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Caterpillar confident in its new line of telehandlers
24 January 2025
Caterpillar, the world鈥檚 largest OEM by sales, launched a new line of telehandlers, one of which was on display for a premiere at World of Concrete 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, from 21-23 January. It鈥檚 the first time in nearly 20 years Caterpillar has created a new line of lifts, but the company is confident they鈥檒l reach high expectations.
The Caterpillar TH1255 telehandler on display for a global premiere at World of Concrete in Las Vegas, Nevada, US. (Image: Mitchell Keller)
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a minute,鈥� Kevin Coleman told Construction Briefing at World of Concrete on 21 January regarding the last time the company launched a line of telehandler lifts. Coleman, a senior product specialist for Caterpillar, noted it鈥檚 been nearly 20 years since the company launched its first line. 鈥淪o, we鈥檙e very excited to have four models launching here.鈥�
Caterpillar will manufacture the machines themselves in their Leicester, UK, facility. The prior telehandler models, which first launched in 2005, were build by JLG, a US-based access machine manufacturer owned by Oshkosh Corporation.
The latest line is launching first in the North and South American markets.
The four new machines 鈥� named TH0642, TH0842, TH1055 and TH1255 鈥� have a respective maximum load capacity of 6,000, 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 lbs. The respective maximum lift height for the TH0642 and TH0842 is 42 ft, while the largest two max out at 55 ft.
Coleman told Construction Briefing the priority in developing the new line was safety and end-user input. Stylistically, he noted a few changes, as well.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going with what we call a two-piece C-type boom instead of the four-plate fabricated boom design,鈥� Coleman explained.
Safety upgrades include an improved cabin, including operator presence technology that prevents machine movements if the operator isn鈥檛 seated.
鈥淪o, you have to be in the chair, and that鈥檚 standard,鈥� Coleman said. He also highlighted improved alarm and messaging programmes on the in-cab monitor, an upgraded telematics systems and a load stability indicator (LSI) as major safety improvements.
The LSI shows operators if the weight they鈥檙e handling fits within the machine鈥檚 range of acceptable stability. If it indicates in the red, it鈥檚 an indication that the weight being lifted is too much for the current site and application.
鈥淚t tells the operator, I鈥檓 in a situation where the machine is about to tip,鈥� Coleman added. 鈥淢aybe return the load back down and reassess what the weight of the load is, maybe I extended more than I thought鈥� [LSI] keeps you safer as an operator, [and] we鈥檝e had really, really positive feedback on that from operators using these machines in real-life applications.鈥�
Other features include a pilot-control joy stick, a large and comfort-improved cabin, and optional service tool for chain maintenance.
Caterpillar鈥檚 Kevin Coleman shows the Cat TH1255 at World of Concrete 2025. (Image: Mitchell Keller)
Coleman is confident, based on Caterpillar鈥檚 close development with customers, that the telehandlers will perform well in the market.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not so overly complex,鈥� he said. 鈥淧ilot control joysticks, mount stabilisers, little things like tilt, steering wheel, standard rear camera鈥� it gives the customer exactly what they鈥檙e looking for out of a telehandler.鈥�
Personally for Coleman, whose been with Caterpillar in some capacity for more than 30 years, it鈥檚 an exciting launch for the OEM.
鈥淲e鈥檝e launched a lot of great products, [but] this one鈥檚 a little bit different,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here is an air of excitement.鈥�
Sales of the new line of Caterpillar telehandlers are expected to start in the second quarter of this year for both rental and retail customers.
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