 |
|
 |  |
 |  |  | | |  Last days to take advantage of Forkliftaction.com's special advertising offer in the Business Directory, the business pages for the global materials handling industry!
Until September 10, companies who invest USD295 (less than USD1 per day!) in a Featured Listing will receive a FREE text advertisement, valued at USD275.
Featured Listings give businesses the edge, returning featured companies at the top of the Business Directory's search results with full contact details.
Forkliftaction.com's text advertisements are high-impact, 100-word ads that appear amidst our news stories in the weekly email bulletin.
This offer is valid only until September 10. Act now! Contact marketing@forkliftaction.com for more information. |
| |  |  |  |
Send
this newsletter to an associate
 | |
 | |
1. Cascade financials up, negotiating for Falkenroth Fördertechnik
PORTLAND, OR, United States
Cascade Corporation reported second quarter sales rose 22.1 per cent and profits 13.2 per cent and announced negotiations are underway to acquire the fork arm business of the Falkenroth Fördertechnik GmbH & Co which is now in receivership.
"The outcome of this transaction will have a significant impact on the European marketplace over the next several years," Robert C. Warren Jr., Cascade president and chief executive officer, said in an August 26 conference call with security analysts. The Schalksmühle, Germany-based Falkenroth group also manufactures lines of drop forgings and excavator teeth.
Cascade is discussing the possible deal with the insolvency trustee in Hagen, Germany, under a strict confidentiality agreement. Other unidentified firms may be seeking to acquire one or more of the Falkenroth operations.
Cascade wants the Falkenroth segment making multiple sizes of standard, DIN, eye, bolt-on, eye-hook, folding and customised forks and accessories and stud-locked extensions. Falkenroth is Germany's largest fork manufacturer and ranks second to Cascade in European fork production.
Portland-area based Cascade reported profit of USD6.5 million on sales of USD92.4 million for the quarter ended July 31. The firm had profit of USD5.7 million on sales of USD75.6 million for the previous year's comparable quarter.
Cascade's lift truck shipments increased by 14 per cent in North America and 22 per cent each in Europe and Asia-Pacific during the quarter versus the comparable year-earlier period.
"We remain cautiously optimistic about the next quarter due to the substantial backlog in the North American lift truck market and the continuing strength in Asia," Mr Warren said. "However, our outlook beyond the third quarter is uncertain. A measurable economic slowdown in any of our major world markets would undoubtedly have an adverse impact on our business."
- Cascade website - |  |
|
2. Achtung! The Danger of Rented forklifts
SAINT PAUL, MN, United States
Accidents involving rented forklifts, aerial lifts and trailers produce the highest number of fatalities, injuries and damage in the equipment rental industry, a new study has found.
The "Renting Dangerously: Fatalities, Injuries & Losses in the Equipment Rental Industry" study, was conducted by US casualty insurer St Paul Travelers. It examined more than 3500 incidents involving rental equipment between 1996 and 2002.
St Paul risk control senior vice president, Bob Brody said most injuries and fatalities in the study had been the result of consumer and operator error.
"Without proper information and training by the rental dealer, equipment rental can lead to serious and deadly consequences," he said.
Among the study's key findings:
• Forklifts were involved in four fatalities in the study period, with operator error a factor in all four incidents. Bystanders accounted for three of the four forklift fatalities. Forklifts accounted for 11 per cent of total general liability losses.
• Five of the total 18 rental equipment-related fatalities were attributed to personnel lifts. Of those fatalities, four involved contact with powerlines.
"Rental equipment establishments should provide adequate training and safety information to consumers before renting to them," Brody said. "Our first line of defence in preventing injuries and fatalities is to work with dealers to ensure consumers are trained properly and provided with information and resources that clearly explain how to use rental equipment safely."
Brody advised dealers to give consumers well-documented operating instructions and to place large cautionary labels on rental equipment. Dealers should also inspect and service all rental equipment prior to each rental.
The complete study can be found by clicking here. | |
|
3. Brits set for record sales year
SUNNINGHILL, United Kingdom
The UK forklift market looks set for a record year, having sold more than 9000 forklifts in the second quarter, the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) reports.
BITA figures for the April-June quarter reveal the market sold more than 9000 forklifts, and that figure, projected over 12 months, would see the UK sell more than 31,400 forklifts by year-end, a 6 per cent increase over 2003, and an all-time high.
Much of the increased market movement was driven by the distribution sector, with 41 per cent more warehouse trucks sold in the second quarter than in the first. Counterbalanced forklift sales grew less, achieving 5 per cent growth over the first quarter.
BITA reported that orders for low-level order-pickers were "significant".
- BITA website - | |
|
4. Alta acquires competitor
WYOMING, MI, United States
Alta Lift Truck Services, Inc has acquired the assets of Michigan Industrial Equipment Co (MIE) of Wyoming, Michigan.
Alta Lift Truck Services president Steven Greenawalt said Michigan Industrial Equipment customers would be serviced by Alta's four facilities in west Michigan and MIE's facility in Wyoming.
Alta did not release the purchase price.
"The acquisition will allow us to service even more customers in Western Michigan," he said.
"Alta's phenomenal growth has been supported by our loyal customers and associates ... (and) we're excited to add even more customers and associates."
- Alta Lift Truck Services website - | |
|
5. Industrial Batteries & Chargers: related info
Forkliftaction.com News this week includes more interesting facts and information from the world of industrial batteries and chargers.
Click here to read these items:
• Zinc-air battery challenges conventional rivals
• Europeans unite to ride fuel-cell juggernaut
• Electric and IC forklifts now on 'level playing field'
• Forklift batteries 'lower costs'
• Checklist for charging Read more | |
|
6. ICTSI beefs up security for dangerous cargoes
MANILA, Philippines
An isolated control area has been created at the Manila International Container Terminal for dangerous or hazardous cargoes.
The area has been designed by International Container Terminal Services to control and regulate the movement of dangerous cargo from the terminal to other areas outside the security-compliant port zone.
Apart from quarantining dangerous cargoes within the port area, the new facility provides a safer working environment for forklift operators handling hazardous materials such as chemicals and inflammables.
The new 10,500-square metre area of open and closed storage warehouses can accommodate 500 full container loads of dangerous cargo stacked four rows at two tiers per block.
The facility is complete with a safety and emergency response equipment including a three-tonne forklift and reach stacker. Its operations are computer-based providing fast, efficient and real time cargo monitoring.
Construction of the new hazardous cargo handling facility is part of ICTSI's expansion and development projects in the Philippines and abroad. The company recently received a loan grant of P1billion (USD20 million) from the United Coconut Planters Bank.
ICTSI operates container ports in Brazil and in Poland, as well as four ports throughout the Philippines. | |
|
7. Students evacuated following propane gas tank leak
PUTNAM CITY, OK, United States
Nearly 700 students, faculty and staff were evacuated from Putnam City's Wiley Post Elementary school on Friday afternoon when a propane leak was discovered outside the building.
Major Brian Stanaland of Oklahoma City's fire department said the valve on a 500-gallon propane gas tank broke when it rolled off a forklift onto a parking lot at the school. Workers were repairing the school roof following hailstorm damage, and had been trying to move the tank when it fell, the Daily Oklahoman reported.
Firefighters evacuated the school's roughly 650 students and 45 staff members after the leak was discovered, and police road blocks prevented access to the school, Stanaland said. No injuries were reported.
District spokesman Steve Lindley said some students were taken to a nearby park, and other students were moved to the far end of the playground away from potential danger.
Brian Stanaland said firefighters were repairing the tank's valve on Friday evening, but would have to transfer the contents to another tank before leaving the scene. | |
|
8. JCB scores 16-unit Rocket sale
ROCESTER, United Kingdom
JCB has secured a contract with Rocket Rentals, a UK equipment hirer, for 16 of its Loadall telescopic handlers.
Rocket Rentals, of Dursley, Gloucestershire, ordered 520-40, 533-105, 530-70, 532-120 and 540-170 models from JCB's range.
The new JCB machines will expand the company's 200-strong fleet of tracked excavators, telescopic handlers, articulated dump trucks and backhoe loaders.
The contract price was not released.
- JCB website - | |
|
9. Australian code of conduct a success
CANBERRA, Australia
The Australian Industrial Truck Association (AITA) has deemed its code of conduct a success six months after its launch.
AITA secretary Howard Grant told Forkliftaction.com News that the code, developed in conjunction with Australian and international forklift and workplace safety authorities, was being adopted in workplaces across the country.
"We've had lots of interest in the code from end users since its launch in February, which we're very happy about," he said.
"Workplace authorities have welcomed it, and we're now excited about enhancing it."
The next stage of the code's development is to formulate and release technical guidelines, or appendices, to support the numbered points of the code. A subcommittee of the AITA's engineering committee had been formed in July to manage this, Grant said.
Now that the code had been released, the AITA would focus on another big issue of technical standards.
"A big problem we see is Australian Standard 2359, which is in need of updating," Grant said.
"We're exploring whether we should recommend Australia adopts the ISO standards because the market is moving so quickly and current standards can't keep up." | |
|
10. Labourer steals boots to start new job
YEOVIL, United Kingdom
A Yeovil man who was due to start a new job as a labourer walked into a shop and stole a pair of boots to start him off on the right foot.
Stephen Alan Bond, 26, of Crofton Park, admitted stealing a pair of Doctor Martin boots with another man, the Western Gazette reported. The boots were worth GBP40 (USD71.76) and belonged to Mole Valley Farmers store.
In the magistrates court this week Julian Stephens, prosecuting, said that Bond had gone into the shop with a friend and tried on the boots.
"Each of the men then put one boot in their jacket and left without paying," Stephens said.
When he was arrested, Bond told police he needed the boots as he was about to start a new job.
Paul Walters, defending, said Bond had been due to begin working as a labourer and forklift driver and had gone to the Mole Valley shop intending to buy a new pair of boots.
Bond was fined GBP50 (USD89.70) and ordered to pay GBP5 (USD8.97) towards costs. | |
|
 | |
 | |
1. RAVAS introduces RCS oil pressure weighing system for fork lift trucks
RAVAS Europe, producer of mobile weighing systems, introduces the RAVAS Check System (RCS): a weighing system for fork lift trucks, based on oil pressure measurement. With a few simple changes, any fork lift truck can be transferred into a mobile weighing system.
The RCS is developed for simple weighing procedures, where a high accuracy is not required: determining expedition weights in order to prevent overloading of lorries, checking incoming goods to see whether the shipment is complete, or weighing pallets to prevent overloading warehouse racks. For such weighing applications, the RCS is now available at a very competitive price, bringing weighing...
Contact RAVAS Europe BV, The Netherlands. See www.ravas.com or email jacob.blom@ravas.com and ask for a copy of the full descriptive PDF file.
Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. | |
|
|
 |
| Fast Facts | 1. RAVAS introduces RCS oil pressure weighing system for fork lift trucks
2. Jungheinrich has established a subsidiary, Jungheinrich Lift Truck (Shanghai) Co Ltd, in China. The company is based in Shanghai, and branches in Beijing, Guangzhou and Suzhou are planned.
3. Arnold Laver Timber World has bought two Combilift multi-directional forklifts for its new Call & Collect Centre in Sheffield, UK.
4. F-M Forklift Sales & Service of Bismarck, ND, has opened a new branch, F-M Lift Pro, in Omaha, NE.
FORKLIFTACTION.COM
News >> |
|
|
| |
 |
|
To
tailor your newsletter preferences, click
here to access your member account online.
Should you no longer wish to receive news from Forkliftaction.com,
please click
here to cancel your subscription.
Forkliftaction.com News is published by Forkliftaction.com
PO Box 1439, Milton QLD 4064, Australia – info@forkliftaction.com. |
| |
| |
