Merlo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of telescopic handlers^[1] based in Cuneo, Piedmont, with a 330,000-square-metre (3,600,000 sq ft) factory. It has over 600 dealers world-wide.^[2]

History

Merlo was founded in 1911 in close to the city centre of Cuneo by Giuseppe Amilcare Merlo. In the beginning, the company worked in a small workshop & blacksmith, famous for their ability to repair almost anything. In 1948 the Merlo family children got involved with the company's management.

In 1964 the company took a new direction of production under the direction of Amilcare Merlo & his sister Natalina with the formation of Merlo Group.^[3] The first product from the newly formed Merlo Group was the DM Dumper in 1964. In 1966, the company built their first DBM self propelled concrete mixerconcrete mixers featuring a fully hydrostatic drive train. In 1970 came the first Merlo off-road fork lift truck.^[4]

In 1981 Merlo produced their first telescopic handler, the SM 30. Featuring 4 wheel drive, 4 wheel steering and 4 equal wheels the SM30 was much more advanced than the offerings from the competition which tended to utilise a rear wheel steer and unequal wheel configuration. The company continues to specialize in telescopic handlers as a market leader in design and innovation.

In 1987 the company released the Panoramic XS telescopic handler with a side engine and a low-hinged boom at the rear of the chassis. A true 360 degree field of vision was available to the operator. Another industry first enhancing safety and operator comfort. In 1991 the revolutionary rotating handler the ROTO was launched. With the ability to deploy stabiliser legs (early models featured 6, soon reduced to 4 when tests showed that was all that was required) these high reach machines could lift, extend and rotate like a crane. Something that was unheard of previously. Their agility, flexibility and manueverability soon found favour with users worldwide.

The year 2000 saw the introduction of the unique Merlo Multifarmer, bring together a telescopic handler design with that of a tractor. Fitted with a rear 3 point linkage, PTO (power take off), drawbar/trailer hitch and additional hydraulic services the Multifarmer was and remains the only telescopic handler with a rear 3 point linkage. At the agricultural exhibition Agritechnica in 2013 Merlo displayed a Hybrid powered handler. Ahead of its time it caught the eye of the DLG judges whom awarded it a Gold medal for its innovation and design.

During late 2021 Merlo previewed its all new Merlo eWorker, a fully electric compact telescopic handler. Featuring a 2.5 ton lift capacity and 5 meters of reach this emissions free electric powered model was the first step in Merlo Group's Generation Zero programme of emission free vehicles.

November 2022 saw the passing of Amilcare Merlo, the company founder and President. A true gentlemen, innovator and engineer his funeral was attended by family, staff, local people, representatives from local government, industry, charities and organisations that Mr Merlo was connected with. The city of Cuneo came to a standstill as his funeral took place in the city centre.

Past models

Dumpers:
DM
DBM

lift trucks
CEM^[5]
P23.6^[6]
P26.6^[7]
P28^[8]
P30^[9]
P32^[10]
P34^[11]
ROTO^[12]

References