Compact enough? IRN reports on the latest compact and super-compact telehandlers

IRN looks at some of the latest super-compact telehandlers to arrive on the market, and rounds-up some other new launches, including one of the first western style handlers from a Chinese manufacturer.

They may not be the ‘bread and butter‘ rental machines, but compact telehandlers are now an established niche within the handler market.

Defining ‘compact’ isn’t an exact science, but broadly we are looking at machines with carrying capacities of under 2.5 or 3.0 t and with maximum boom reaches of less than 7 or 8 m, although there are models going down to 4 m or less.

Some manufacturers have made a definite feature of their super-compact models – including JLG, Ausa, JCB, Terex AWP and Wacker Neuson – while all the mainstream suppliers have standard machines that are a little larger but nevertheless fit into the compact segment. Manitou’s smallest construction handler, for example, is the MLT 625, a 2.5 t, 6.0 m reach model, Merlo’s P25.6 is almost the same size, and Bobcat’s TL2250 is a very compact 2.2 t, 5 m unit.

But let’s start with the latest super-compacts on the market, including new machines from Wacker Neuson, JLG and Terex AWP.

Wacker Neuson’s new TH412 and TH625 machines – which are based on Wacker’s Kramer Allrad models – are good examples of the genre. Made available in the Wacker Neuson brand for the first time this year, the smaller of the two, the TH412, is just 2.92 m long and 1.56 m wide and can carry up to 1.2 t up to a reach of 2.3 m, although its maximum stacking height is 4.31 m. The larger TH625 has a maximum stacking height of 5.73 ms and is 1.96 m wide, while the maximum load capacity rises to 2.5 t.

The German manufacturer highlights its ‘vertical lift system’ (vls), which it says avoids longituidinal tipping without any loss of productivity or speed. “Where other systems interrupt the working cycle by switching off the hydraulic function, vls allows for safe and smooth sequences of operations even under high payloads through a partial automation of the telescopic movement”, says Wacker Neuson. The operator can choose between two modes of operation: bucket mode and stacking mode.

Also operating in the super compact segment is JLG Industries, which earlier this year updated its range of small machines by renewing the 2505H, one of four compact machines in the range, the others being the L2906H, 2906H and 3507H models, all of which were launched in 2009.

The 2505H has a lift capacity of 2.5 t and a maximum reach of 5 m and now comes equipped with a Deutz Tier IV engine and, says JLG, “offers customers significant improvements over the previous generation in visibility and cooling capability.” The unit is extremely compact, with 2.28 m wheelbase and width of 1.80 m.

Spain’s Ausa takes compact to its logical extreme, with a range of super compact telehandlers. The latest development here is the new ‘Plus’ version of the T 144 H model, a 1.35 t, 4 m lift height model. It weighs just 2.4 t, unloaded, and, claims the company, is 200 mm narrower than competing machines from Wacker Neuson and JCB, for example.

The big change with the Plus version is the use of a new Ausa/Poclain “mechanical‐hydrostatic transmission with permanent 4WD that reduces the cost of the machine while keeping its performance, handling loads up to 1350 kg in very tough ground conditions.”

More recently, Terex AWP used the ICUEE utility equipment show in Louisville, Kentucky in October to introduce a new version of its compact GTH-5519 telehandler.

The GTH-5519’s specs have changed, with length reduced by around 125 mm. The telehandler’s wheelbase has expanded by 50 mm and the turning radius has decreased by 75 mm.

Otherwise, the main design changes are reflected in the engine choice, cab design, serviceability and product quality, says Terex. A Deutz TD 2.9 L4 Tier 4 Final engine replaces the Deutz D 2011 L4 Tier 4 Interim unit, and no diesel particulate filter is required, but rather a diesel oxidation catalyst muffler. The power of the new engine is 55.4 kW at 2600 rpm compared to 50 kW on the previous model.

The cabin interior has been completely upgraded. Now with a black dashboard, the new main instrumentation cluster offers an integrated display showing messages coming from the engine’s electronic control unit. A new and more efficient air defroster and ventilation unit keeps the cabin comfortable, said Terex AWP.

“This newly updated telehandler is even simpler to use and service,” said Chad Hislop, Terex Aerial Work Platforms product manager, telehandlers. New fenders add to the durability of the machine and easy access to the engine compartment improves serviceability. “These upgrades help our rental customers bring the machine in from rent, do necessary maintenance and quickly get it back out to work”.

Production of the new machine will begin immediately for the ANSI and CSA markets. The new unit will be available for South America beginning in 2014.

Italy’s Faresin, meanwhile, says it has been investing heavily in its business over the past four years, with €10 million on production capacity – not just telehandlers, it also sells formwork and scaffolding – and a further €2.5 million on research and development.

Based in Breganze, Vicenza, and run by the Faresin family, revenues are now double what they were in 2009, with sales of €40 million expected this year, a 20% increase on 2012.

Playing a part in that growth will be the latest telehandler launches – seen at the Agritechnica show in Hannover in November – comprising the FH Series Compact models with Tier 4 Interim engines and Faresin’s new VPS and VPSe transmission.

The smallest of these is the FH 7.30, a 7 m boom unit with a maximum 3.0 t carrying capacity, although also in the range are 8 m, 9 m and 11 m models.

The new Variable Power System (VPS) transmission for speeds of up to 40 km/hr is used in the FH 7.30 and FH 9.30 units, while the electronic Variable Power System Eletronic (VPSe), with three different driving modes (soft, work and automotive), is available on the FH 7.45, FH 8.40, FH 9.30 and FH 11.30 models. The 7.30 uses a 90 kW Deutz Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB engine, while a larger 115 kW Deutz engine is used on the VSPe models.

Faresin says the handlers have a new, larger cabin, which increases the operator’s field of view by 20%.

Another big name in telehandlers, Bobcat, is also updating some of its machines with new Stage IIIB compliant engines. Although not strictly speaking a compact model, the 4 t, 7 m TL470HF, a high power version of the standard TL470, is now powered by a Deutz TCD3.6 L4 diesel engine providing a rated power of 89.5 kW at 2300 rpm. The engine uses EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and a DOC-only diesel oxidation catalyst) solution, eliminating the need for a diesel particulate filter.

The TL470HF has a new load sensing pump delivering a hydraulic flow of 190 l/min, offering faster cycle times at a lower engine speed when performing both single and combined boom movements. This helps to reduce fuel consumption and improve efficiency.

The use of the Deutz engine is part of a new agreement between the engine manufacturer and Bobcat that will see the Deutz TCD 3.6 L4 engine used in Bobcat’s TL360, TL470, T40140 and T40180 series models.

Manitou has one of the widest range of machines in the market, although recent launches have tended to be revamps of mid-sizes machines – for the example, the mid-height MT 835, MT 1135 and MT 1335 models have recently replaced the MT732, MT932 and MT1030 units. All three use a 4 cylinder, Perkins Stage IIIB/Tier 4 Interim engine.

The new kid on the block in terms of handlers is Magni Telescopic Handlers in Italy, the business established by Riccardo Magni, the former Manitou Italia manager.

The company is making a wide range of fixed boom and rotating models, but the focus here is on mid-sized or very large models. The fixed boom HTH machines, for example, have lifting capacities of 25 and 30 t, while the rotating RTH machines each have 5 t lifting capacities and boom lengths of between 18 and 30 m. In other words, not compact.

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Telehandler frenzy in UK

The improving rental market in the UK, and in particular a growing housebuilding market, has led to several major telehandler orders in recent months, with Hewden, Fork Rent and Nixon Hire all placing enormous deals.

Earlier this year Fork Rent ordered 900 telescopic handlers from JCB in a £53 million (€61.7 million) deal, one of the largest single order’s in JCB’s history.

The order include the 540-200 Loadall, the 20 m high-reach model, with Fork Rent being the first major rental company to invest in the machine.

Fork Rent, based in Ipswich, has been a major customer of JCB’s since 1987 and in that time has bought more than 5500 JCB machines, including its backhoes, through dealer Watling JCB.

Next up was Nixon Hire, which has taken delivery of 107 Loadall telehandlers from JCB in an order worth £7 million (€8 million). The firm has purchased the handlers in lift heights ranging from 7 m to 17 m. Nixon Hire operates 14 depots across the UK and one in Doha, Qatar.

The most recent order was from Hewden, which has ordered 463 Caterpillar C series telehandlers from dealer Finning UK in a deal worth £25 million. It is the largest single order for Caterpillar telehandlers ever placed in the UK.

Kevin Parkes, Hewden CEO, said: “These products are in high demand from customers and form part of our core fleet proposition. Our investment will ensure we are able to say yes to even more hires and satisfy even more customers.”

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Price challenge

Chris Watts, president and chief operating officer of Arizona-based Sunstate Equipment, says telehandlers are back in demand in its markets, with 12000 lb (5.4 t) machines now growing in popularity, reports Lindsey Anderson.

“People would order 10000 lb telehandlers because the units had the capacity to do whatever they wanted, even if they didn’t need that capacity every day,” says Mr Watts says, “Now it’s 12000 lb telehandlers. There’s definitely been a shift.”

Another significant change coming will be the move to Tier 4 Final engines, which manufacturers have started to roll out. That will have an impact on machine costs and rental prices.

“The problem is getting rates up to be on par with the percentage increase in costs that have happened,” Mr Watts says. “If you have a fleet with only a certain percentage having Tier 4 Final engines, it’s hard to raise rates on a broad category because of an engine that some classes of those machines might not have. It’s going to be a challenge over time – to make that shift and change.”