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Testcentrum De Lille was founded in 1968 in Harelbeke (a small town at approximately 8 km of the company’s current location) by Mr. and Mrs. De Lille - Florin. Testcentrum De Lille was an official Ford-dealer in those early days. Early onwards the Harelbeke location became too small and it was decided to build a new dealership in Lendelede, the current base of Merlo Import Benelux.
Because the region knew a lot of flax activity, it was decided to build a flax loader. These loaders, the “Giraffes” (yellow and with a long neck), kicked off the search for telescopic loaders.
There were negotiations with MERLO SpA and they lead to Testcentrum De Lille beholding the official and exclusive importer ship from 1986 onwards of the Merlo Products.
Alongside with this importer ship, the R &D dept. of the company developed every possible attachment for telescopic handlers. The company also produced the rather successful “Stable Boy” for a while. ***
Testcentrum De Lille had to end this production to make room for more advanced and more specialized projects. With the support of Merlo, but completely independent, Testcentrum De Lille set up a project, amongst others, for the construction of a Roto telescopic handler on a telescopic caterpillar track. The “Merlo Track” does not know many equals up to this date.
In 2003 Testcentrum De Lille introduced yet another project to the public, the “Giraf Track”. Although its name had nostalgic roots, the capacities of this mobile aerial work platform-, telescopic handler- and crane-combination, are yet to be found in another machine.
In the Netherlands, the distribution of the merlo products is managed by a branch office, Merlo Benelux Nederland B.V., in Gorinchem. Merlo Benelux Nederland cooperates with a11 Dutch distributors, to bring about a wide distribution of the Merlo telescopic handlers. These Merlo dealers, customers and prospects can always contact this office for all sales information. This office will also provide information for the press and handle all maters related to the importer or the manufacturer.
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