Forklift News - FANTUZZI SEEKS SLICE OF ASIAN CONTAINER BOOM

REGGIO EMILIA, Italy -- Fantuzzi Reggiane SPA has flagged an assault on the booming south-east Asian container and ports market.

The Italian manufacturer, riding on the back of aggressive acquisitions and a 2000 sales boom, wants to cash in on what it says, in a statement to forkliftaction.com, is "the world's largest regional market for container handling equipment".

During 2000, Fantuzzi bought German company Noell Crane Systems and it is now buying a 70% stake in Noell's China operations with investment group China Merchants holding a 30% stake.

Fantuzzi and China Merchants will launch a "very ambitious" development program, which will see US$20 million pumped into Noell China's modern facilities in Zangzhou, near Xiamen, in south-east China, next year.

Fantuzzi and Noell will share the same sales and service network in China for their ranges and Fantuzzi says the Zangzhou facility will become "a major service centre".

Fantuzzi said they would have manufactured 500 units at its Reggio Emilia machinery plant by the end of 2000. As at September 30, orders were 30% above that forecast for the entire year. The company predicted that, by the end of December, orders would be at 60% over budget.

Second assembly shifts have been organised at Fanutzzi's Reggio Emilia and Lentigione plants to increase production to meet the new orders.

The company is also building a mobile harbour crane plant at Ravenna, Italy, and expanding its lift truck and reach stacker factory in Lentigione. The two plants will be at full capacity by 2002.

During 2000, Fantuzzi also acquired bulk systems company Ansaldo, and its cranes will soon be distributed through the Fantuzzi network.

Fantuzzi recently expanded its Noell facility in Wurzburg, Germany, where it manufactures straddles and mechanical and electrical components for its ship-to-shore, rail-mounted and RTG cranes.

"The company is now close to being world number one in the container handling equipment industry, including port container handling equipment," Fantuzzi said in its statement.

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