Send this newsletter to an associate   Print version   Dear reader, WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM, MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE. This is issue #205 - 21 April 2005 of the weekly newsletter for industry professionals. “Konecranes ex-employees form new company!” INSIDE FORKLIFTACTION.COM NEWS • Report predicts Chinese market growth • Konecranes ex-employees form new company • Noell China delivers 150th container handler • **ANNOUNCEMENT** MARKETPLACE UPDATE: LAUNCH PLANNED FOR 27 APRIL! • Jungheinrich “consistent” for five years • Pedestrian crushed by cheese • New Panther Mini gets many orders • Growing US market spurs Combilift subsidiary • JCB telehandlers “run” the London Marathon • Rice producer changes forklift fleet ADVERTISEMENTS • Large tyre handler/manipulator attachment wanted • Japanese used forklift exporter seeks international dealers. FORK TALK: WorkSafe celebrates innovative health & safety measures MEDIA RELEASES 1. Announcement - exclusive to Forkliftaction.com 2. ORLACO: Number One For Forklift Cameras 3. Largest Rotating Roll Clamp ever manufactured by KAUP delivered to Egypt 4. Innovations at Bolzoni Auramo website: www.bolzoni-auramo.com Send this newsletter to an associate   Forkliftaction.com is excited about next week’s Marketplace launch. We have been very busy receiving and uploading stock lists for our used equipment Marketplace premiering April 27. We have also updated the Spec Checker with new specs for the following brands: Caterpillar, Clark, Daewoo, Toyota, Manitou and Komatsu. If you would like to contribute to our monthly features, please email news@forkliftaction.com to receive our editorial calendar.   Report predicts Chinese market growth LONDON, United Kingdom Demand for forklifts in China is expected to increase by 60 per cent before the end of the decade, according to a report published by a UK consultancy. Off-Highway Research managing director David Phillips said his Beijing office came to the conclusion after conducting 20 face-to-face interviews with senior executives of leading Chinese manufacturers, dealers and importers.   “We believe the future prospects for demand are extremely good. This year total sales should be around 70,000 units (58,000 combustion, 12,000 electric), a figure which should rise to 112,000 units (90,000 internal combustion, 22,000 electric) by the end of the decade,” Phillips said. His consultancy based its forecast on the following: Forklift truck demand is closely linked to the economy. His company is forecasting eight per cent to 10 per cent annual GDP growth for the next five years. There will be great emphasis on mechanisation in factories, warehouses, ports and general industry - and that will greatly stimulate demand. Great growth forecast in the logistics and supermarket industries. The Chinese Government is likely to bring in environmental legislation by 2008, which will result in many older units needing to be replaced. That will greatly stimulate demand. Off-Highway Research established a representative office in China in 2002 to respond to its clients’ need for market information in the region. The UK-based management consultancy specialises in research and analysis of international construction and agricultural equipment markets. Over the last five years, it has worked for more than 600 clients in 37 countries. Off-Highway Research website Konecranes ex-employees form new company HYVINKAA, Finland KCI Konecranes will outsource the production of end carriages for its Standard Lifting Equipment Business Area to a new company established by former employees of Konecranes’s Urjala production unit. Konecranes managing director, hoist production, Ari Kiviniitty said Urjala Works Corporation’s 70 staff members would continue to produce the end carriages “as they were doing for Konecranes”. “Being an independent company now, they can have a wider customer base. As for Konecranes, it gives us greater operational flexibility and the possibility to concentrate on end-product assembly, development and maintenance services,” Kiviniitty said. The agreement is part of Konecranes’s internal re-engineering program, launched in 2003. It is not expected to have any effect on Konecranes’s financial results this year as Konecranes does not have an ownership stake in the new company. Kiviniitty said the manager of Urjala Works is former Konecranes Urjala factory manager Maratku Koivula. Noell China delivers 150th container handler FUJIAN, China Noell Crane Systems China Ltd (NCSC) has delivered its 150th container handling stacker to Ji Fa, a Shanghai-based container yard operator. It is the second NCSC-manufactured CS45Km reach stacker ordered by Ji Fa. Fantuzzi product manager Jimmy Lozada said many Chinese and overseas customers were placing repeat orders for NCSC-made Fantuzzi machines. “Sixty per cent of our customers are local, 30 per cent are regional and 10 per cent are outside Asia,” Lozada said. Currently six, seven and eight-high single and double box empty stackers and five-high laden stackers are assembled at NCSC’s workshops. Lozada said NCSC was looking to assemble the FDC J six-high and seven-high empty container handlers at its workshops. NCSC, in Zhangzhou, Fujian, is a foreign-invested joint venture company formerly known as Preussag Noell-China Merchants. The company was known as PNCM when it began operating in 1998. In 2004, NCSC sold 39 CS45Km reach stackers and 43 FDC K7 and K8 empty container handlers. **ANNOUNCEMENT** MARKETPLACE UPDATE: LAUNCH PLANNED FOR 27 APRIL! There are now 8601 units for sale in the Marketplace! Our official launch date is Wednesday, April 27. So now is the time to add your used forklifts, stock selectors, telehandlers, rough-terrains, container handlers, reach stackers, port cranes, or attachments. Email your stock list to marketplace@forkliftaction.com. We will import your stock list into the Marketplace. You will then receive a link where you can view your imported stock. Add up to four photos with your listings, change the prices of your stock, cancel listings of sold units or add new stock on a very simple and secure webpage. This will also enable you to view and search all listings and start contacting other participating dealers. So why not try this free offer? Simply email your stock list to: marketplace@forkliftaction.com and we’ll get it in there for you. Participating dealers are offered a free trial period after launch. Jungheinrich “consistent” for five years HAMBURG, Germany Jungheinrich AG has increased its operating income for the fifth straight year, Dr Cletus von Pilcher, chairman of the board of management, told a press conference in Hamburg. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for 2004 were up 6.2 per cent to EUR83 million (USD108.2 million) from EUR78 million (USD101.7 million) in 2003. Group net sales increased 4 per cent from EUR1471 million (USD1917 million) to EUR1531 million (USD1996 million). New business and after-sales service, each posting 4 per cent growth, contributed to the increase in group sales. At December 31, 2004, the group had 9,008 employees, 50.4 per cent of whom worked outside Germany. Jungheinrich expanded its sales and after-sales workforce but the group lost staff after discontinuing production operations in Argentan, France, Leighton Buzzard, the UK, and Madrid, Spain (Forkliftaction.com News #157) Group management would implement restructuring measures at its main plant in Nordestedt, Germany, this year to increase production output and flexibility and safeguard the site, von Pilcher said. The group expects 150 jobs will be shed through streamlining measures by the end of 2007. Pedestrian crushed by cheese MELBOURNE, Australia A load of cheese has fallen off a forklift, crushing a 39-year-old man to death. The Age newspaper reported police said the man was walking in front of a moving forklift at Oxford Cold Storage warehouse in Hume Road, Laverton North, west Melbourne, Victoria, when the accident happened. The driver is believed to have slammed on the brakes at the last minute but the action caused his load of cheese to fall, crushing the man. WorkSafe’s Trevor Martin said it was the ninth workplace death in Victoria this year and the 54th workplace fatality involving forklifts since 1985. Of the 54 fatalities, 15 were pedestrians struck by falling loads. WorkSafe is the Victorian WorkCover Authority's occupational health and safety arm, which promotes and enforces health and safety in Victorian workplaces. New Panther Mini gets many orders RIBE, Denmark Logitrans A/S released a new, fully powered pallet truck, the Panther Mini, only two weeks ago but is already labelling the product a “big success”. Soren Pedersen, Logitrans international sales manager, said there had been many orders for the new pallet truck, which has a maximum capacity of 1,400kg and is manufactured at the company’s plant in Ribe. “It is a big success already,” Perdersen said. “I can’t say how many, but we have received more than expected orders with most coming from Europe.” The Panther Mini is suited for light duty pallet transport and lifting, for example, in supermarkets, stock areas and for component manufacturing, Logitrans said in a statement. It can operate in aisles as narrow as a pallet width and can be manoeuvred with the handle upright. The handle is designed with ergonomically correct gripping angles to ensure a relaxed grip. The new product is an addition to Logistrans’s “Panther family”, which includes manual pallet trucks and a fully powered pallet truck, Panther Maxi, with a load capacity of 1,800kg. Logitrans sales & marketing executive Henning Lyager said the Panther Mini was efficient and user friendly. ADVERTISEMENT Large tyre handler/manipulator attachment wanted • New or used units will be considered • If used, with forklift or loader included would be considered • To suit any of, or all the below size tyre/wheel combinations • 40.00/57  ( used for Komatsu 730E dump truck tyres) • 55/80/63  (used for Komatsu 930E dump truck tyres) • 65/65/57  ( used for Komatsu WA1200 wheel loader tyres) Please advise your ability to supply to: equip@forkliftaction.com Or fax 61 7 3369 9096 Growing US market spurs Combilift subsidiary Redbank, NC, United States Irish multi-directional forklift manufacturer Combilift has opened its first overseas, wholly-owned subsidiary company in Greensboro, North Carolina. Combilift vice president for marketing Eamon Devlin said the main purpose of the new subsidiary, Combilift USA, was to sell spare parts to Combilift’s growing dealer network and customers and to provide technical support to its dealers. Eleven staff members provide support services at the new company. Combilift bought a warehouse in Greensboro and put more than USD1 million of spare parts in its inventory to provide back-up for its 45 US dealers. “Combilift now has more than 3,000 internal combustion four-way forklifts successfully in operation. We have plans to produce more than 1,200 units in 2005 and annual growth is forecast at 30 per cent to 35 per cent for the next five years,” Devlin said. Combilift claims to be the world’s largest manufacturer in unit sales of four-way forklifts and side-loading equipment. It exports more than 96 per cent of its production and its top overseas markets are Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. JCB telehandlers “run” the London Marathon ROCESTER, United Kingdom Six JCB Loadall telescopic handlers were used to erect the start and finish lines for the 26 mile 385 yard route of the 25th London Marathon. A JCB spokesman said JCB equipment had been used at the marathon for several years. “As with previous marathon days, everything went to plan,” he said. JCB dealer Greenshields JCB provided the machines to lift safety barriers and hoardings into place and remove them after the event. JCB product specialist, compact products, Dave Allen and JCB web designer Craig Jeffery, both members of the Staffordshire Moorlands Athletic Club, joined the race. Allen crossed the line first of the pair with a personal best time of two hours, 46 minutes, while Jeffery finished the race in two hours, 54 minutes. The race attracted 36,000 competitors and hundred of thousands of spectators. Rice producer changes forklift fleet SYDNEY, Australia SunRice, in Australia, which claims to be the world’s sixth largest rice food company, has changed its ageing fleet of 100 forklifts to Linde’s 2.5 tonne 39X diesel forklifts and counterbalanced electric forklifts. SunRice fleet manager Les Watt, who was responsible for changing the company’s forklift fleet, said maintenance costs and operators’ welfare were senior management’s major concerns. “We had some fairly stringent conditions for the initial two phases of the tender process," he said. “The first phase included basic operational needs, such as flexibility with fleet size; 24/7 service with a maximum three-hour call out to cater for our 24-hour operation; an onsite service technician; a high level of driver comfort to handle various surface conditions; and a flexible forklift speed limiting system.” For phase two of the tender process, Watt looked at several criteria, which included “whole-of-life operating cost efficiencies” and “onsite driver training and re-training as required Supply chain manager David Hamilton said the comfort level of the new forklifts had made a difference to operators’ work days. “Sitting in a forklift for seven hours every day can be tough, especially driving over the rough surfaces some of our drivers endure … our drivers are now more comfortable at the end of the day,” Hamilton said. SunRice, Australia’s largest exporter of processed, branded food products, and the brand name of the Ricegrowers’ Co-operative Ltd, Australia, creates jobs in 63 regional towns, mostly in southern New South Wales. SunRice farmer-shareholders grow an annual average of 1.2 million tonnes of paddy rice. Harvesting starts in February and ends by May. The farmers are responsible for moving rice into storage sheds. During the year, the rice is then moved by road and rail to various mills for processing. ADVERTISEMENT Japanese used forklift exporter seeks international dealers. A Japan based exporter of quality used forklifts is seeking reliable dealers in various world regions. Typical brands offered are Toyota, Nissan and TCM although any Japanese brand is available. Gasoline, Diesel, Counterbalance electric and narrow aisle machines are available Various masts and transmission types FOB or CIF basis to your country. Dealers sought in Asia, Australia and Pacific, but inquiries from other regions are welcomed. Please send details to equip@forkliftaction.com Or fax 61 7 3369 9096 Send this newsletter to an associate   WORKSAFE CELEBRATES INNOVATIVE HEALTH & SAFETY MEASURES MELBOURNE, Australia Transport workers and employers are invited to submit entries for the WorkSafe Victoria Awards 2005. WorkSafe executive director John Merritt said the awards celebrated innovative health and safety measures that reduced risks in the workplace and had potential to benefit the whole community. “This year WorkSafe is particularly keen to receive entries in the categories of Health & Safety Representative of the Year, Health & Safety Committee of the Year and Small Business,” he said. “The awards for health & safety representatives and committees recognise the vital role played by health & safety representatives in workplace improvements and what can be achieved when employees and employers work in partnership.” Winner of the Health & Safety Committee of the Year award for 2004, Laverton’s TNT Express committee member Rachel Lopez, said the win was not just for themselves but for people who had shown leadership in health and safety in the past. “Now is the time for the transport industry to enter the awards and continue to show how innovative our industry is,” she said. Entries close on May 20. A gala presentation dinner will be held in Melbourne during Work Safe Week in October. WorkSafe Victoria website   1. Announcement - exclusive to Forkliftaction.com New Komatsu / Kalmar AC and SMH Agreement  April 15, 2004 Systems Materials Handling Co. (SMH) and Komatsu Forklift U.S.A., Inc. (Komatsu) are pleased to announce a strategic agreement under which the entire line of SMH products will be made available through Komatsu and Kalmar AC dealers in the United States. Dealers will now have full access to a dedicated IRMN site allowing parts look-up for over 1,000,000 competitive parts and the ability to order via IRMN, telephone, email or FAX. In conjunction with this new agreement, Komatsu has announced the introduction of K-Source as the brand name under which both ... Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. 2. ORLACO: Number One For Forklift Cameras ORLACO Camera Systems are designed for arduous industrial applications and are therefore robust and provide long service life, and have been shown to provide up to 30-40% increase in pallet movements. The ORLACO Camera System can be used in many varied applications, such as on commercial vehicles, public transport vehicles, earthmoving and materials handling equipment. Orlaco cameras are factory fitted, used and, in many cases, specified exclusively by European forklift OEMs and attachment manufacturers. Nowadays, every inch of available space in warehouses and storage areas is used to optimal efficiency. When the driver’s vision is limited, one option is to stop the... Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. 3. Largest Rotating Roll Clamp ever manufactured by KAUP delivered to Egypt Another outstanding highlight for KAUP, the Aschaffenburg, Germany based manufacturer of forklift truck attachments was the recent delivery of a Rotating Paper Roll Clamp due to its extraordinary dimensions. This Rotating Roll Clamp, to be operated on a 25 ton forklift at an Egyptian Paper Mill, can pick up rolls of tissue paper with a diameter of 3 meters and a weight of up to 6 tons. The opening distance between its contact pads measures more than 4 metres. In order to optimise friction, contact pads are lined with Secutex. Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. Kaup website 4. Innovations at Bolzoni Auramo website: www.bolzoni-auramo.com Our website has been upgraded to provideas much information as possible about our products to our customers worldwide. New languages have been added and you can now consult the website in English, Italian, German and French. A specific (this is unclear. Is it a special site linked from www.bolzoni-auramo.com?) site is dedicated to the specific requirements of the US market. www.bolzoni-auramo.com offers customers complete information about Bolzoni Auramo products and services worldwide and includes a presentation of all technical data, service manuals and pictures of practical handling cases. Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. IN THE DISCUSSION FORUMS UPCOMING EVENTS JOB VACANCIES RESUMES FAST FACTS In the Discussion Forums No more fence-sitting, y'hear? "We as industry professionals have the duty of care to give as clear as possible information to all empoyers & legislators. We cannot, must not. sit on the fence and have a dollar each way nor can we continue to bury our heads in the sand." DANGEROUS, Australia A Thank You note "Thank you to all who responded. I have since had the controller repaired. I'm happy to say that all the settings were saved. This has taken care of the code problem. Truck works fine for now. This a great resorce to have for us independants. Ralph" ralph_c, Canada Heed my warning, friend ... "We tried using a broke clamp to move paper to put back into a hopper. It wasn't long before it was a broken clamp. We constanly repaired this unit until one day we quit & bought a BobCat. Do yourself a favour & look at alternatives." stuart_m, Canada Keep them from falling over!!! "The company I work for is looking into designing a system for the European market to protect forklift operators in the event of lateral tip over. I am familiar with the Sauermann system ... but am having difficulty finding details about the other systems." steven_g, United States FORKLIFTACTION.COM Discussion Forums >> Upcoming Events 1. ICHCA Luncheon - South Australia West lakes SA, Australia 27th April 2005 2. Smart 2005 Conference Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia 1st & 2nd June 2005 3. MHEDA - 2005 Annual Convention & Exhibitors' Showcase Phoenix, Arizona, United States 30th April to 4th May 2005 FORKLIFTACTION.COM Events >> Jobs 1. Service Manager - Full time Birmingham, AL, United States 2. Regional Aftermarket Sales Manager - Full time Ohio Valley, United States 3. Lift Truck Mechanic - Full time Hammond, United States 4. GENERAL MANAGER - Full time Tampa, Florida, United States FORKLIFTACTION.COM Jobs >> Resumes 1. SUPERVISOR/MANAGER/ CONTAINER HANDLING OPERATOR - Full time ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. AND POSSIBLE ANYWHERE OVERSEAS, United States FORKLIFTACTION.COM Resumes >> Fast Facts 1. Announcement - exclusive to Forkliftaction.com 2. ORLACO: Number One For Forklift Cameras 3. Largest Rotating Roll Clamp ever manufactured by KAUP delivered to Egypt 4. Innovations at Bolzoni Auramo website: www.bolzoni-auramo.com FORKLIFTACTION.COM News >>   To tailor your newsletter preferences, click here to access your member account online. 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