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Manitou has opened its new R&D test centre in Ancenis, western France where prototype machines will be thoroughly tested on their endurance and durability.
Work began on the new €1.5 million facility in May last year, where 16 employees will be based, specialising in driving and test bench maintenance. The facility includes a driving circuit and an RT 2012 certified building.
The prototypes are put to the test for cycles that can last up to several thousand hours, the equivalent of the average life span of a machine. Several test robots and driving tests are undertaken, making it possible to analyse the resistance of the major parts and other components.
R&D director Jean-Yves Augé said: "By automating the various test phases, we are able to accelerate the evaluations on our machines to provide our users with ever more reliability. This is about certifying the capacity and endurance of all our ranges and our future innovative products. We are fully involved in continuous improvement."
