The Manitou Group stands as a towering figure in the world of material handling and off-road equipment, a French industrial champion with a truly global footprint. Founded in 1958 by Marcel Braud in the small town of Ancenis, France, the company's story began with a revolutionary idea: adapting the farm tractor for handling tasks. This ingenuity led to the invention of the first all-terrain forklift, a product that would define an entire industry and set the stage for decades of expansion and innovation. Today, Manitou Group is synonymous with robust, reliable, and versatile machines that operate in some of the most demanding environments on earth, from construction sites and agricultural fields to logistics hubs and industrial facilities.

The company's product portfolio is strategically divided into three core segments, each addressing critical market needs. The first is the Material Handling & Access division, which is the historic heart of the business. This includes the iconic rough-terrain forklift trucks, known for their exceptional stability and lifting capacity on uneven ground, as well as telehandlers and rotating telehandlers that offer unparalleled reach and flexibility. The second pillar is the Compact Equipment segment, featuring compact telehandlers and skid-steer loaders under the Gehl and Mustang by Manitou brands, catering to urban construction and landscaping with their smaller footprint and agility. The third critical segment is the Services & Solutions division, which underscores the group's commitment to a holistic customer relationship, offering financing, parts, maintenance, and digital tools to maximize uptime and productivity for their clients.

Innovation is deeply encoded in Manitou Group's DNA. The company invests significantly in research and development to push the boundaries of performance, operator comfort, and safety. Modern Manitou machines are increasingly equipped with advanced telematics systems, allowing for fleet management, predictive maintenance, and operational efficiency analytics from a remote dashboard. Furthermore, the group is actively engaged in the energy transition, developing electric and hybrid powertrain solutions across its ranges to reduce emissions and noise pollution, responding proactively to the evolving regulatory landscape and customer demand for more sustainable equipment. This forward-thinking approach ensures their machines are not just powerful, but also smarter and cleaner.

With a presence in over 140 countries, Manitou Group's operations are supported by a network of over 1,450 independent dealers and its own manufacturing plants in France, Italy, the United States, and China. This international manufacturing strategy allows the group to be close to its key markets, understand local specificities, and optimize its supply chain. The acquisition of renowned brands like Gehl and Mustang has further strengthened its market penetration, particularly in North America, creating a multi-brand strategy that caters to diverse customer preferences and price points while leveraging shared technological platforms.

Beyond the machinery, Manitou Group cultivates a strong corporate culture centered around passion for the customer's challenge, a spirit of partnership, and a commitment to social and environmental responsibility. The group understands that its equipment is a vital tool for its clients' businesses, and thus prioritizes durability, total cost of ownership, and unwavering support. As it looks to the future, Manitou Group is poised to continue its leadership by embracing automation, connectivity, and alternative fuels, always with the core mission of helping its customers handle their material and terrain challenges more efficiently, safely, and sustainably. From its humble beginnings in the French countryside to its status as a worldwide reference, the Manitou Group remains firmly on track, lifting industries and shaping landscapes across the globe.