The Middle East is a key area for Haulotte Group, Europe’s biggest supplier of people and material lifting equipment, according to a spokesman for its Middle East subsidiary.
Based in Dubai, Haulotte Middle East FZE recently celebrated its first anniversary and, buoyed by the response the company has received in the market, has announced plans to expand its regional presence with a new office in Libya this year and another in Algeria next year. Elsewhere it plans to open a subsidiary in Canada and a factory in China.
Haulotte recently added a new telescopic jib to its product range. The H28 TJ+ telescopic jib adds 5 m extra reach to the 28 m big boom.
Arthur Danelian, manager of Haulotte Middle East FZE, says: “The telescopic jib on top of the telescopic straight stick boom is a revolutionary concept and design and we are very excited by the marketing possibilities the H28 TJ+ will deliver as operators get the feel for how versatile these machines really are.
“They are designed to work in the most challenging and difficult-to-reach working environments.”
Able to lift productivity because of its job-site versatility, the H28 TJ+ is at home in any working environment as it offers an outreach of 23 m, a 2.44 m platform, capacity to lift rapidly heavy loads up to 350 kg and a 5 m telescopic jib with proportional controls to reach the most inaccessible worksites.
The H28 TJ+ is equipped with proportional movements and a self-levelling system for maximum operator safety and comfort.
The boom and the jib, with its octagonal cross section in high-elastic modulus steel, provide a good rigid and stable working environment.
The new big boom H28 TJ+ has a narrow fixed-width frame, an oscillating axle and a differential wheel lock to allow for operation in a wide range of areas.
Recognising the importance of the ME and particularly the Gulf market, Haulotte set up a regional office in Dubai at the end of 2007.
Haulotte’s range of aerial work platforms includes electric and diesel scissor lifts, telescopic and articulated booms and diesel telescopic handlers. At present, the company delivers approximately 1,000 machines to the Middle East each year.
The Haulotte Group grew rapidly as companies around the world revised their safety procedures and introduced new equipment for people who work at heights. The company has over 2,000 staff and achieved a turnover of $1 billion in 2007, up 24.8 per cent over the previous year. In addition to the Middle East, the group plans to open offices in Canada this year. Its international presence includes five manufacturing plants in Europe and 24 sales subsidiaries across five continents.
Following the recent acquisition of Bil-Jax, a renowned US manufacturer of self-propelled booms, trailers and scaffolding, Haulotte now offers Bil-Jax booms.
“This product matches industry standards with 45 per cent gradeability, 5.6 km/hr drive speed and four-wheel drive capability.  Hydraulic outriggers have replaced the heavy counterweights found on conventional self-propelled machines. Set-up is complete in less than 30 seconds,” says Danelian.
“Together we offer a competitive choice and better fulfill the needs of customers and partners,” he adds.