Dear reader,
WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM,
MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE.
This is issue #76 - 26 September 2002
of the weekly newsletter for industry
professionals.
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community for the materials handling industry,
Forkliftaction.com provides an invaluable link for
professionals worldwide. Our marketing department is dedicated
to assisting the industry to promote its products and services
throughout the world. Forkliftaction.com campaigns target
directly those who deal with forklifts every day. For more
information on how to best get your message across, contact
Penryn Maddrell on email:
pm-marketing@forkliftaction.com.
Forkliftaction.com's
reach is very wide, with members from all continents joining
our community each week. Welcome to our newest members,
including those from the following companies: ITR Limited in
Latvia, Mitco in Bangladesh, Fredon Handling in the USA,
Associated Material Handling in the USA, AN Business in the
United Kingdom, Toll Stevedoring in Australia,
SuffelFoerdertechnik in Germany, Hayes-Lemmerz Autokola in the
Czech Republic, Kardash in Belgium and Abunayyan Trading
Company in Saudi Arabia.
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1.
US MANUFACTURERS EMERGING FROM
RECESSION? 
IRVINE, United States
After a period
of record growth heading into the 21st century, the US
forklift industry experienced a significant slump in
2001 and into this year, but there is light at the end
of the tunnel, manufacturers claim.
Toyota
Material Handling USA sales and marketing vice president
Jim McManus told Purchasing Magazine Online that the US
recession was bottoming out.
We're starting to
see a slight improvement and, by the end of the year, we
expect to see the upturn be even more definite, he
said.
Hyster Company marketing director Scott
Alexander said the forklift industry led in downturns
and lagged in recoveries, but Hyster was performing
ahead of 2002 forecasts.
What were seeing has
us bullishly optimistic. We are starting to see
capacity utilisation up where its supposed to be, and
pent-up demand is starting to return, he
said.
Mr McManus said the US forklift industry
had the capacity to produce 190,000 forklifts annually,
but current demand was 135,000. This had seen some
manufacturers slowing down and, in some cases,
reducing to four-day manufacturing weeks.
Mr
Alexander said the industry was focusing on designing
forklifts for operators, not buyers. Mr McManus said the
industry had also begun consolidating dealerships as the
industry changed.
2.
LID LIFTED ON NEW KALMAR REACHSTACKERS
TAMPERE, Finland
Kalmar has
released updated versions of its class-leading ContChamp
and ContMaster reachstackers.
Kalmar
reachstackers vice president Ismo Vaihtamo said the new
machines had been developed in response to
environmental, performance, reliability and operating
cost requirements.
Weve been increasingly aware
of the environmental concerns and pressures faced by our
customers, especially in Europe and the USA, and we
believe stricter regulations will be introduced in the
Far East in the future, Mr Vaihtamo
said.
Accordingly, both models are equipped with
low-emission engines that meet 97/68 EC Stage 2 and US
EPA Tier 2 standards. The ContChamp comes with a
12-litre Volvo Penta, which is also more fuel efficient
than the older 10-litre unit. The ContMaster comes with
Scania DI12 or Cummins QSM11.
Mr Vaihtamo said
the need for additives was reduced because the wet disc
brake oil system on the new machines was separated from
the main hydraulic oil system. The hydraulic system also
needed minimal hydraulic fittings, and all fittings were
o-rings, making the hydraulic system practically
leak-free.
The new ContChamp was equipped with
Kalmars latest electronic transmission, developed
exclusively for Kalmar, and had smooth driving and gear
shifting, Mr Vaihtamo said. Considerable work was done
on the new transmission, and on the Kalmar-produced
steering axle and driveline.
Service intervals
have been increased to more than 500 hours through
changes such as reducing the number of lubrication
points and developing a lubricant-free boom. All
servicing operations are now completed from one side of
the truck.
Kalmar reachstackers general manager
Per Rosengren said the company had digitised the
trucks controls, allowing easy and fast system checks
and upgrades, and a new control system monitored about
500 measuring points 50 times a second, ensuring safe
operations and rapid error
reporting.
Forkliftaction.com has two photographs
of the new reachstacker models. To view them, click on
the "Photo" button above, or see
www.forkliftaction.com.
- Kalmar Industries
website -
3.
JLG POSTS USD100M LOSS, DESPITE
IMPROVEMENTS
McCONNELSBURG, United States
Despite
improvements in some areas, JLG Industries Inc recorded
a loss of USD101.59 million on sales of USD754.34
million for the fiscal year ended July 31, compared to a
profit of USD34.21 million on sales of USD958.54 million
the previous fiscal year.
The Pennsylvania-based
firm said in its latest financial report, released on
September 23, that sales increased for telehandlers
(USD87.44 million from last years USD87.70 million) and
after-sales support and service (USD124.59 million from
USD116.38 million).
But sales fell in JLGs
biggest product line, aerial work platforms, to
USD475.24 million from the 2001 figure of USD682.69
million, and in telescopic hydraulic excavators, which
fell to USD58.60 million from USD65.50 million. By
region, North American sales were down 22 percent to
USD570.0 million, and European sales fell 11 percent to
USD167.94 million.
Numerous economic events this
year, such as terrorist attacks, high-profile
bankruptcies and accounting scandals, contributed to
mixed economic signals and a resulting conservative
approach by major customers to fleet expansion or
replacement, JLG chairman, president and chief
executive Bill Lasky said.
We continue to focus
on what is within our control in the short term while
keeping an eye to the future.
JLG had generated
significant cash flow and recapitalised its balance
sheet by closing two facilities, outsourcing non-core
operations and moving some production to Europe. Mr
Lasky said the next two fiscal quarters, traditionally
our weakest period, would be very
challenging.
We have been able to manage our
business successfully in the downturn by concentrating
on process efficiencies, generating cash flow and
reducing debt, he said.
While uncertain
economic conditions remain as we enter the new fiscal
year, we remain committed to industry leadership by
providing innovative, cost-effective, reliable equipment
to our end-users.
-
JLG website -
4.
**ADVERTISEMENT** USED FORKLIFTS AT DRASTICALLY REDUCED
PRICES
~ Performance Handling Limited - the
UK's largest wholesaler of used forklifts
~ Located
next to Heathrow Airport, London, England
~ More
than 200 forklifts for sale, with special discounts for
package deals
~ 6 Komatsus for EUR16,000
~ 4
Stills for EUR14,250
~ 6 Steinbocks for EUR10,000
~ For more information phone: +44 1784 461144, fax:
+44 1784 461154 or email: sales@phl.co.uk
~
View the complete range of forklifts on offer, with full
details and specifications at www.phl.co.uk
5.
SPECIAL FEATURE: BOOST RETURNS WITH TELEHANDLER
MAINTENANCE
OWATONNA, United States
Telehandlers
are quickly becoming one of the most popular profit
generators for equipment rental houses around the
world.
Paying special attention to preventive
maintenance can increase rentable hours and customer
satisfaction, greatly improving profitability for
equipment owners and their telehandler customers.
Mustang Manufacturing Company product specialist Mark
Hennessey offers advice for preventive maintenance in
this Forkliftaction.com News special feature. Click the
"Read More" button for the full story.
- Mustang Manufacturing
website -
6.
FANTUZZI NOELL IN UK EXPANSION
MANCHESTER, United
Kingdom
Specialist port equipment and sideloader
manufacturer Fantuzzi Noell has expanded its United
Kingdom headquarters.
A GDP1 million (USD1.55
million) investment has resulted in a new 7,500 square
foot development which includes office space, a
showroom, service and warehouse facilities and a parts
distribution centre.
Fantuzzi Noell group
managing director Davide Bertozzi said the company had
enjoyed sustained growth in its worldwide operation in
the past 10 years and the United Kingdom had made a
significant contribution to that success.
We now
have a superb and loyal customer base across the United
Kingdom and believe the time is right to invest in
improved sales, service and parts facilities to ensure
we continue to expand and develop, he said.
The
new development is part of a United Kingdom-wide
distribution strategy. To ensure swift, local response
to sales and part requirements, a national team of 14
distributors is being established, with 10 already
operating. The expansion is also a cause for celebration
in Manchester, with the promise of job
opportunities.
Mr Bertozzi said the national
network would expand availability of Fantuzzi Noells
sideloader product range. Fantuzzi Noell already has a
loyal following across the United Kingdom, and enjoys an
impressive and expanding presence in that market, he
said.
We are proud of our excellent team, and it
gives me great pleasure to thank our loyal staff for
playing their part in our success to date, Mr Bertozzi
said.
-
Fantuzzi website -
7.
TOYOTA AND DEALER PITCH IN FOR FORKLIFT
DONATION
ABERDEEN, United Kingdom
Aberdeen
College has commissioned a new forklift thanks to a
local dealer and Toyota Industrial Equipment
(UK).
The colleges Clinterty Centre, which
trains forklift operators and construction plant
engineers, planned to replace one of its forklifts with
a second-hand one.
It approached dealer DI &
K Groundwater in Stonehaven about purchasing a used
forklift, but, unknown to the college, the dealer
contacted Toyota, according to a report in the Press
& Journal.
Between DI & K Groundwater and
Toyota, Aberdeen Colleges purchase was upgraded to a
new forklift, at no extra charge.
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13.
LICENCE OF TECHNOLOGY - EXTENDABLE
WHEELBASE
Milton, Australia
Closing: 05
October 2002 TBA - Contract: Invent 1
14.
ELECTRIC LIFT TRUCK, 38 V, CATERPILLAR, MODEL EC25KS,
OR
Quebec, Canada
Closing: 02 October
2002 2:00pm - Contract: F3072-020023/A
15.
QTY 28 NSN: 3930-01-192-8399 ROUGH TERRAIN
MHE
Warren, MI, United States
Closing: 22
October 2002 TBA - Contract: DAAE07-02-Q-T481
16.
FORKLIFTS (TRUCK) 3930-01-X02-7759
Pine
Bluff, United States
Closing: 05 October 2002 TBA -
Contract: DAAD21-02-R-0027
17.
RENTAL OF TWO FORKLIFTS
Yokota AB, Japan
Closing: 10 October 2002 TBA - Contract:
F62562-02-T-0398
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