Over the last four decades Glosrose has steadily grown from a small Maidstone-based materials handling equipment supplier to a nationwide company working across the agricultural, viticultural and construction industries.
Now headed up by Jake Butcher, the family-run firm prides itself on nurturing customer relationships and the sales, hire and service teams all continue to offer a very personal service while turning over in excess of 600 units per year.
Being a multi-franchise dealership, Glosrose is not limited to just one manufacturer’s range; instead the dedicated team can supply the right machines for customers’ individual requirements. As well as working closely with Doosan, Volvo and Caterpillar according to Jake, one of the most exciting, forward-thinking manufacturers they currently work with is Manitou.
“Farmers know and respect the diverse range of machines produced by Manitou,” said Jake Butcher, chief executive officer at Glosrose. “We were awarded the dealership around seven years ago and haven’t looked back since. The popularity of the red trucks and telehandlers has allowed the business to increase significantly and today we service customers all across the UK.”
Founded over 60 years ago and now a world leader in all-terrain material handling equipment, the Manitou Group is a well-known name in the agricultural industry, with farmers more than familiar with the diverse range of telehandlers, forklift trucks, compact loaders, warehousing equipment and attachments.
Conveniently located just off the M20 in Hollingbourne, Maidstone, Glosrose is one of Manitou’s UK dealers, supplying the full range of all-terrain telehandlers which come in a range of lifting heights (4 to 18 meters) and capacities (2 to 3.5 tonnes), and benefiting from specially designed steering modes, including a crab steer for tricky sideways approaches, for ultimate driving control around the farm.
Released to the market just 18 months ago, the MT420H buggy is the most compact telescopic handler in the MT range. Standing at just 1.9m tall, 1.49m wide and with a total length of 3.6m, the telehandler can lift 2t to a maximum height of 4.3m. Complete with four-wheel drive and steering and a turning radius of under three meters, the MT420H is capable of negotiating the most confined, uneven and difficult to access spaces.
“The MT420H has been exceptionally popular with customers, particularly fruit growers who are looking for a multipurpose machine which can fit down narrow rows and also work in the yard,” said Jake. “The cab is just as spacious as the larger MT625H model, but the rest of the machine is more compact, and the huge selection of attachments offers operators the exact sort of versatility you need on a busy farm.”
For those looking for a slightly bigger machine, the MT625 offers all the advantages of a loader, telehandler and forklift while still being proficient in cramped, hard to reach spaces. As well as benefiting from four-wheel-drive and all-wheel steering, the machine has a width and height of under 2m and a ground clearance of 33cm, making it perfectly suited to work in rough-terrain locations which would normally be inaccessible for other handling equipment.
Another new range from Manitou, which includes the MC18-2, has also seen the all-terrain truck sector reinvented; providing farmers with access to another compact unit which has the highest ground clearance on the market.
The MC18-2 has an overall width of just 1.45m, which allows the machine to manoeuvre into tight spaces, such as orchard and vineyard rows, while retaining a lifting height of 5.5m and a maximum capacity of 1.8t available in 2 and 4 wheel drive, 2.5t model is also available.
“With its torque, power and four motors integrated in the wheels, the MC18-2’s terrain resistance is exceptional allowing it to negotiate banks and slopes with ease,” said Jake. “To maximise use, the MC18-2 can also be configured to switch from two-wheel to four-wheel drive. In two-wheel drive, operators can reach 25 km/h, optimising fuel consumption and making it easier to move between the orchard and the yard, while four-wheel drive will meet any terrain requirements.”
From telehandlers, forklifts and loaders, to pallet stackers, reach trucks and cherry pickers, whether a farmer or grower is seeking a new or used unit, for sale, long-term lease or seasonal hire, the Glosrose team has the right mix of equipment to support all agricultural businesses.
