32 / 68
ACCESS in ACTION
Manitou Group has been present in
Malaysia for about 20 years through
an importer and has a large fleet of
telescopics.
The Manitou Center Malaysia sells and
rents the group’s products, machines
under the brands Manitou, Gehl and
Mustang and all services such as spare
parts, guarantee extensions, financing
and full service contracts, plus a fleet of
telescopic trucks for rental.
Manitou Center Malaysia is initially
targeting the construction, rental and
oil markets. Malaysia is also a large
exporter of palm oil, a sector in which
materials handling is essential for the
activity; Manitou is already referenced
in this sector. This country represents
the second-largest fleet of Manitou
telescopic trucks in Asia which requires
a commercial presence and increased
provision of services on site.
Manitou Center Malaysia occupies a
surface area of 900m², including a sales
Manitou Group opens a Manitou Center in Malaysia
area, a spare parts shop and offices.
The team in place since 1 January 2016
includes an operations manager, sales
executive, three technicians and support.
The objectives of the team are to double
the capacity of operations within
three years and triple the number of
telescopics, to reach 50% market share.
Julien Poupart, operations manager said:
“The opening of this Manitou Center
is very important for the development
of Services and Solutions offers to our
customers. We want to provide them with
a service adapted to their requirements.
In particular, we have a rental fleet of new
telescopic trucks to enable our customers
to develop their activities with latest-
generation equipment."
Visit: www.manitou-group.com
In 2013 a manually-operated stabiliser on
a truck, fitted with a vehicle load crane,
unintentionally extended while travelling
on a public road and killed a cyclist.
In the most recent incident, an outrigger
on an amusement ride trailer swung out
while being driven on a public road and
hit a vehicle heading in the opposite
direction, killing the driver. Similar
incidents have occurred elsewhere in
Australia and internationally.
Stabilisers and outriggers have many
configurations depending on the
application and are used to minimise
the risk of toppling when the centre of
gravity of the combined load and vehicle
is outside the support base of the vehicle.
Outriggers lift the vehicle’s wheels off the
ground while stabilisers do not.
Examples of mobile plant using stabilisers
or outriggers include:
• mobile cranes;
Vehicle stabilisers and outriggers safety alert
• truck mounted EWPs;
• vehicle loading cranes;
• mobile concrete placement booms;
• mobile amusement rides.
Manually operated stabilisers rely solely
on the locking mechanism to ensure the
stabiliser remains in the travel position.
The stabiliser can extend due to:
• the stabiliser not being returned to
and effectively locked into the travel
position;
• the stabiliser restraining mechanism
failing;
• incidental forces, such as, when the
truck goes over a bump or around a
corner.
Hydraulically operated stabilisers still
require effective restraint during road
travel, but they are less likely to extend
due to the resistance afforded by the
hydraulic system.
For safety, make sure:
• components of the stabiliser or
outrigger travel restraint locking
mechanism are fit for purpose,
inspected and maintained in
accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendations and/or guidance
provided in relevant technical codes
and standards;
• workers who drive the vehicles are
provided with appropriate instruction,
training and supervision regarding the
proper use of the stabiliser or outrigger
and the associated locking mechanism.
The training should relate to the
specific make and model of plant and
be documented;
• management consider installing a
warning system (eg: a warning light
in the cab) to indicate the retracted or
extended position of stabilisers.
Visit: www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/news/
safety-alerts
The Manitou Group has opened a Manitou Center in Malaysia – its first in Asia – to better
serve its local customers and develop its activities in the zone.
WorkSafe Queensland recently announced a safety alert to highlight the risks
associated with stabilisers and outriggers on trucks and trailers when travelling on
public roads. The following is taken directly from its website.
32
ACCESS IN ACTION • AUGUST 2016
The Manitou Center Malaysia sells and rents the group’s products, machines