These days, most of us find ourselves at some point searching for different ways to complete a task that could potentially be done in a faster, more productive manner. You might be thinking “why fix something that isn’t broke?” and I don’t blame you for thinking that way.
That being said, Steve Jobs didn’t re-create the cell phone by not challenging something that “wasn’t broke”. We are constantly searching for ways to be more productive and complete tasks quicker whether it’s in our day-to-day tasks or even a task at work.
The Agricultural Industry is no different. Farming has been around for as long as we’ve been on this earth and is continuously evolving. In years past, the farming culture has leaned towards completing tasks with whichever tools & equipment are readily available at that time. Today, there are materials handling solutions that can help to reduce operating costs by offering one machine that can do the job of various pieces of farm equipment.
The telehandler is a European invention that has been around for decades but has only shown its true growth potential in the North American Agricultural Industry in recent years. More and more farmers are realizing the value of these versatile machines.
1. Versatility is the word engineers had in mind when they sat down to design agricultural telehandlers.
Typically designed with a low mounted boom, these telehandlers allow for full 360 degree visibility from the operators cab. They offer an extended reach, high lifting capacity lifting capacity, and attachments for just about every job on a farm. Whether you’re stacking hay bales in the field, moving heavy bucket loads of feed through tight spaces, or even unloading a pallet of parts, these machines have the attachments you need to get the job done quickly.
You may now be imagining the pain of switching attachments from past experiences, but I want to tell you how easy it can be to switch from a bucket to a bale clamp without breaking a sweat. Machines can come equipped with hydraulic quick-attach functions that allow you to connect to your next attachment with a touch of a button. Otherwise a simple pin can be pulled out to switch between different attachments.
Along with the large portfolio of attachments, these machines come in a very compact, tightly built chassis. Their compact size is ideal for working in tight, confined spaces typically found when feeding livestock, handling bales or loading and unloading product.
2. Cost Savings, farmers and business owners can reduce the size of their fleet and their overall operating costs with a telehandler and application specific attachments.
The cost savings you find in owning one of these machines truly comes from my first reason above, versatility. With the portfolio of attachments, compact size and the ability to complete many tasks, the telehandler can help eliminate multiple machines around the farm. These “multi-taskers” are meant to take the place of small – mid sized loaders, skid steers and even forklifts.
3. Durable and built to last, agricultural telehandlers are designed to handle the toughest jobs and the most challenging terrain.
I think we can all agree that saving money all while increasing productivity is something to appreciate.
A machine like this might sound great at first, but ensuring that it is built to last is what makes it a valuable addition to any farmer’s arsenal. Features such as Agricultural-grade tires, generous ground clearance, auto-reversing fans, a solid one-piece chassis, excellent tractive effort and robust powertrain components allows for smooth operation regardless of the job.
It’s easy to see how telehandlers have been adapted to fit agricultural applications and how they can save farmers both time and money. If you would like to learn more about our line of Manitou MLT Series telehandlers or if you would like to set up a free equipment analysis to see if a telehandler will work for your application, contact us today.