Thoughts on a year to come

I here that Jungheinrich UK Limited are about to make some people redundant and close some local depots. Go to central control centre working from that new Warehouse they just built (handy that coming on line now)

And that Mitsubushi/Cat rumour is till around and due to resurface in early 2006. Trouble at Mill there. Even though it's the same company a parting of the ways ?

Linde Material Handling UK Limited I here is out looking for market share if that means gobbling up a few small company's so be it.


Times are hard out there.

Is there over supply?
When I started in this business almost 30 years back I did not have the same trouble selling new forklift into the market place.
Second hand is just a joke some times, High residuals, running a truck for 5 years on 3 shift pattern and expecting it to be worth something at the end.

A company car can cost more than a fork truck but I know one director that changes his every 12 month he keeps telling me (It makes the company look good boss having new car) But it sits in a underground car park all day never to be seen by any one.


As for service and repair?

With all the changes in what can and can't be done
For example Thorough Examination it is similar in many ways to a car's MOT test,
But many forklift users even after all this time don't know what it consists of who should be doing it.

The stricter exhaust emission laws mean more engine management systems being fitted. All this should lead to more work for the repair side of our business.

What we are getting now is lots of little company's 1 or 2 men setting up with little or no overheads and charging £15 per hr for servicing
But the big boys can play rough
I have see Damage bills on a hire truck that worked out £135per hr and a light that costs £5 from a local Auto Dealer charged out at £30

What can we look forward to in 2006


ME I look forward to retiring in 2009 getting out of this rat race.