15.05.2012

Manitou UK marks 40 years

Manitou chairman Marcel Braud has planted a tree at Manitou UK headquarters to celebrate the wholly owned distributors 40th anniversary.

Braud visited the Manitou UK headquarters, in Verwood, Hampshire, at the end of April, accompanied by former Manitou international sales manager, Henri Gallard who acted as interpreter.
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Marcel Braud plants the flowering cherry tree with Henri Gallard (L) and Ivor Binns (R).

In addition to the tree planting, a fully restored 1972 MB25C forklift was unveiled as a new display at the facility. The MB25C was a major influence in establishing the Manitou brand in the pioneering days of the rough terrain forklift in the UK & Ireland.

An original sales ledger document from 1972 detailing the purchase of the restored MB25C, which was the 20th Manitou forklift sold in the UK, was presented to Braud by Manitou UK chief executive Ivor Binns.
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Unveiling the fully restored MB25C at Manitou UK offices. Marcel Braud (on the machine) with the restoration team (L-R) Karl Hardy, Michael Duttfield, Craig Boxall and Neil Churcher of Manitou UK.

The tree, a flowering cherry tree, commemorating 40 years and 46,000 machines sold in the UK during that time, was planted in front of the Manitou UK offices.