Helen Selkin, marketing manager at Merlo UK, explains how the manufacturer aims to play its part in helping to achieve the new UK Government’s ambitions in the fields of planning and housebuilding
THE recent General Election marked a monumental moment for UK, with the Labour Party securing its first electoral victory since 2005. Given the size of the majority, Labour has a clear mandate to deliver on the promises for change outlined in its manifesto.
Two key commitments, ratified in The King’s Speech, are building 1.5 million new homes and immediately updating the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Both are particularly significant for the construction sector and therefore for Merlo. While these pledges are welcome, the devil will be in the detail on how they are implemented. That said, Merlo has welcomed this impetus to put housing and planning reforms at the heart of the new government’s agenda.
Merlo construction telehandlers: the best tool on site
Amidst this dynamic landscape, having the right machinery is crucial to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving market. The Merlo range of telehandlers, known for their manoeuvrability, market leading safety features and fuel efficiency all feature a hydrostatic transmission. Having offered exclusively hydrostatic drive since 1966, Merlo has perfected the precise control of both speed and torque, enabled the smoothest operation while delivering fuel savings of up to 18% when compared to other systems.
Housebuilding: precision and stability
For the burgeoning housebuilding sector, Merlo’s range of construction handlers stand out as an indispensable asset for any construction site, offering the ideal solution. Merlo offers the perfect blend of stability and reach with the bestselling P40.13 and P40.17 (up to four-tonne capacity, with 13m and 17m reach respectively) stabiliser equipped telehandlers.
With a range of Merlo-produced attachments, these models are ideal for precise material placement in residential projects, providing the necessary lift and reach for a variety of tasks. For example, fly jibs for lifting and placing items like timber trusses and roofing joists whilst integrated man baskets are the certified solution for safe and efficient working at height during construction and finishing phases to name but two applications.
General material handling: versatility across the board
When it comes to general material handling around any construction site, Merlo’s compact 6m, 7m, and 9m telehandlers are indispensable. Their ease of use, tidy footprint and robust design make them ideal for a range of applications allowing for versatile manoeuvrability and efficient material movement.
ROTO telehandlers for a greater range of motion
Probably best known amongst Merlo products in the world of construction, is the rotating ROTO handler capable of positioning loads in a radius of up to 360 degrees. As well as being more cost-effective than a crane, they also require less paperwork! Categorised as a telehandler, a ROTO can travel across sites or on the road, at up to 40km/hour. Merlo ROTO’s are equipped with Stage V 170hp engines and have an impressive lifting capacity of between four and seven tonnes and with a reach of up to 35m.
High specification S PLUS models have dual hydraulic pumps and automatic management of the multi position stabilisers as standard. The ROTO range stands out for its hydraulic tilting cab, delivering exceptional comfort and safety for the operator.
Heavy lifting: compact power for specialised needs
While the market for heavy lifting in construction is niche, the range of Merlo’s high-capacity telehandlers are designed to handle heavy loads up to 12 tonnes with a maximum reach of between eight and 18m.
In conclusion
As the new government embarks on an ambitious construction agenda, the industry’s success will heavily rely on the efficiency and versatility of its machinery. Merlo’s construction range provides the essential tools needed to tackle the diverse challenges of modern builds. Merlo, with a fully stocked UK parts warehouse, nationwide network of service engineers and support, and network of construction dealers, stand as trusted partners you can count on, ensuring that your business can be equipped to excel in any dynamic and demanding environment.
In Scotland, Merlo UK is represented by construction plant dealers WM Rose and Sons Ltd, Ramsay and Jackson, RAS Plant Sales, and BH Plant Sales.
Investing in a Merlo is a strategic move towards sustained productivity, efficiency, safety and ultimately, success in the construction sector.
