In every agricultural or livestock operation there is a precise moment when the working day begins. It always happens at first light, when the yard is still empty. The first machine to move is the one that will be used throughout the rest of the day, and its sound is the heartbeat of the farm starting to race again.
If once upon a time the telescopic handler was the “extra tool”, the one to be used every now and then, useful, certainly, but not essential, today the story has changed: it is often the first to start working and the last to stop as in the case of the Merlo compact telescopic handlers
If in the past the telescopic handler was the “extra machine,” the one used occasionally—useful, of course, but not essential—today the story has changed. Long regarded as a support machine, this approach no longer holds up. In many operations the telescopic handler has in fact become the hub of a myriad of daily tasks, the machine that connects barn, warehouse, and field, often the one that works the most and for the longest hours. It is the first to go into action and the last to stop. And a machine that works well all day without tiring the operator is a machine that creates value.
Merlo telescopic handlers fully reflect this evolution of work because they are designed starting from real-world use, tight schedules, and limited spaces that characterize everyday operations. A proposal born from the experience of an Italian company that has made innovation and in-house engineering a distinctive feature recognized worldwide.
Today, material handling is no longer a secondary task. It has become a strategic line item on the balance sheet. Loading the mixer wagon at dawn, handling bales under the sun, cleaning bedding, unloading fertilizers, storing grain, towing trailers, and so much more across a wide range of sectors. Everything has to move—and it has to be done fast. That’s how the game is played and won.
Thanks to the exclusive T-Lock system for quick attachment changes and the hydraulic system with a variable-displacement pump and Flow-Sharing technology valves, the Merlo telescopic handler becomes the operator’s right arm and takes on even the toughest demands without fear. Change the attachment? Change the job. From bucket to forks, from bale grab to hooks, the machine adapts to the work—not the other way around. But it is always the same machine. And in a farming year where margins are tight, having a machine that is never idle means recovering the investment in less time.
Barns are not ballrooms, and those who design machines sometimes forget that farms are not built with a square and ruler. They are often decades old; shed dimensions are frequently “creative,” doors are low, pillars seem deliberately placed to get in the way, and feed alleys are always too narrow. Reality is made up of stolen spaces and centimeter-perfect maneuvers—and Merlo knows this well. That is why it has developed the dedicated TurboFarmer range, encompassing the most compact machines, characterized by reduced dimensions and steering angles that allow them to turn in a handkerchief-sized space.
The three steering modes are not a trade-show gadget, but the only way to get out unscathed from a packed shed or to place a load in a blind corner without having to make ten maneuvers. Fewer maneuvers mean less fuel consumption, less tire wear, and—above all—less stress.
Contributing significantly to this is Merlo’s hydrostatic transmission, which allows movements to be “painted” with precision, calibrating forward and reverse even down to the millimeter, and the permanent four-wheel drive that helps the machine move even on slippery surfaces, becoming a safety factor when traveling on the road at 40 km/h.
Then there is the comfort of those who have to sit at the controls for up to ten hours a day. An operator worn out by fatigue, noise, or heat is an operator who starts making mistakes by three in the afternoon. And mistakes cost money. A bump against a wall, a tipped load, or worse, an injury, always leads to economic consequences. To avoid such situations, Merlo cabs are designed to be safe, comfortable, and spacious. They are the largest in the category and offer full 360-degree visibility, so the operator doesn’t have to guess where the machine ends but can see it clearly and, if necessary, intervene using intuitive, ergonomic controls—starting from the driving position.
All of this comes with renowned soundproofing, which can be further enhanced with the exclusive CS hydropneumatic cab suspension, isolating the operator from vibrations and heat and allowing extended work shifts without a drop in attention. And when an operator steps out of the machine in the evening without a broken back, they start again the next day with renewed energy—to the benefit of efficiency and profitability.
Like their medium- and large-sized siblings, compact Merlo machines are advanced and highly technological, while still reflecting Merlo’s strong focus on functionality and ease of management. In farming, there is no time to read instruction manuals as thick as phone books, and technology must simplify work—otherwise it becomes an obstacle.
This philosophy is embodied, for example, by the ASCS safety system (Adaptive Stability Control System), which prevents the risk of forward rollover during load handling and automatically recognizes the attachment in use. It is a system that speaks the farmer’s language: it watches over operations without being intrusive, does not seek attention, yet even allows the load to be weighed while it is being lifted.
The same principles apply to the EPD system (Eco-Power Drive), which manages engine speed independently of travel speed and saves up to 18 percent on fuel consumption when full power is not required.
All this with the knowledge that choosing Merlo means investing in strong residual value—one that holds over time. Five, seven, or ten years from now, the machine you invested in today will still command excellent market value, even though you may sell it with regret, because by then that handler will have moved beyond its role as a simple work machine and become part of the farm itself.
Small Is Beautiful
Merlo’s range of compact telescopic handlers may soon be expanded with the introduction of a super-compact machine that was already presented in prototype form last November in Hannover. Called “HyperCompact,” it is just one and a half meters wide and less than two meters tall, yet capable of handling loads of up to 1.5 tons and lifting the top pin of its boom to nearly five meters in height.
Its short wheelbase and all-wheel steering system make the machine extremely agile, enabling it to operate with maximum efficiency even in confined environments such as poultry and pig farms, riding stables, or nurseries. Designed around a stand-alone architecture rather than derived from other models, this handler is aimed specifically at working situations that do not require highly high-performance machines, but rather agile and dynamic equipment capable of moving and working where higher-capacity telescopic handlers—including compact ones—cannot gain access.
This also includes the possibility of transporting the machine on the road using passenger cars with light trailers. Comfort levels inside the cab, despite its compact dimensions, are comparable to those offered on Merlo’s larger machines, as are the safety systems. These have recently been enhanced with the launch of the “Pedestrian Detection” solution, based on intelligent cameras capable of detecting the presence of people, animals, or objects around work vehicles and automatically intervening to prevent accidents.
The strengths of compact Merlo machines
- Designed to work where space is a luxury, they are the link between power and agility.
- Only 184 cm wide and less than two meters tall, they go where others stop.
- Despite their size, they lift from 2.7 to 3.3 tons and reach up to nine meters.
- Low boom and extensive glass surfaces for clear visibility of wheels and load placement.
- Three steering modes for surgical maneuvering precision.
- Cabs designed to protect and enhance work value, with spaces tailored for operators who climb in and out multiple times a day.
- Continuous but non-intrusive stability control via the ASCS system.
- Everything within easy reach: intuitive capacitive joystick and clear dashboard.
Silence pays: here comes the turning point
Alongside traditional solutions, Merlo offers a forward-looking vision with its electric telescopic handlers, the e-Worker range. These are not simply a “green” alternative to conventional handlers, but a concrete response to the emerging needs of the most advanced agricultural businesses.
Until yesterday, electric power seemed like something for the city. Then e-Worker arrived and changed the game. Zero emissions, reduced noise, and the ability to work indoors without any impact on air quality. In livestock operations, this translates into improved animal welfare and healthier working conditions for operators.
Rear-wheel-only steering allows maneuvering in extremely tight spaces, with a steering angle reaching 85 degrees. And with photovoltaic panels on the shed roof, the “fuel” is self-produced—eliminating costs for engine oil and diesel filter changes. Maintenance is reduced to the bare minimum, allowing up to eight hours of operation—the highest value in its category—while delivering the same performance as a conventional handler of the same class.
Next stop: “TF 38.10”
At Agritechnica 2025, the Merlo Group launched an extensive restyling program for its mid-capacity TurboFarmer telescopic handlers, with a strong focus on reducing the so-called TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). This parameter takes into account all direct and indirect costs related to the purchase, use, operation, maintenance, and disposal of the handler, thus going well beyond the initial purchase price to cover the machine’s entire life cycle.
The goal of the announced upgrades is therefore ambitious and, not by chance, translates into significant changes affecting almost all components, aimed at improving functionality and ensuring greater long-term durability.
The first example of the new-generation TurboFarmer, available on the market from the first half of this year, will be the TF 38.10, one of the best sellers in Merlo’s agricultural range. Compared to the current TF 38.10, it will feature a new silent-block system to better isolate the cab, improved cab access, and above all higher visibility standards, all of which will have a positive impact on working comfort.
Also moving in this direction is the introduction, on the console, of a new proportional and anatomically shaped joystick integrating all the main vehicle controls, allowing full operational management with just one hand.
The new TurboFarmer range, with the 38.10 as its forerunner, will also introduce new, more protective mudguards and enhanced mechanical reliability thanks to specific interventions on pins, bushings, and cylinders. Hydraulic and electrical layouts have been revised as well, to speed up maintenance and service operations, and engine protection against mud and dust has been improved.
A revision of the boom is also planned, aimed at maximizing performance, and the adoption of a modified lubrication system is conceivable, again with the objective of reducing maintenance downtime. At present, the company has not released any information regarding the engine power ratings that will equip the TF 38.10 (2026); however, performance figures are expected to remain within the range of the current TF 38.10 models, between 116 and 145 horsepower.
Title: Merlo compact telescopic handlers: beyond the norm
Translation with ChatGPT
