Analytics

Telehandlers have quickly won popularity thanks to their universality and also to excellent features of passability and manoeuvrability. Today these machines have made their successful career having pressed simultaneously both compact front loaders and small capacity mobile cranes. The availability of one telehandler with several attachments enables not to encumber a construction site with mechanisms of a narrow specilization working from time to time and, naturally to pay wages only to one operator of a telehandler which makes a work of 5 machines.

Telehandlers during their 30 years history have received a greater spreading in economically developed countries of West Europe.The situation in Russia is somewhat different. The Russian telehandlers’ market is still if not in embryo then exactly at the initial stage of its development. A serial telehandlers’ home production doesn’t exist. Formally there is a producer of this machine type in Byelorussia – Amkodor. Really as such there is no mass production, there is a single manufacturing, although last time there are activities for a creation of new models. In Russia in the 1990s there were also vain attempts to master a production of our telehandlers, but ... vain attempts so remained as vain attempts. The Kostroma excavator plant (today it doesn’t exist) couldn’t realize a new project: loaders ZTM -213 of 2.5 t capacity with a lifting height 4 m were produced by the piece.

Alas, home users’ sence is restructured with a difficulty for a use of new machines types. Because of it the telehandlers import to Russia is little. At a background of such popular items as excavators, front loaders, backhoe, mobile cranes, dozers, where the Russian market capacity is calculated by thousands of units, the telehandlers segment looks very pale. According to the custom ststistics, in 2007 in Russia were imported 530 telehandlers, in 2008 – 860 units (including used machines). A progress in the percentage expression is, of course, on hand. In the natural one – all is sufficiently modest. It is possible that after end of the today’s crisis, after some more 5-10 years, telehandlers will get in a category of the most demanded at the Russian market types of lifting machines, but for the present ...

By the way, unlike other segments of the imported construction equipment, where used machines are rather popular, deliveries to us of used telehandlers are very small – in 2007 63 machines were imported and in 2008 less -52 units.

I would like to attract attention to one principal moment discovered during a preparation of this article. Many years Your most humble servant is dealing with the research of construction, road, special and other equipment markets which result in analytical surveys offered  to the attention of our respected readers. But i’ve met for the first time such a mass discrepancy of data received this time from companies –importers and data of the custom ststistics. The figures received from sellers in a majority of cases differ considerably from the custom figures and were set too high. What is it? The registration according to the not corresponding code of TN VED because of which an information about the imported in Russia loaders should be looked for not in the loaders database but in the database about chicken gammons or chamber –pots? Wish to look better at the competitors’ background? A delivery of equipment escaping the customs? Or is it simply a misprint? Frankly speaking two last variants look quite fantastic. As a result, the article author used the custom data as final ones.

Thus, let us talk about the Russian users’ preferencies at the market of new (not taking into account used ones) telehandlers.

During last two years the palm is divided between companies Manitou and JCB. They have more than 50% share of the market. In 2007 JCB had a predominance – 28%, in 2008 Manitou took a revenge, having increased its share from 24 to 30%. Manitou last year delivered in Russia 237 machines and doubled the 2007 index. This well-known French company, specializing in a production of various lifting- transportation equipment, by a number and a variety of offered telehandlers models considerably outstrips a majority of competitors. In total the company produces more than 50 models of telehandlers. Among them are both compact models of the 1.4 -2.5 t capacity with the lifting height of 3.8 -5.5 m and universal most demanded at the Russian market of the 3 -4 t capacity with the maximum lifting height 6 -9.7 m. A family of the MRT loaders with a rotating platform of the 3.2 -5 t capacity and the lifting height of 13.8 -29.7 m is produced. In 2008 the most demanded was the 3.1 tonne loader MLT 731 of the maximum lifting height 6.9 m (these machines share was 40% of all Manitou delivered models) and the 4.1 tonne loader MLT 741 of the maximum lifting height 6.9 m (import share of these machines was about 17%).

Company JCB in 2008 was also successful: it imported 175 loaders which is by 37% more than in 2007. From all models spectrum delivered to the Russian market – 12 models of the 2 -4.1 t capacity and the lifting height 4 -16.7 m – the most demanded were models 531-70 the 3.1 tonne capacity and the lifting height 7 m (more than 50% delivered by JCB) and 540 – 140/540-170 the 4 t capacity and the lifting height 13.8/16.7 m (20% of the deliveries).

The JCB success at the telehandlers market is obvious not only in Russia, but and also on the world scale. During 32 years of the telehandlers serial production the company has delivered to clients more than 100 thousand machines (on the 16-th October 2006 has been produced the 100 thousandth JCB telehandler).

The third the more important player at the Russian telehandlers market –company Merlo. It has imported in 2008 103 loaders – by 45% more than one year earlier. In 2007 the company was on the third place according to the deliveries volume (15% market share), in 2008 it was a little pressed by Bobcat. There are more than 60 (!) telehandler models of construction and agricultural purpose in the company’s arsenal. About 30 models of two series are offered to Russian users – universal machines Panoramic and machines with a rotating tower Roto. Capacity of the first ones changes from 2.5 to 10 t, maximum lifting height – from 10 to 26 m. Among novelties it is neccessary to distinguish models Panoramic 25.6 – mini-telescopic loader of the 1.8 m width, the lifting load of 2.5 t up to the height 6 m and Roto 40.26 of the 4 t capacity with the maximum lifting height 26 m. Popular among Russian users were the 3-4 t capacity models – about 90% of the import.

Bobcat last year considerably pressed competitors. In 2007 this company delivered in Russia only 28 telehandlers and in 2008 its import increased by 5 times (!). Thus the company moved from the fourth place to the third, increasing its market share from 6 to 18%.It is neccessary to note here that Bobcat is relatively recently at the telehandlers’ market. A purchase in 2001 of the company Sambron have provided Bobcat with a family of structurally studied telehandlers which Bobcat developes and improves. Bobcat from the moment of the company’s addition has added to its model telehandlers’ range the 17 m version of the 4 t capacity. And quite recently a next novelty appeared – the compact 2 tonne capacity model T2250 of the lifting height 5 m. Now the company produces 8 models of the 5-16.7 m lifting height and the 2-4 t capacity. Last year at the Russian market the most demanded model was T3571 of the 3.5 t capacity and the lifting height 7.1 m (more than 70% of the deliveries).

The Italian company Dieci which was till recently practically unknown to Russians, last 2 years managed rather well to consolidate its position at the Russian market of telehandlers. In 2007 the company has delivered in Russia 23 telehandlers, in 2008 -49, thus a market share of this mark handlers increased from 5 to 6%. The Dieci’s model range of telehandlers is rather wide, the plant produces 34 models with a non-rotating boom and 9 models with a rotating tower. The model range’s acme of such a class is the model Pegasus 4.25 of the 4 t capacity and the lifting height 25 m. Russian distributers receive about 15 models with a classic rigid boom starting from compact models of the 2.5 t capacity with the lifting height 6 m and ending with more powerful models of the 7 t capacity and the lifting height 10 m. Among novelties we’ll mark the loaders Hercules 120.10 and Hercules 160.10 of the capacity 12 and 16 t correspondingly and the lifting height 10 m. The more demanded by Russian builders are models of the series 40.14 and 40.17 of the 4 t capacity and the lifting height 14 and 17 m correspondingly. The more compact models of the capacities 2.8, 3 and 3.7 t with the lifting height 7 m have found their niche with agromanufacturers. The company –distributor plans in 2009 a further expansion of the trade mark Dieci at the Russian market, a widening of a circle of regional dealers and partners.

  Deliveries of the New Holland telehandlers to the Russian market are growing. In 2008 were imported 36 machines – by 2.5 times more than in 2007, which increased the market share from 3 to 4%. Russian users receive 10 models with a non-rotating tower of the demanded capacity – from 3.2 to 4.4 t with the lifting height from 7.1 to 16.6 m.

One more noticeable player at the Russian market – the Italian company Faresin Handlers. Before 2006 this producer telehandlers were delivered to the market under the brand Faresin Haulotte. The reason of it was the established in 2002 the joint venture with the French company Haulotte. But in 2006 Faresin has bought from Haulotte 40% of shares and after it the trade mark was changed to Faresin Handlers. In 2007 the company delivered to Russia 32 telehandlers, but one year later the import volume decreased by 2 times. Today to Russia clients are offered 17 machines models of the 2.5- 7 t capacity and the lifting height 5.7 -18 m.

By the way, after the break with Faresin the company Haulotte has decided to produce its own telehandlers. Today there are in the Haulotte’s production range two telehandlers models HTL Telehandler. Both models have the 4 t capacity and the lifting height 14 and 17 m correspondingly. This is a completely own development of the Haulotte’s design centre. In Spanish borough Santander was built a new plant for the production of these models. In 2007 the new models were shown at the exhibition Bauma’2007 in Munich and in 2008 was started their serial production. In 2009 the company plans to deliver to European markets one more model of the 2.5 capacity. In Russia this model will appear in the second half of this year.

The world producer of the construction equipment – the company Case deliveres to the Russian market a broad range of machines including telehandlers. In 2007 the company imported to us 18 machines (4% market share), but in 2008 it became less successful – only 4 loaders were delivered. A range of offered at the Russian market Case’s telehandlers includes 5 models of the most demanded capacity – from 3.3 to 4.5 t with the lifting height from 12.3 to 16.6 m.

Market shares of other telehandlers producers – Terex, Caterpillar, John Deere, JLG, Haulotte, Paus, Schaffer etc. – don’t exceed 1-2%, and besides last year the shares became still less.

It is worth to take notice of a very important detail which characterize the company work with clients. In 2009 the company Terex Aerial Work Platforms (AWP), the corporation Terex’s subdivision declared about a start of the cooperation with the network SmartEquip in order to raize an efficBesides the mentioned companies, single telehandlers of other trade marks are delivered to us.iency of the clients’ service.Now buyers of Terex AWP can easily order via this network spare parts of Genie and Terex and also other producers’ products. This service from the beginning was made accessible only for users in North America, but in the middle of 2009 it will be possible to use it already in the whole world. We shall note that this technology provides a common site for all registered in the network producers of construction equipment, rental dealers and machines owners.

One more world brand – the company Caterpillar also offers to Russian users telehandlers. After the alliance between Caterpillar and JLG, which have taken place several years ago, telehandlers’ production according to Caterpilllar’s specifications has been completely relocated to JLG’s plant in Belgium. Today there are 9 machines models with the lifting height from 6.1 to 17 m in the company’ production programme.

Products of the German family enterprise Hermann Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH (Emsburen) among telehandlers producers stand by itself. This company’s deliveries to the Russian market are still single ones, but these machines structure, which is different from other producers’ structure, is worthy of the more detailed consideration. Paus telehandlers are built on a classical front loader base with an articulated frame. The company offers two models of telehandlers with a bucket of the 1 cu.m.capacity: TL 855 – with a non-rotating boom and TSL 855 – with a rotating one.In the TSL 855 model an ordinary boom was not simply replaced by a telescopic one, it has a rotating possibility owing to the fact that it is mounted on a rotating circle (by the way, the company produces also and ordinary front loaders with a rotating boom). Such a structural feature enables to have a high manoeuvrability in concise conditions. Owing to the rotating boom with the rotation angle of 180 o (+/- 90o), with the rotation angle of an articulated joint of 80o (+/-40o), the total working zone of the loader is 260o. These loaders models in 2007 were considerably renovated, especially it concerned technical features, improvement of all- round visibility, operator’s comfort and accessability of joints for technical service and repair. The loader of a standard completion is equipped with a hydrostatic drive and a hydraulic device of the quick change for utilization of a wide spectrum of attachments.

Besides the mentioned companies, single telehandlers of other trade marks are delivered to us, which were not spreaded in Russia. It is necessary also to note that some well-known in Russia companies such as, for example, Liebherr, Sennebogen and others, also produce telehandlers, but they are not delivered to the Russian market.

Having examihed sufficiently in detail the Russian market of telehandlers, it is impossible to ignore and the Byelorussian company «Amkodor»’s products. And although telehandlers of this trade mark while didn’t spread at the market, but judging by the fact how Amkodor is actively working last years in thius perspective segment, the Byelorussian telehandlers have future.

The first telehandler of the 521 model has been made at Amkodor still 155 years ago – in 1994. In the evolution process in 1999 has been produced the model Amkodor 535. The Byelorussian designers again have set to this subject enthusiastically in 2006. The models Amkodor 525 and Amkodor 527 have appeared at this time. The last model with the capacity of 2.5 t and the lifting height up to 7 m became a serial one. In summer 2008 the telehandlers’ range was added still by one novelty – Amkodor 540-105. The machine with all drive and steer wheels is equipped with a telescopic 3-section boom, its capacity is 4 t and the maximum lifting height achieves 11 m. Amkodor 540-105 with the engine D-245C2 of the 81 kw capacity and with a hydrovolumetric transmission on the basis of the company Sauer-Danfoss’s hydromachines, which enables to regulate smoothly and steplessly a movement at working and transport speeds. The steering driving axles with the built-in diffential lockup are produced by the company Carraro. Front outriggers and a compensation device even the machine when working with a load at lateral slopes up to 10o. The loader is equipped with the system preventing overloads and the indicator of longitudinal stability. The newly designed cabin has a big area of glasing which together with a machine layout (engine is on the side) gives an all-round visibility of 360o. Amkodor 540-105 is equipped with a bucket of 1.3 cu.m. The machine operating weight is 11.6 t, the maximum speed – 30 km/hr.

OAO «Amkodor» is making an active preparation for a serial production of the Amkodor 540-105 in 2009 in order to present its product in Russia.

The author expresses his gratitude for the help during a preparation of the article to OOO «Academia-Service» (www.ftinform.com).

 

 

A comparison of telehandlers distribution by plants –producers for 2008 and 2007 shows that in 2008, as before, the leaders were JCB and Manitou and there were no sensations. A volume selection of 2008 gives 433 and of 2007 -324 machines. In the author’s archives was found a selection by telehandlers for the middle of July 2006, at that time telehandlers number was 216 units. That is during two passed years a number of registered in Moscow telehandlers increased by two times. Let us see how has changed the situation from 2006 to 2008.

By the total equipment number JCB keeps its leader position (in the end of 2008 -124 loaders), The British share in 2006 and 2007 has been 55 and 78 machines accordingly.

The second place keeps with confidence Manitou -50, 77 and 113 machines accordingly. Generally the telehandlers market can’t snatch at a producers’ variety as,for example, the excavators’ market or ordinary front loaders. By the way, there is no Russian producers in this market segment and on the 10-th March in Moscow was registered no one machine of the 2009 model year!!!

As a result of a distribution of the machines produced in 2008 already 37% or 20 loaders in a natural expression belong to the Italian company Manitou and 33% (or 18 machines) – to the British JCB. In all during the last year the fleet increase was equal to 109 units or 33%, and the new machines share was 54 loaders.