Ahead of Lamma, Merlo is celebrating 45 years since the launch of the SM30 telehandler, which made its debut at the Paris Agricultural Show (Salon de la Machine Agricole) in 1981.
The SM30 will be on the company’s stand at Lamma, alongside the newest versions of the Turbofarmer machines.
According to the company, the SM30 was the first telehandler and offered several now-standard features, including four-wheel drive and steering, and equal-sized wheels, which helped to improve traction and manoeuvrability.
Prior to the launch, handling operations relied on tractor-mounted loaders, forklifts and cranes, whereas the SM30 could lift, extend and manoeuvre.
Its success led to specialised models, including the Panoramic in 1987, which improved the visibility, and the Roto range in 1991, which provided 360deg rotation for crane-like functionality.