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Dear reader, WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM, MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE. This is issue #345 - 31 January 2008 of the weekly newsletter for industry professionals. |
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 “Toyota sets ambitious goal for Chinese sales.” |
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JCB continues investment strategy ROCESTER, United Kingdom JCB sold over 70,000 machines in 2007, 30% more than the previous year and 18% above the average market growth rate. The company says emerging markets like India, Russia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Romania and Poland were a great source of business growth last year and its new products and ranges accounted for 50% of JCB’s total sales increase. It also appointed 46 new dealers, bringing the total to 670 dealers and 1,500 service depots worldwide. Parts sales increased by 16%. In a statement, JCB says European economies are expected to be under pressure as exports to the US slow and the credit crunch is felt. The construction sector, in particular, could be affected by the downturn in North America, where the market fell 13% in 2007. The effects are expected to be felt in the house building market. Despite these concerns, JCB says it will go ahead with its overseas investments this year. It has invested GBP36 million (USD71.5 million) to double capacity at the backhoe loader production facility near Delhi, India. Excavator production in the UK will expand with a GBP40 million (USD79 million) investment in a new factory. The GBP7 million (USD13.9 million) JCB Attachments factory in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire is nearly completed. JCB is also pouring investment into improving its customer service worldwide with the creation of 6,000m² (64,584sqft) more warehousing capacity at the World Parts Centre in Uttoxeter, the opening of a 2,500m² (26,910sqft) warehouse in Moscow, the building of a 20,000 m² (215,278sqft) warehouse in Savannah, US and the opening of a 8,000m² (86,111sqft) warehouse in Pune, India. JCB has performed well in India, selling 17,000 machines in 2007 compared to 10,800 machines in 2006. Turnover rose 60% from INR2,050 crores (USD521.9 million) to INR3,280 crores (USD835 million). There are now 45 dealers supporting end users from 285 depots. There were 202 depots in 2006. JCB India managing director Vipin Sondhi says India is a “very important” market for JCB. “We have planned our growth path by making strategic investments in our manufacturing facilities in both Ballabgarh and Pune. “We are investing GBP36 million (USD71.5 million), doubling the capacity of our Ballabgarh plant in addition to spending GBP2.5 million (USD5.0 million) on a new parts distribution warehouse in Pune. “JCB’s ongoing expansion in India will create further direct employment, as well as additional opportunities for our dealers and for the training of operators who use JCB machines. Currently, over 3,000 operators are being trained in India and this number is likely to increase substantially in the years to come,” Sondhi says. JCB claims it is the market leader in sales of construction equipment in India, with one in two construction machines sold in the country manufactured by JCB. Matthew Taylor, JCB’s chief operating officer, says the company’s growth has not been entirely dependent on market growth. “We have grown faster than the market but there is nervousness and uncertainty for 2008. “North America continues to be weak and we don’t see any improvements on that this year, which in turn will put pressure on European economies. But infrastructure developments seem to be strong in most markets and the growth in emerging markets will continue.”  Hoist focuses on port industry for 2008  BEDFORD PARK, IL, United States Hoist Liftruck will focus on the port equipment market this year by introducing the P-Series empty and laden container handlers and reach stackers. Dan Peter, Hoist’s marketing director, says the port equipment is in its final design stage and Hoist is finalising deals for the container handlers, based on the P-Series forklifts. The reach stackers are targeted for release in the third quarter of 2008. Hoist is no newcomer to the port and intermodal market. Its roots trace back to Silent Hoist & Crane of Brooklyn, New York, a heavy forklift, mobile crane and container handler manufacturer since 1918. Over the years, the company’s product line and name changed but in June 2007, Hoist announced its re-entry into the intermodal market. In August 2007, Hoist delivered its first P-Series RoRo forklift to Ceres Terminal in Baltimore. Federal Marine Terminals received its order of two P-Series P360s (36,000lb/16,329kg capacity forklift) for their Milwaukee location in the northern hemisphere spring of 2007. Jones Stevedoring took delivery of two P800s (80,000lb/36,287kg capacity forklift) for its Portland terminal last week. The company has just delivered its largest-sized forklift to Nautico Yacht Club in St Petersburg, Florida. Though not the highest capacity forklift Hoist has built, the pneumatic M520 Neptune Series has a 54-foot (16.5-metre) mast and 26-foot (7.9-metre) forks. It has a capacity of 52,000lbs (23,587kg) and a 96-inch (2.4-metre) load centre. The M520 comes with a 6.7 litre Cummins turbocharged diesel engine and a Dana 32,000 series automatic transmission. Jeff Cavanaugh, Nautico’s director of marine operations, is pleased with his latest forklift. “Hoist offered a quick response to all of our questions”, he says. Hoist will display the M520 and the M240 Neptune Series forklifts at the Miami International Boat Show on 14-18 February at the Miami Beach Convention Centre. The M520 that will be exhibited has been purchased by the Yacht Club of America (YCOA). Hoist manufactures 15,000lb-100,000lb (6,804kg-45,359kg) capacity forklifts. The Neptune Series forklift line for the marina was introduced to the market in early 2006. Since then, Hoist has sold over 70 marina forklifts.  Toyota sets aim for Chinese sales TOKYO, Japan Toyota Industries Corp (TICO) aims to sell 12,000 forklifts in China by 2010. That figure includes imported units. According to a TICO statement, Toyota Industry (Kunshan) Co Ltd in southeast Jiangsu, China, produced 1,562 forklifts and 42,421 tons of automobile parts in 2007. Toyota sold 3,221 forklifts in China in the calendar year 2007. Some were manufactured at Kunshan while the rest were imported from Japan and Sweden. The Kunshan manufacturing site was established in August 1994 and operations started in 1996. Toyota Industries Corp owns 70% of the company, Lioho Machine Works, 25% and Toyoda Tsusho Corp, 5%. There are over 500 people working for the Chinese company that manufactures and markets Toyota forklifts and automobile parts. The site covers 127,000 m² (1,367,016sqft) of land area and the forklift plant takes up 19,500 m² (209,896 sqft).  With over 35,000 searches per month … this BUSINESS DIRECTORY is the professionals’ guide to materials handling businesses Forkliftaction.com’s Business Directory currently features over 30,000 business listings. Use the directory to locate businesses that manufacture or supply products and services to the materials handling industry: forklifts, attachments, engines, components, accessories or services such as repair, training, consultancy, etc … Here are some popular searches:
For more information contact the Forkliftaction.com team: write to info@forkliftaction.com, or phone +61 (0)7 3369 9090.   New Products Gehl increases Dynalift capacities WEST BEND, WI, United States Gehl Company has introduced models with increased load capacities to the DL Series Dynalift telehandlers that comply with the latest engine emission regulations. The 2008 DL Series telehandlers are available with lift capacities from 7,000lbs to 12,000lbs (3,175kg to 5,443kg) and lift heights from 40 feet to 55 feet (12.2 metres to 16.7 metres). They have EPA-certified Tier 3 diesel engines. End-users can choose between two options - the personnel work platform safety system and radio remote boom control system. The telehandlers are marketed in North and South America and the Middle East. Gehl’s DL Series Dynalift telehandlers were first introduced in 1997. Komatsu upgrades forklifts for Europe MILAN, Italy Komatsu Forklift Europe has introduced the AM-2 Rac and AE-2Rac series. Made in Italy, the forklifts replace the AM-2R and AE-2R series introduced in 2002. The old series did not have AC power and did not come in 1.3 ton and 1.6 ton capacities. Other features in the new series include extended service intervals, electric regenerative braking and low noise and energy efficient, brushless AC technology motors and oil brakes. Jungheinrich stacker comes with charger RICHMOND, VA, United States Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp has launched the HC 110b power lift stacker suitable for occasional, light-duty stacking operations. The stacker has an integrated charger that can be connected to any 110V/120B outlet to charge the unit’s single 12V, 105 Ah battery. The operator display includes an LED-type battery discharge indicator that measures the stacker’s battery life. Still’s new reach truck series HAMBURG, Germany Manufactured in Reutlingen, Germany, Still GmbH’s FM-X reach truck series replaces the FM-I Series. It is available to the global market. The old series started with a 1.2 ton capacity model. The FM-X Series comes in 1.0 ton to 2.5 ton capacities. It also has better ergonomics. As an option, the driver’s compartment can be hydraulically cushioned to reduce shock and impact from travelling on uneven surfaces. Still has also introduced the FM-SE 14, 16 and 20 reach trucks for indoor and outdoor operation. The forklifts’ drive wheels are made of solid rubber and the load wheels are superelastic tyres. Kalmar wins order from Södra and contract from TPT STOCKHOLM, Sweden Kalmar Industries has won an order from Södra for 32 forklifts for wood and pulp handling. Kalmar Sweden managing director Jan Ohlsson says the quality of the forklifts and the company’s service network helped it win the contract despite “tough competition” from several manufacturers. Eight forklifts with capacities from 15 tonnes will handle pulp at Södra Cell’s pulp mills in Mörrum, Mönsterås and Värö, Sweden. Södra Timber’s production facilities in the country’s southern region will use 24 units including 10-25 tonne forklifts and logstacker machines for handling wood. Södra Timber produced 1.7 million m² (18.3 million sqft) of wood products in 2004. Södra Timber is an association representing forest owners in Sweden. More than 50,000 forest owners from 35,000 forest properties in southern Sweden are members. The association produces sawn and planed timber goods, interior products, paper pulp and biofuel. Separately, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has awarded Kalmar a maintenance contract for its rubber-tyred equipment operating at the Port of Durban’s Pier 1 Container Terminal. A team of about 20 Kalmar technicians will service 18 Kalmar E-One rubber-tyred gantry cranes, two Kalmar reach stackers and other-branded machinery including 40 terminal tractors, 47 trailers and two empty container handlers. TPT was previously known as South African Port Operations. Kalmar and TPT have a long-standing relationship. Over 140 Kalmar straddle carriers are operating at TPT’s container terminals in Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The Port of Durban handled 2.3 million TEUs in 2007.  JLG adds military machine to die-cast range McCONNELLSBURG, PA, United States JLG Industries has expanded its range of mini collectible machines with the addition of five new die-cast models including two versions of the Atlas II military telehandler (Forkliftaction.com News #268). The other additions are the ESSMJ mast boom lift, the European version of ESSMJ – JLG Toucan model 1210 and the electric scissor lift model 2646ES. JLG now offers 16 different die-cast models. Sixteen inches (41cm) in length, the two model replicas of Atlas ll military telehandlers can extend their three-section boom over 10 inches (25cm) into the air up to 45 degrees. The replicas have authentic JLG paint and decals, an intricately detailed cab and engine compartment, and 20 fully functioning parts that allow them to roll forward and backward, lift and extend the boom arm and rotate the wheels into crab steer, four-wheel steer and two-wheel steer modes. They are available in “camouflage green” and “desert sand” colour schemes. Search 4542 listings in the MarketplaceSample of used equipment for sale:
and thousands more... Click here to include your used forklifts, stackers, telehandlers, container handlers, attachments etc. Bobcat opens Eastern Europe plant WEST FARGO, ND, United States Bobcat has opened the company’s first newly built manufacturing plant outside the USA at Dobris in the Czech Republic, to be close to its customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The new plant,about 35km (21.7 miles) from Prague, is over 20,000 m² (215,278 sqft) in area and is used for the fabrication, welding, painting and assembly of small and mid-size compact loaders, mini excavators up to 2 tonne and various attachments. According to hub-4.com, the USD32 million investment includes a new training centre next to the plant, four rooms covering 380m² (4,090sqft), a workshop and an outdoor training area covering 5,000 m² (53,820 sqft). Bobcat aims to have 80% of its products marketed in EMEA sourced in Europe by the end of 2008. Its Pont-Château plant in France manufactures telehandlers. Doosan Infracore bought Bobcat and Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd's utility equipment and attachments businesses for USD4.9 billion last year (Forkliftaction.com News #339).  Manitou unveils new machines at Las Vegas show WACO, TX, United States Manitou North America introduced a slew of new forklifts at last week’s World of Concrete show held at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. It showcased the Manitransit TMV 55, a masted truck-mounted forklift, the MRT 2150P rotating telehandler and the TMT 55-4 Way four-directional truck-mounted forklift. The Waco, Texas-built TMV 55 is for the North American market only but could be introduced to other markets in the future. It shares a lot of components with the telescopic version. The addition of the masted version completes Manitou’s truck-mounted forklift range, says company spokeswoman Etienne Bourcier. The 5,660lb (2,567kg) forklift has a 5,500lb (2,495kg) capacity and a 156" (4.0 metre) maximum lift height. The MRT 2150P telehandler is produced by Manitou Construzioni Industriali in Castelfranco Emilia, Italy, and is available to the global market. The MRT 2150P Series replaces the MRT 2150M series that was introduced in January 2004. Changes to the new series include a more powerful Tier 3 Mercedes engine, a redesigned cab, a new dashboard, new joystick controls and new paint scheme and decals. It has a 10,000lb (4,536kg) lift capacity, 67’ 7” (20.6 metre) lift height and forward reach of 59’ 8” (18.2 metres). The TMT 55-4 Way four-directional truck-mounted forklift is made in France but will soon be built in Waco, Texas for the North American market. It is equipped with rotating front-drive wheels that allow frontal and sideways travel making it suitable for manoeuvring long loads in confined spaces. It weighs 6,600lb (2,994kg) and has a 5,500lb (2,495kg) capacity, 135” (3.4 metre) lift height and 58” (1.5 metre) forward reach. Movers & Shakers WACO, TX, United States Manitou North America has appointed Kirk Zander as director of sales and marketing. Zander joined Manitou as Midwest regional sales manager nine years ago. He was field sales manager for the past three years. WESTPORT, CT, United States Terex Corp has announced several key appointments to support its global growth strategy. Company CEO Tom Riordan says the new leadership will help the company achieve its USD12 billion net sales target with a 12% operating margin in 2010. Steve Filipov is president, developing markets and strategic accounts. He was president of Terex Cranes for the past three years. Rick Nichols replaces Filipov as president of Terex Cranes. He has been president of Terex Materials Processing & Mining. Harry Bussman has been promoted to run the global Terex Mining business. He was general manager of the Terex O&K large hydraulic mining shovel business. George Ellis has been appointed vice president, manufacturing services. He will continue leading the Terex Utilities business until a replacement is found.
Offer for Budget, IFS liquidated Australia Administrator Peter Hillig of Smith Hancock hopes to wrap up the sale of embattled forklift company Smeaton Forklifts, trading as Budget Forklifts NSW, within a fortnight. He tells Forkliftaction.com News that he is in the process of finalising the sale of the business but is not sure at this stage whether the potential purchaser will continue to run the business using its current name. The company was placed under voluntary administration on 31 October 2007, owing an estimated AUD2.7 million to creditors, which comprise two secured and around 30 unsecured entities. (Forkliftaction.com News #335). Total assets are confidential but are believed to comprise around 118 forklifts, its business name and goodwill. Meanwhile, Independent Forklift Services (IFS), which includes IFS (Qld), IFS (NSW) and IFS (NQ) has been placed in liquidation, following a decision by creditors who met on 18 December 2007. While administrators PPB (Qld) received several offers to purchase the business, only an offer to purchase the ‘hire’ portion of the company was acceptable. The balance of the equipment for IFS (NSW) was auctioned prior to Christmas. It is intended that the remaining assets of IFS (Qld) and IFS (NQ) will be auctioned by Graysonline in February. Approximately 100 forklifts, which include some wrecks and spare parts, will be on offer. Pilot project to tighten port supply chain MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia Global technology services company EDS Australia has been awarded a 12-month contract to trial new technology designed to dramatically increase cargo movement for the Port of Melbourne by integrating information from thousands of users into one online system. The program aims to replicate the success of Spain’s Port of Valencia, one of the first in the world to successfully integrate a port’s supply chain into a single information portal. “The Port of Valencia improved the time to process a container by 50-60 percent in the last five years and provided savings across its port community,” says Chris Mitchell, EDS Australia managing director. “The Spanish have now moved to commercialise this technology and have linked with EDS to introduce the system to other ports around the world.” The Port of Melbourne currently moves about two million containers annually – almost 40% of Australia’s international container trade. With traffic expected to more than double over the next 30 years, the Port of Melbourne is in a position to achieve major improvements in both efficiency and cost. The 12-month pilot will involve about 10 different organisations, including the Port Authority, shipping and freight companies as well as importers and exporters. The aim is to integrate information and documentation in key areas such as berth booking, container status, trade directory, hazardous cargo and ship arrivals and departures. The system will enable participants to be the first to trial improved services to offer their customers, helping them to be more competitive, win cargo and earn customer loyalty by improving their processes. Melbourne-based IT consulting firm Red Wahoo, which specialises in business-to-business technology and has previously mapped the Port of Melbourne supply chain, will work with EDS during the pilot. New stevedore at Brisbane port BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia A new AUD530 million project at the Port of Brisbane will provide thousands of Queensland businesses with greater opportunities to take their products and knowledge to the world. Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH) has reached agreement with the state government to lease two new container berths from the Port of Brisbane Corporation. “The Port of Brisbane Corporation, with the approval and support of the Queensland government, will invest more than AUD530 million over five years in the new Berths 11 and 12 and associated terminals, which will increase Brisbane’s container-handling facility by 25% and take the number of dedicated container wharves at the port to nine,” says Premier Anna Bligh. Construction has already begun, with Berth 11 expected to be operational by 2012 and Berth 12 in 2014. Minister for Transport, John Mickel, says HPH was one of the world’s leading port investors, developers and operators, with a total of 294 berths in 47 ports around the world. In the 2006/2007 financial year, container trade through the Port of Brisbane increased by 14.2%, surpassing the growth of Sydney and Melbourne’s ports for the fifth consecutive year. Infrastructure Australia is born CANBERRA, ACT, Australia Federal Cabinet has formally approved the establishment of Infrastructure Australia, a body designed to fight inflation by boosting the economy's productive capacity, unlocking infrastructure bottlenecks like clogged ports and congested roads. Legislation establishing Infrastructure Australia will be introduced during the first session of the new Parliament. It will be a statutory advisory council with 12 members drawn from industry, government and local government. This will include five from the private sector, one of whom will be the chair. The council will: • Conduct audits to determine the adequacy, capacity and condition of nationally significant infrastructure, including transport, water, communications and energy. • Develop an Infrastructure Priority List to guide billions of dollars of public and private investment. • Provide advice to governments, investors and owners of infrastructure on regulatory reforms that can improve the utilisation of our infrastructure networks. The organisation’s immediate task will be to audit the nation's infrastructure shortfalls and produce an Infrastructure Priority List to guide billions of dollars of public and private investment. Report reveals high freight costs WELLINGTON, New Zealand Freight costs in New Zealand are a third higher than in Australia, according to a report released by the Road Transport Forum recently. It finds freight costs for the same-sized trucks are more than 30% higher on average in New Zealand than in Australia. The report puts the costs down to two reasons: • Australian trucks pay much lower road taxes and can carry heavier payloads; • And although they travel longer distances, even over the same distance travelled, New Zealand freight rates are substantially higher. The Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce says high freight costs have far-reaching effects for New Zealanders. "An efficient and cost-effective transport system is essential if New Zealand is to maintain its international competitiveness," says CEO Charles Finny. "Transport costs flow through to all parts of the economy. Businesses and consumers pay the price of over-inflated freight costs which are reflected in everything they buy." However, NZ Transport Minister Annette King says New Zealand's freight costs should not be compared to Australia's. King says the government is looking at the examples of countries like Japan when it comes to transporting freight. She says the Japanese carry twice as much freight by sea and the drive in New Zealand is to duplicate that. King says the government also wants to make better use of the rail system in its efforts to get trucks off the road. Confidence levels begin to erode MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia Turbulence in the financial markets is taking its toll on the business sector with confidence levels now at their lowest since 2006, new figures show. The latest National Australia Bank (NAB) monthly business survey results indicate that while business conditions are strong, they have reached their peak and are expected to ease. According to NAB chief economist Alan Olster, the December survey results suggest that domestic demand at the end of the quarter was still travelling at a robust 4% but slowing. "An expectation that activity will continue to slow would be consistent with the impact of higher interest rates, a still strong currency and continuing problems in global financial markets." The business confidence index contained in the survey fell by one point in December to five index points, reversing gains in mid-2007. Confidence in the near term - at five points - remains below the long-term average of seven points and has returned to the recent lows of late 2006. The RBA board meets on February 5 to discuss interest rates and will announce its decision the same day. Woman hit by forklift, dies PANORAMA, South Australia, Australia A 43-year-old woman, injured in a workplace incident recently, died in hospital last Friday. The woman, who was a supported employee, was leaving the premises of Bedford at Panorama when she was struck by a forklift at about 4.30pm on 21 January, suffering fractures and internal injuries. Shortly after being informed of the incident, SafeWork SA issued notices regarding use of the forklift and traffic control. The agency has been investigating the incident since, taking statements from witnesses, examining physical evidence at the scene, and reviewing safety procedures in place at the time.  Send this newsletter to an associate
Superlift is looking to expand its Distributor Network Superlift Material Handling Inc., a Canadian based manufacturer of specialized and custom lift trucks and material handling equipment, is looking for distributors’ world wide. Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. 
SMH releases new series of “Chopper Modules” Click here for more information on this product, including pictures. Yacht Clubs of America, Hoist Liftruck complete multi-forklift deal Click here for more information on this product, including pictures. The TCM PRO Four Wheel Electric Lift Trucks Click here for more information on this product, including pictures. 
How thorough are your vehicle examinations? ALTON, United Kingdom Some forklift users may be breaking the law by confusing “inspections with legally obligatory thorough examinations”. Click here for the full Fork Talk feature, including pictures. 
In search of the universal forklift Never mind HD DVD vs Blu-Ray, metric or imperial, solar calendar or lunar calendar. The real issue, according to a veteran insider, is whether there’s a “universal forklift truck”? Read more
Pekka Vauramo, Kalmar Industries HELSINKI, Finland Click here for the full Industry Profile feature, including pictures.   |
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