Manitou Australia has marked the early completion of its deliveries to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under the Land 8120 project, celebrating the achievement with a closing ceremony at its Lidcombe headquarters.
The event recognised the end of one of the largest material-handling programs in the company’s history. Land 8120, awarded by the Department of Defence to Ventia and its industrial partners, aims to modernise the Army’s engineering support vehicle fleet, including cranes, telehandlers, forklifts, and other equipment used in construction, mobility, and sustainment operations in Australia and overseas.
Manitou Group supplied a customised fleet of all-terrain forklifts and telehandlers designed for military use. The project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget through close cooperation between Manitou’s engineering and service teams, Ventia, and the ADF.
“The Land 8120 project is a testament to what can be achieved through true partnership,” said Stuart Walker, Managing Director of Manitou Australia. “Working closely with Ventia and the Department of Defence, we’ve delivered world-class machines that meet the highest operational standards while strengthening industrial collaboration between France and Australia.”
Representatives from the Department of Defence, Ventia, and the French diplomatic and business community attended the ceremony. Guests included David Moffatt, Chairman of Ventia; Mark Ralston, Group Executive – Defence & Social Infrastructure at Ventia; John Rogers, Executive General Manager Defence at Ventia; Gilles Barrier, Consul General of France in Sydney; Françoise Merit, Chair of the French Foreign Trade Advisors in Australia; Inès Abderahmane, Head of Economic Department at the French Embassy; François Matraire, Country Director for Australia at Business France; and Jérôme Fournand, General Manager of the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Attendees toured Manitou’s Lidcombe facilities and heard presentations on the project’s innovation, training programs, and local support, which contributed to its successful delivery.
“We’re proud that Manitou’s expertise in rough-terrain equipment has contributed to the Defence Force’s capability and readiness,” said Jean-Philippe Gilbert, Marketing & Communications Manager at Manitou Australia. “Beyond the machines themselves, this collaboration reflects the shared values of innovation, trust, and partnership between France and Australia.”
The ceremony ended with a symbolic handover and a toast to the long-standing relationship between the two nations.
The Land 8120 project forms part of the Army’s modernisation of its heavy and medium engineering vehicle fleets. Managed by Ventia, it includes more than 300 specialised vehicles and logistics platforms designed to improve operational readiness through rugged and versatile equipment.
Manitou Australia, established in 2005, is a subsidiary of Manitou BF and works through a network of more than 100 sales and service points across Oceania. The company supplies telehandlers, aerial work platforms, forklifts, and compact loaders to a wide range of industries.