As part of its long term commitment to the support of Gehl Skid Steer Loaders in Australia, Manitou Australia recently conducted product service training for its growing dealer network in Australia. Since Manitou Australia assumed control of the Gehl range of products in Australia, a comprehensive network of dealers has been established across the country in metropolitan centres and in selected regional areas.

This service training was conducted by a Gehl US factory representative over a week. Emmanuel Amandjules, customer service manager, Manitou Australia commented “At Manitou we have a strong customer focus and the comprehensive training courses we run at our training facility are an integral part of our support philosophy. The customer is the centre of our philosophy.”

Manitou Australia established its Australian Training Centre in 2005 and over the past four years has trained over a hundred service technicians from its dealer networks. Stuart Walker, general manager commented, “We are very proud of our strong independent dealer networks and with our joint commitment to training our staff we are not only leaders in our field with industry leading products from Manitou and Gehl but more importantly leaders in the ongoing commitment to product support.”

“We employ a full time factory trainer as well as receiving support from our factories in Europe and the US and despite the difficult conditions of 2009 we and our dealers have not cut our training schedule for 2009," commented Walker. In 2009, Manitou will have trained over 80 technicians in support of Gehl and Manitou products.

Further technical training is planned over the coming months in line with the introduction of a number of new Gehl skid steer models. The first new V270 and the ultra compact 1640E shipments arrive in Australia before the end of 2009.