shaping the future of the access industry with cutting-edge technology and customer-driven innovations.”

Read more about Haulotte’s history here.