September 2025
Innovation rooted in tradition: it may seem like an oxymoron, but it is the formula that has guided Merlo S.p.A. since its establishment in 1964. The Cuneo-based company, a world leader in the production of telehandlers and highly specialised work vehicles, is concrete proof of how a family-run industrial business can not only survive but excel for decades in the global mechanical engineering industry thanks to vision, ingenuity and a continuous drive towards the future.
Founded by Amilcare and Natalina Merlo, the company started out manufacturing construction machinery. The early years were marked by artisanal production that was already innovation-oriented. However, by 1981, Merlo had already set itself apart with an innovation that would transform the handling sector forever: the world's first telehandler, the SM30. This machine combined compactness, versatility, and operational capacity in a single vehicle. That project represented much more than just a product: it was the beginning of an industrial philosophy based on vertical integration, with complete control of the production chain and a strong internal design identity.
Technological evolution and the green and digital revolution.
Over the decades, Merlo has demonstrated a rare ability to read the market, constantly investing in research and development. Every innovation, from hydrostatic transmission to dynamic safety systems, modular chassis and suspended cabs, has been designed inhouse and protected by patents, with over 90 titles registered internationally. The relationship between technology and functionality has always been a central theme. This is demonstrated by the introduction of the ASCS – Adaptive Stability Control System, a Merlo patent that dynamically adapts the machine's response based on load conditions, stability and vehicle configuration, maximising safety and productivity in every operating context.
Today, Merlo is firmly establishing itself in the new era of intelligent, sustainable mechanics. A milestone in this new strategy is the launch of the electric range, spearheaded by the e-WORKER, the first fully electric telehandler. This marks a major turning point for the entire sector, offering zero emissions, compactness, low noise and high performance. It is designed for use on urban construction sites, farms and in the most sensitive environmental contexts.
However, the company's commitment to new technologies does not end there. In fact, there are several highly digital solutions aimed at automation. Examples include: MerloMobility, a new digital platform for remote fleet management, connected via the cloud and capable of monitoring performance, maintenance status, safety parameters and geolocation in real time. This system provides access to Industry 4.0 credit and numerous other national incentives for those who manage complex fleets. Another example is the self-driving Cingo, an evolution of Merlo's historic range of compact carriers, which operates autonomously thanks to advanced navigation systems, intelligent sensors and proprietary algorithms, or the Radio Control, a state-of-the-art wireless interface that allows the operator to control the machine remotely and safely. Ideal in hazardous environments or for high-precision manoeuvres, it represents a further step towards the controlled robotisation of lifting equipment.
In an increasingly competitive and globalised market, Merlo continues to stand out thanks to its unique production model. This includes vertical control of the supply chain, in-house expertise and a family DNA that has always distinguished itself by its ability to make strategic choices, anticipate demand and direct investment towards future markets.
Over 1700 employees work in Italy and in seven international branches, with an industrial campus in San Defendente di Cervasca that is one of the most advanced centres of applied mechanics in Europe. Investment in technical training is another distinctive feature, embodied in the Merlo Training and Research Centre, where operators, technicians and dealers from all over the world are trained every year.
