I think BB forks is right when it comes down to the after service in part, but you can have a small local service company that many people on here work for and will agree gives a much better service than given credit for. On the quality issue of the chines trucks is this really the issue or is this just a opportunity to knock the Chinese brands. If you look at all manufactures they all source there casting's from China on IC counter balance truck. Not sure about Crown but the rest do. So if a axle made in China is good enough on say one of the big name trucks then it should be the same on the offer manufactures trucks. Again in industry there is no such thing as a premium product are CAT wheel loaders a premium product Are Hitachi excavators a premium product, Are JCB back hoes a premium product. No they are a product that does a good job. any company can fit a engine that gives 1000 hours oil service life and company can fit hydrostatic transmissions that will use only 50% of engine rated power. The majority of companies use the same part in all their trucks but yet some seem to call them selfs premium because they claim to have a better name.. The markets are going to change in a big way over the next five years. companies like Sany and Heli will become global brands. Kalmar now produce their products in Poland does and Sany in Germany this does not mean Kalmar is now a poor brand and Sany is a better brand.

Customers are now waking up to the fact that they have a choice and are looking for a better solution because all forklifts are only clones of the original Clark designed product that were developed way back in 1917 nearly 100 years ago


as for the Middle east sheikhs having gold plated trucks , the Middle east is probably the most harsh environment industrial equipment will have to work in yet they don't pay a premium for there equipment and most of the major brands don't sell well their. So if a truck can work well in this environment they can work well any were.