Dear reader,
WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM,
MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE.
This is issue #149 - 18 March
2004 of the weekly newsletter for industry
professionals.
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 IMHX 2004 has virtually just ended, and already
preparations are being made for NA2004, which opens on March
29 at the I-X Centre in Cleveland, Ohio.
Forkliftaction.com
News will carry a preview of the show next
week.
Forkliftaction.com's travellers have returned from
the UK, and have brought back some great photos. See our special IMHX 2004 page for
pictures.
Forkliftaction.com representatives will be at
NA2004, so look out for the orange shirts. If you'd like to
schedule a meeting to coincide with the show, contact marketing@forkliftaction.com.
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1.
USED MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT: PART
TWO 
GULLEGEM, Belgium
With an annual
machinery turnover of 4,000 to 5,000 forklifts, TVH has
a convincing argument for the tag "world's biggest used
forklift wholesaler".
While the company is known as a
leading supplier of forklift spare parts, and derives
about 75% of its income from parts sales, TVH was
established as a used forklift dealer in
1970.
Forkliftaction.com News chief reporter Damien
Tomlinson spoke with Pascal Vanhalst, TVH forklift
division general manager.
Click here to read the full
article. 
-
TVH website -
2.
FLS SUES CROWN IN DEALERSHIP WAR
TAMPA, FL, United States
Florida
Lift Systems Inc (FLS) has added another layer of
litigation in its escalating dealership dispute with
Crown Equipment Corporation.
Crown wants to terminate
FLS as a Crown dealer (Forkliftaction.com News #144) and
allegedly is attempting to supplant FLS in the central
Florida market.
The clash raises questions about the
varying roles of original equipment manufacturers and
regional dealers when marketing multiple brands.
In
the new legal round, FLS has filed a civil suit against
Crown and company store manager Gary Lunz alleging
breach of contract, publication of false statements and
business interference.
In the suit, filed on March 8,
FLS alleged Crown was opening an authorised dealership
or Crown-owned branch or dealership in Tampa "on or
about March 12, 2004". No indication of such an opening
was filed with the court at deadline.
"In opening its
own company store, Crown is wrongfully attempting to
solicit FLS's employees, managers and customers by
utilising its monopolistic market power in Florida to
intimidate FLS's employees, managers and customers into
working for and doing business with Crown and by
disparaging FLS's business operations," the suit
says.
FLS has asked for a court judgement against
Crown and recovery of damages.
FLS, a participant in
the Florida forklift market since 1950, has annual sales
in the mid-USD40 million range. The FLS relationship
with Crown began in 1996 and is scheduled to run through
to February 2005.
Separately, Crown filed US District
Court lawsuits against FLS and Toyota Material Handling
USA Inc (TMHU) on January 13 and February 4,
respectively. The FLS case is pending in Dayton, Ohio,
and the TMHU case in Toledo, Ohio.
Crown's litigation
alleges FLS breached its dealership agreement with Crown
and that TMHU caused FLS to breach the
agreement.
"Crown's attempted termination of the
dealer agreement is a mere pretext to be able to open a
company store in Tampa, Florida, in direct violation of
the terms of the dealer agreement," the FLS suit in
Tampa said.
As previously reported, FLS began
representing TMHU in Orlando in September 2002, before
Crown's latest extension with FLS, and, at the time,
Crown did not object to FLS adding TMHU products for
Orlando. FLS expanded and became a TMHU dealer in Tampa
on January 5, 2004.
John Maxa, Crown vice-president
and general counsel, explained the corporation's
position on the pending FLS termination in a memorandum
to dealer principals last month: "(FLS) and Toyota were
aware of the provisions of the Crown dealer agreement
and, in complete disregard of the rights and obligations
established by the ... agreement, they entered into a
new dealer agreement (and) presented it to Crown as a
done deal. Crown had no choice but to commence
litigation to enforce termination of the dealer
agreement with Florida Lift because of its clear
breach."
On March 3, Crown agreed to extend the FLS
termination date from March 16 to April 15 "to allow the
parties to discuss a resolution" to the federal suit in
Dayton, according to a letter by Charles Faruki, a
Dayton attorney representing Crown, filed with the
Florida suit.
Thomas Long and Scott Stigall,
attorneys with a Tampa law firm, filed the Florida suit
on behalf of FLS.
3.
NTP FORKLIFTS WINS MAJOR DEFENCE
CONTRACT
ADELAIDE, Australia
NTP Forklifts
Australia has won a AUD10 million (USD7.4 million)
contract to modernise and expand the materials handling
capabilities of the Australian Defence Force
(ADF).
The contract, the biggest in NTP's 20-year
history, involves an initial order for 25 modified
Manitou 7140 T rough terrain telescopic handlers, and
maintenance and training.
Modifications include
increasing ground clearance to allow the machines to
work in up to one metre of water, wheel and tyre
adjustments for working in soft sand, and
flameproofing.
ADF lieutenant colonel Peter
Cleasby-Jones said containerisation and the age of the
current fleet made the expansion a necessity.
"We are
confident NTP and Manitou will deliver according to our
sometimes demanding requirements, wherever in Australia
or overseas these machines may operate," he said.
NTP
sales & operations director Nick Perdelis said the
machines would be delivered at a rate of four a month
from June.
"We're delighted to see the hard work come
to fruition and look forward to working with (the ADF)
in fulfilling the contract," he said.
- NTP Forklifts
website -
4.
LINDE OFFLOADS REFRIGERATION BUSINESS
WIESBADEN, United States
Linde AG
has sold its refrigeration business to Carrier
Corporation, based in Farmington, Connecticut, USA, for
EUR325 million (USD396.4 million).
Linde president
and chief executive Dr Wolgang Reitzle said the sale
allowed Linde to focus on its materials handling and gas
businesses.
"The sale of Linde Refrigeration is an
important strategic move for us. We want to focus on gas
& engineering and material handling, our
high-earnings, high-growth business segments," he
said.
Linde Refrigeration is Europe's number one in
the commercial refrigeration business, with 6,300
employees and sales of EUR866 million (USD1 billion) in
2003.
- Linde website
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5.
**ADVERTISEMENT** RUBBER TYRED GANTRIES TO
CLEAR
MAKE: PACECO
MODEL: 150M
YEAR:
1982
CAPACITY: 40.64 tonnes
GAUGE: 22
metres
HEIGHT: Approx 20 metres
POWER SOURCE
(Prime): Cummins 6 CT8-3
POWER SOURCE (Secondary): 65
KW DC Generator
SPREADER: Telescopic 20' /
40'
HOIST SPEED: 15 metres per minute
LOCATION:
East Coast , Australia.
PRICE: USD60,000 for the lot
- offers considered
MORE INFO?
Email: iogilvie@globequip.biz
Phone:
+61-7-3256-0666
Fax: +61-7-3256-1071
6.
OMNIQUIP PURCHASE BUOYS JLG SALES
McCONNELLSBURG, PA, United
States
JLG Industries Inc had lower profits on higher
acquisition-stoked quarterly sales and has moved to
upgrade controls and procedures, which are currently
under federal review.
JLG reported a profit of USD2.2
million on sales of USD230.5 million for its second
quarter, which ended on January 31, against a profit of
USD4.2 million on sales of USD144.0 million last
year.
The significant increase in sales reflects the
August 1 acquisition of the OmniQuip business unit of
Textron Inc (Forkliftaction.com News #115).
JLG
said it had cut 279 OmniQuip-related jobs out of 350
slated reductions, leaving 71 positions in limbo as of
January 31. JLG incurred costs of USD2 million for
involuntary employee termination benefits and was
obligated for another USD8.1 million as of January
31.
JLG said its initial "integration of the OmniQuip
acquisition is on track and ahead of an aggressive
schedule". In a second phase, JLG intends to establish a
common supply base and integrate the OmniQuip and JLG
brands and marketing programs.
"With the economic
recovery well underway in North America and a modest
recovery projected in the Euro zone for calendar 2004,
demand for our core access equipment is strengthening,"
JLG said. "Order patterns strengthened considerably for
all product groups, and we remain cautiously optimistic
that order patterns will continue to reflect increased
fleet refreshment activity and customer
confidence."
JLG had restated financial statements
and taken steps to improve its disclosure controls and
procedures, which "were found to be ineffective in
identifying an accounting error", the company said. The
error related to the timing of revenue recording for one
transaction.
"The restatement results in an USD8.7
million reduction of revenue and USD1.8 million
reduction in net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal
2003," which ended on July 31, JLG said.
JLG
disclosed the restatement plan on February 18 and said
on February 27 that the US Securities & Exchange
Commission had begun an informal inquiry into the
company's accounting and financial reporting.
- JLG website -
7.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
HOUSTON, TX, United States
Jeff
Rufener has been appointed vice-president of sales
and Kent Eudy vice-president of marketing for
Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc (MCFA).
Their promotions to the executive team occurred as
materials handling veteran Larry Wuench takes up
a global strategy role for MCFA. Mr Rufener has served
as counterbalance products director and in management
roles involving national accounts and fleet sales and
service. In his new position, Mr Eudy oversees product
support, distribution services and Rapidparts, a
wholly-owned MCFA parts subsidiary. He has held
positions involving machine distribution, parts
marketing and product development.
8.
SMH, OMG DEVELOP ONE-OFF ORDER PICKING
SOLUTION
LONDON, United Kingdom
UK materials
handling supplier SMH Ltd has worked with a customer and
a manufacturer to develop a one-off, low-level order
picker.
SMH was approached last year by a major
electrical retailer which needed a low-level order
picker that could safely transport two people and as
many items as possible.
After working with several
prototypes, SMH approached OMG, the Italian manufacturer
of warehousing equipment, with a design and an outline
of the requirement. The result was a low-level order
picker with three tonnes capacity, capable of
transporting two people and 20 washing machines (pictured).
"We have now road-tested
the truck at three of our customers main locations and
it has gone down a storm," said Bob Harrison, SMH major
accounts manager. "In fact, at one location they
recorded an efficiency increase of 30%."
9.
DIAMOND RAID DIGGER IN ACTION-PACKED
AUCTION
ROCESTER, United Kingdom
The JCB
digger used in the world's biggest-ever attempted jewel
robbery is up for auction.
The famous 1992 3CX
Sitemaster (pictured) still bears the scars of the
damage it suffered during the amazing James Bond-style
heist in 2000 when an armed gang bulldozed its way into
London's Millennium Dome complex in an attempt to steal
a GBP350 million (USD634.6 million) diamond
collection.
Hurling smoke bombs and ammonia to create
chaos, the thieves attempted to remove the heavily
guarded exhibits and make a getaway in a high-speed
powerboat moored on the River Thames.
But more than
100 police, disguised as cleaners, were lying in wait
and the diamonds had been replaced with fakes.
The
machine is one of 500 lots selling as part of JCB's
regular surplus auction at JCB world headquarters at
Rocester at noon on Tuesday, March 23.
Auctioneer
John Hilton, of Bury & Hilton, said the machine was
the most unusual item ever to come under the hammer at a
JCB auction.
"It is still in the damaged state it was
left in after the raid. There is a hole in the
windscreen and the rear dipper is missing. Holes were
also cut into the front bucket so the driver could see
where he was going when he smashed through the fence,"
he said.
JCB took delivery of the machine from
insurers once the court hearing surrounding the raid
concluded in 2002.
- JCB
website -
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10.
CONTAINER HANDLERS FOR SALE
FANTUZZI F42
CONTAINER HANDLER
42 tonne capacity
Cummins engine, Clark transmission
3-high container
stacking
20-40 foot telescopic spreader
Excellent condition, Stevedoring spec
4 PGS
M320 CONTAINER HANDLERS
32 tonne capacity
Volvo engine, Clark transmission
2-high container
stacking
inverted and standard forks available
20 & 40 foot container frames
Low hours
Excellent condition, Stevedoring spec
These
machines are available for immediate sale through
Stellar Machinery Ltd.
For more
information:
P:
+64-9-837-4126
+64-274-935-695
F:
+64-9-837-4449
E: stellar@ihug.co.nz
W: www.stellarmachinery.co.nz
Click here for pictures of the
machines.
11.
BT UK FORK-LIFT TRUCK DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP 2004: AND THE
WINNER IS
The final of the BT UK Fork-Lift
Truck Driver Championship 2004 was held at IMHX 2004 at
the NEC, Birmingham, on the 4th March.
The overall
winner was James Owens of Tibbett & Britten, who was
awarded first prize of a City Rover car, as well as a
replica of the prestigious Storage Cup.
Achieving
second place - and a cheque for 1000 - was Steven
Bircumshaw, of Cadbury Trebor Bassett. Third place went
to Michael Gilmartin of Sigma Kalon, with a prize of
500.
Click here for the full results
online.
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16.
CARTON CLAMPS
New Cumberland, PA, United
States
Closing: 24 March 2004 TBA - Contract:
SP3100-4054-3158
17.
50 X TOWCARTS
New Cumberland, PA, United
States
Closing: 15 April 2004 TBA - Contract:
SP3100-04-T-0218
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18.
SERVICE TECHNICIANS - FULL TIME
Calgary,
Alberta, Canada
19.
PARTS MANAGER - FULL TIME
Portland Oregon,
United States
20.
SERVICE MANAGER - FULL TIME
Seattle
Washington, United States
21.
SINGAPORE-WAREHOUSE PRODUCT SPECIALIST - FULL
TIME
Tuas, Jurong, Singapore
22.
CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PARTS REPRESENTATIVE - FULL
TIME
Portland, Oregon, United States
23.
FORKLIFT TECHNICIAN - FULL TIME
Portland or
Medford, Oregon, United States
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