Manitou Southern Africa – a team of 62 people – is a South African Proprietary Limited (Pty Ltd) company headquartered in Isando, Johannesburg, which distributes and services a range of rough-terrain material handling equipment mostly manufactured by Manitou BF in France. South Africa:
• Gauteng
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Eastern Cape
• Western Cape
• Vaal Triangle/Freestate
• North West Province
• Limpo
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Africa:
• Botswana
• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
Our History
Andree Braud and Henry Faucheux originally founded Manitou in 1953 under the name Braud & Faucheux. By 1958, the company had patented the world’s first all-terrain forklift by incorporating lift mast and hydraulic system designs with that of a standard tractor. In 1981, Braud & Faucheux changed its name to Manitou – after the company’s most popular product’s brand name. Three years later, Manitou BF was listed on the secondary market. The 1990s saw rapid growth and internationalisation of the parent Manitou Company, establishing over 23 subsidiaries and 600 dealerships world-wide. Prior to 1997, Manitou Southern Africa had existed as an informal entity for 37 years, but was appointed the official distributor and approved service centre for all Manitou equipment in South Africa. Manitou BF, along with its subsidiary Manitou Southern Africa, began a world-wide takeover of the Gehl Company in 2008.
