Merlo telescopic handlers are popular choices on construction sites and for large agricultural operations, but their versatility is also perfect for municipalities and communities. Take the Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation, located 45 minutes from Chibougamau, as an example.
“We bought a P 40.17 Plus in 2016,” said Dennis Bosum, a supervisor with the Oujé-Bougoumou community. "At first, the machine was used for the public works department, but now all departments share it. We use it to build houses, deliver wood, anything! I'm glad we bought it."
Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation is recognized across Canada for their stunning architecture, designed by Douglas Cardinal in the 1990s. Oujé-Bougoumou has won numerous awards, including the United Nations "We the Peoples Award, the Habitat II: Best Practices Award and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Award for building a community that is both environmentally friendly and innovative.
For the community, one of the main reasons they finally bought their telescopic handler was because of the economic advantages the machine offered. Before buying their P 40.17 Plus, Oujé-Boujoumou had to borrow heavy machinery from neighboring communities. So buying a machine offered a certain independence and financial freedom.
“With all our projects, it was too expensive to just rent a machine for a few hours,” says Bosum. Now, the community has access to their Merlo at all times.
Since purchasing their Merlo, the community, which has a population of around 800, has been able to continue optimizing its operations. It's important for the Nation to complete projects quickly and efficiently, so being able to rely on a single machine for every task is a distinct advantage. They also have a bucket, basket and forks as attachments for their telescopic handler, all three of which Bosum says are equally usable in winter and summer.
Whether it's changing street lights or building houses, the Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation can trust their Merlo to help them complete their projects safely, including 360-degree visibility in the cab. “The only place you can't see when you're operating the machine is underneath you!” says Bosum.
The Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation continues to be at the forefront of innovative and sustainable projects. Let's bet that their Merlo will be put to good use in helping them complete each project.