FEM guides now available in Spanish
Brussels, Belgium
The European Materials Handling Federation (FEM) has embarked on a translation process of its market surveillance guides to assess compliance of its equipment with a variety of EU regulatory requirements.
The guides are now available in Spanish. FEM says translation of the guides into other languages is ongoing. For more information, see FEM’s {statlink|1|Market Surveillance} page.

Palletforce wins gold
Burton-upon-Trent, United Kingdom
Palletforce has been recognised for its approach to health and safety with a gold RoSPA award.
The palletised distribution network was the first in the sector to be awarded the accolade from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, in 2010, and has continued to win the gold award ever since.
Palletforce will receive the award at the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2012 at a ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on Thursday, 17 May.

Carrylift named company of the year
Skelmersdale, United Kingdom
Carrylift has received the title of UK Forklift Truck Company 2012 from the Institute of Transport Management.
Founded in 1988, the Carrylift Group has grown into one of the UK’s largest forklift companies. With headquarters in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and a principal member of the Nissan forklift dealer network, it has been the largest Nissan forklift distributor in the UK for over 20 years. In 2010, Carrylift became a part of the CorpAcq Group, a South Manchester-based investment company.

Midac caters to UK customers
Oswestry, United Kingdom
Midac Batteries SpA has launched Midac UK Ltd.
Midac UK’s managing director, Adele Nightingale, says: "Following on from Midac’s successful launches in Germany, France and Holland, and its partnership in Scandinavia, we are delighted to have the opportunity to develop one of Europe’s leading brands in the UK."
The British arm of the Italian battery supplier will operate from headquarters in Oswestry, Shropshire, and a satellite depot in in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Hytsu’s new 10-year partnership
Philippines
Chinese forklift manufacturer Hytsu Group has signed a 10-year distribution agreement with an unnnamed Philippines distributor.
Company president Hu Xiaosheng and Asia account manager Ms Fang met the Philippines dealer at Shanghai’s Intercontinental Hotel to sign the agreement last month.

Moderate growth foreseen for global forklift market
Mayfield Heights, OH, United States
Nacco Materials Handling Group Inc (NMHG) projects moderate growth in the global forklift market during the remainder of 2012, according to parent Nacco Industries Inc’s report for the first quarter ended 31 March.
For the industry, NMHG envisions "volumes comparable to or up slightly from prior periods in the Americas, China and Asia Pacific and declining modestly in Europe, particularly Western Europe."
Compared to 2011’s first quarter, NMHG reports lower profit of USD21.2 million (down from USD22.3 million) on higher sales of USD629.5 million (up from USD586.6 million). Unit shipments increased to 20,100 from 19,400, and backlog decreased to 22.3 million from 24.8 million. NMHG makes Hyster and Yale brand lift trucks and markets Utilev forklifts

Denied opportunity, women sue distillery
Louisville, KY, United States
Five women sued a distillery in Loretto, Kentucky alleging sexual discrimination, harassment and denial of a job as a forklift operator.
Four with tenure of two to 25 years continue to work there, but one was terminated under disputed circumstances.
The suit was filed in Louisville in the US District Court for the western part of Kentucky against Maker’s Mark Distillery Inc, which makes small batches of bourbon whiskey. Maker’s Mark is among several brands of Beam Inc of Deerfield, Illinois.
The women worked dipping portions of Maker’s Mark bottles in red wax as part of a seal.
Among the allegations, the suit says the women were kept on the bottling line without opportunity to fill a higher-paying position as a forklift driver.