Manitou Group, the global leader in handling, aerial lift platforms and earthmoving, is celebrating the 30 year anniversary of its Manitou Benelux subsidiary based in Perwez in Belgium. The third subsidiary of the group founded in 1991 after the United Kingdom and Italy, it provides all its technical and commercial expertise to all the Manitou and Gehl dealers based in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
A diversification strategy In 1991, Manitou Group established itself in Benelux under the name of Mantrec (a contraction of Manitou & the local distributor Treco) in the city of Namur. In 1996, Manitou Group bought Treco’s shares and changed its name to Manitou Benelux. This was followed by strong development with the distribution of aerial work platforms and rotating telehandlers. In 2002, the company moved to Perwez (Belgium) in order to provide a better service to the entire area covered.
A network of proximity Manitou Benelux recorded strong growth in sales between 2010 and 2021 thanks to the expertise of its network of more than 20 dealers and a demand boosted particularly by the presence of rental companies and historic key accounts in this geographical area. «We have been distributing quality solutions to the construction, agricultural and industrial markets for 30 years. Our dealer network is a strength with real experts who respond precisely to customer needs with a service offering tailored to each user. I would like to thank all the teams for the quality of their work and our customers for their loyalty over the years,» said Stefaan Forret, Managing Director of Manitou Benelux.
An assertive CSR approach Manitou Benelux is fully committed to Manitou Group’s CSR approach with numerous initiatives such as the installation of photovoltaic panels in 2016, and then the increase in the proportion of electric vehicles in its fleet. Manitou Benelux has more recently set up a plantation of nearly 400 m of hedges that can neutralize 29 tonnes of CO₂ emissions on an annual basis.
Key figures for Manitou Benelux: • 1996: Creation of the Company • 2002: Establishment in Perwez (Belgium) • 2010: Distribution of Gehl Compact Equipment products • 2012: Distribution of the new ranges of industrial forklifts • 2016: 20,000th machine sold • 2021: €131 M sales revenue • 2022: 24 employees
