Innovation, the new Manitou Group Robotics

Last May, Manitou Group acquired the robotics division of Sitia. With this operation, the Ancenis-based Group (a town in northwestern France, near Nantes) enters the robotics sector, leveraging the expertise of a seven-person team that now forms the new division called Manitou Group Robotics. Founded in 1986, Sitia is a company based in Nantes (France) that designs and manufactures highly innovative special machines in the fields of automation, simulation, mechanics, and industrial computing. The robotics department of the French company developed TREKTOR, a versatile autonomous vehicle capable of operating – depending on the model – in vineyards as well as in horticulture. “Sitia is a partner - said Julien Waechter, Vice President R&D of the Manitou Group - we’ve been working with for nearly ten years, and one that has embarked on a path of transformation toward cutting-edge robotic activities. Our ambition is to strengthen our leadership position in order to continue innovating and advancing the development of solutions that can meet the ever-evolving expectations of operators.”