Manitou takes on rides and wildlife

Drayton Manor Theme Park used a 14 m lift height Manitou telehandler to help to strip down its rides for maintenance and third party inspection.

The Manitou MT1440, supplied by local Manitou dealer BTE Plant Sales, based in Leicestershire, was chosen for its ability to handle abnormal or wide loads.

It is the fourth Manitou to have been purchased by Drayton Manor, the last being a 12 m lift height MT1235.

An unusual requirement for the MT1440 is the handling of crates of animals for the zoo at Drayton Manor. Recently, a Sumatran Tiger arrived and the Manitou was on hand to unload the crate with the tiger in it and take it to the zoo cage.

Keith Whitefoot, rides manager at Drayton Manor, said, “Whether it is a rare tiger or a theme park ride carriage the Manitou is equal to the task and precise handling is the order of the day as the loads are either very expensive to replace or are an endangered species.