http://www.francebtp.com/materiels/e docs/00/00/7B/83/document_articles.php
Bobcat T40140 : the precision telescopic handler
By Marc Montagnon, BTP Magazine. June 16, 2009
The William Dudout company has purchased their second Bobcat T40140 telescopic handler, a new
generation machine equipped with a manplatform, radio control and a hydraulic attachment system, from
Manuco Services, a Bobcat dealership in Normandy.
This important machine is particularly suited to the company s work in construction framework, roofing,
cladding and insulation, which they carry out from their operating base in Vibeuf, located near the city of
Yvetot, Seine Maritime.
William Dudout runs this formerly family owned company, which he took over in 2005. He has successfully
turned the business around by entering the wood framework installation market, which has been boosted
by new standards in agricultural facilities. At the same time, the company's business also benefited from
increasing demand from homeowners for wood based houses, which are increasingly popular in Normandy,
a well known region for traditional half timbered houses.
The T40140 telescopic handler is a new generation model. Dudout purchased it to replace their previous
machine, which they ran for 1,400 hours without the slightest problem. As William Dudout states, "We use
our telescopic handler for about 1,000 hours per year, which is twice as much as the average use for this
kind of equipment in France."
It is a fact that, for a small business of this kind, a Bobcat T40140 equipped with a manplatform and radio
control enables William Dudout to rapidly and safely carry out all the work orders they receive. As he
specifies, "The radio control enables the operator to move the boom over roofing works, without going
down from the roof. This saves us precious time and reduces the risk of falling off the roof."
William also likes the levelling device, which restricts lateral motion of the load to less than 0.85m to the
right or left of the boom head, when the machine is supported on stabilizers and operates at the 14 m lift
height.
With the T40140 William Dudout can perform all the tasks involved in their line of business, from lifting
800kg roof trusses to handling 2 ton fibre cement pallets with the boom extended up to 14m.
"The very precise joysticks in the operator cab and on the remote control enable the operator to efficiently
position roof trusses to within one centimetre, and the hydraulic attachment system makes it easy to
change attachments", William Dudout added.
Construction framework projects account for nearly 90% of the company's business, so the inclusion of the
new machine in their fleet has turned out to be a very profitable investment, made even more so by the
fact they can easily transport it from one site to another on their DAF 2300 truck and low loader.
This fully justifies William Dudout s decision to replace their first Bobcat T40140 with an updated version of
the same machine, with Manuco Services providing quality service on site to their total satisfaction.
Manuco Services everywhere in Normandy
Manuco Services has been a Bobcat dealer for Normandy since 1986, when the company was created.
The President of the company is Michel Coutard, and his two sons Jean François and Mickaël, together with
