In the Netherlands TCM has a larger market share than Mitsubishi, i don't understand that because in Almere (Netherlands) the Mitsubishi will be together produced with Caterpillar and TCM will be produced in Japan (Shiga Factory) It is a ugly color that Mitsihishi had, maybe is that the problem why they lost marketshare.
Johnr, I joke about the domestic market offerings which cannot be compared to their export product or as you are talking about major manufacturers. Imagine the quality of a forklift that is designed from scratch and built in 12 months!
If you request a Chinese manufacturer to produce an item to a specific specification they will do it with few problems, but this is generally export items. If you look at the many forklift offerings for their domestic market then they leave a lot to be desired in every aspect.
I hope that answers your question to Joei.
daniel q - I have been in the lift truck industry since December 16,1967 & I maybe lift truck stupid or smart but I will guarantee you one thing every day I will function between these 2 extremes. During these decades I have seen and personally experienced products brought to market by most "Quality Name Recognized Brands" Like Cat (before & after MCF), Clark, Komatsu,Toyota, Mitsubishi, Hyster, etc. at one time or other that have signifcant issues from day 1 shipments. Most of these issues were resolved by the manufacturer - introducing retro fits, design changes and working with the dealer to resolve customer relationships.
It is how fast the resolutions (product support) of the issues are made to keep the customer "up and running" is the bottom line of what matters to the end user. Do this right, most customers don't go away. They probably had similar experience with there own products or services.
Quality is as Mr. Tharp says is a bit intangible and a very subjective term. Kinda' like trying to hold JellO in your hands in July at high noon in Dallas or Houston, Texas.
If you read product literature - you'll see terminology like heavy duty, robust, etc. Haven't seen a manufacture say I have a skimpy, small sized whatever - although some say we have an economical truck for those medium to light dute applications and those trucks are often sold into high duty cycle, heavy load lifting on steep crades, applications by inexperienced sales folks to make a sale based upon Feature - low price; Benefit - save you $$$.
what wrong with chinese offering ?
today mostly of manufacturer forklifts based and use material at china too isn it ?
'no one really makes a "bad" forklift any more'
You haven't seen some of the Chinese offerings then..... :)
The relationship between the user and the local dealer representatives (parts, sales, service, rental personal, etc.) and back-up behind the products (parts, programs, service response times) is and always has been the primary reason customers prefer one brand over the other. There is added value in each of the above - no one really makes a "bad" forklift any more & product differnentation (sic) is minor between one or the other.
fyi, in some countries TCM, in it's 3.5tons diesel truck, is now using Mitsubishi S6S Diesel Engine....
If we talk about "RELIABLE" Which one ?? ALso which one is cheaper at your country there ?
If we talk about "RELIABLE" Which one ?? ALso which one is cheaper at your country there ?
that's a question where your going to get some various answers
TCM guys will go with TCM's & Cat/Mitsi guys will of course back up the Mitsi's
having no dealer affiliations I'd say Mitsi makes a better truck based simply on Mitsi having a larger market share in North America