Posted: October 2019
Manitou started life in France in 1958 and is now a world leader in the materials handling sector. Over 60 years ago Marcel Braud designed his first forklift truck, but since then the range has grown to include rotating telehandlers, masted forklift trucks, aerial work platforms, articulated loaders, and backhoe loaders.
MHT (Manitou Heavy Telescopic) Mining range has been engineered to carry heavy and bulky loads across rough terrain. Manufactured in Italy, the range includes telehandlers with a lift range of between 7 and 10 metres and a load capacity ranging between 9 and 23 tonnes – a perfect mix of efficiency and versatility. All models are designed to maximise productivity, and of course safety. Emergency braking and steering, ROPS/FOPS cab, automatic equipment recognition, an automatic parking brake and a fire protection system are just some of the key safety features you will find on a Manitou telehandler.
The ergonomic cabin provides a panoramic view ensuring the driver can see everything they are doing and reducing blind spots. The controls are user-friendly and produce an instant response from the vehicle, which is easily manoeuvred via a JSM (Joystick Switch and Move); the hydrostatic transmission and low consumption engine guarantee a balanced combination of power and precision; and last but not least a large number of attachments to fit the range are available, making the vehicles in the MHT series truly fit for all purposes.
Thanks to the collaboration between Manitou and Brigade Electronics, operating the vehicle is conducted with total regard for the safety of both drivers and ground workers. Manitou’s materials handling vehicles have been fitted with Backeye®360: this system combines images from four high definition cameras positioned around the vehicle, “stitched” together to form a birds eye view on the drivers monitor, thereby eliminating blind spots. The Backeye®360 BN-360-300 features 15 on-screen viewing options, including split screen, horizontal and portrait modes. This generation of the Backeye®360 range also features a viewing angle 22% greater than its predecessor, ensuring a driver can see everything around the vehicle and take evasive action should safety be compromised.
For the larger vehicles in the Mining Series, Manitou and Brigade Electronics have designed a solution that guarantees a full view of the vehicle and its load. Specifically, the MHT10230 vehicles are fitted with a VBV-320C video camera in addition to Backeye®360 so that the surrounding area, including the area beyond the load, can be viewed even more easily.
VBV-320C is a flush mount eyeball camera. It is robust and suited to work in extreme conditions: it has 5 infrared LEDs – crucial in poor light conditions – and can function at temperatures ranging from -30° C to +70° C; it can withstand mechanical vibrations up to 8.5 G, and shocks up to 51 G. It is connected wirelessly with a DW-1000-TX transmitter and a DW-1000-RX receiver, both powered by the vehicle, to enable viewing on the cabin monitor without the need for cables: this is particularly beneficial to vehicles where routing cables is problematic and are where the cables are prone to damage.
The images from the Backeye®360 and the VBV-320C are sent to a 7 inch screen in the cabin – a Brigade VBV-770HM. The screen can be split to show up to four images in high definition. It has a lock button to prevent tampering and the menu is simple and user-friendly.
Manitou is considering fitting Backeye®360 into all its materials handling vehicles, as clients appreciate its merits and increasingly request it. It is beneficial when manoeuvring and crucial for total safety in all working environments, whether operating in quarries, building sites or the open road.
