Discussion:
Cushion tyre & LPG

in the US i mostly see cushion tyre machines, is there any particular reason ? and i believe cushion tyre short radius machine are more expensive ?

and LPG ? why not use battery forklifts they need small space and good use indoors ?
  • Posted 16 Sep 2011 02:16
  • By antholine_n
  • joined 7 Sep'11 - 8 messages
  • Colombo, Sri Lanka
Showing items 1 - 3 of 3 results.
No there is not so much worry about another dealer coming in from another state in those areas I referred to, there is too much distance & too many mountains. It is in areas with a lot of population & lift truck dealers, businesses where price wars happen - like Los Angles, New York, Chicago, etc
  • Posted 24 Sep 2011 01:04
  • By johnr_j
  • joined 3 Jun'06 - 1,446 messages
  • Georgia, United States
"Have An Exceptional Day!"
Thanks for your information.

it must be very difficult with few dealers in the same area !! dealer from the next state will come and try to sell equipment for a lesser price to your customer !!!
  • Posted 17 Sep 2011 18:59
  • Modified 26 Sep 2011 11:25 by administrator
  • By antholine_n
  • joined 7 Sep'11 - 8 messages
  • Colombo, Sri Lanka
In the US here is a break down of what the sales % age is of various types of lift trucks in normal business climates.
Class 1. Battery powered lifts, counterbalanced - 3 & 4 wheel designs (including stand-up counterbalance) ~24 -26% of units sold.
Class 2. Battery Powered Narrow aisle units & Order Selectors (mostly high lifts type, pantograph reach & VNA units - 12 -14%
Class 3. Low lift & high lift battery powered walk behind & Walk/Ride, Tow Tractors - ~30-32%.
Class 4. Engine Powered Counter Balanced w/ cushion or press-on solids tires (or tyres) - 22-25%
Class 5. Engine powered Counter Balanced w/pneumatic tires (or tyres) - ~18-20%.
These percentages will change widely especially during slow economic times and that is when the electric units will show higher than average % of units sold - as the big users of electric are in the food business & Americans will always eat.

In the US we use lifts for multiple purposes to work inside & outside (on concrete surfaces), the most common rack system uses a is 16" rack beam, our most commonly used unit is a basic 5000lb unit equipped with a a side shift & the most common pallet is a 40" W x 48" long. The minimum work aisle needed is a 10' clear aisle & an LP powered cushion can do the job. Of course, new warehouses look to space saving equipped to pack the "cube", with reduced working aisles & higher rack systems. Many of our business do not work with the "Just-In-Time" manufacturing principles but are slowly moving in that direction. So materials are put into a storage rack system for use as production requires. Another factor the United States still has lots of open usable land compared to other countries. You'll find the pneumatic units widely used in lumber yards, brick & concrete block operation (manufacturer & distribution). I recall a meeting with a first time visitor to the US from Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan & we were discussing our dealer network & growth potential by using a map of the USA & he wanted to know why we didn't have more dealers in the states of Montana & Wyoming, North & South Dakota, Nebraska, etc - it took an hour + for him to understand - not so many people, big farms or cattle ranches, too far away from major business centers, ports, water ways, like major rivers, etc.
Hope this helps your understanding a little better.
  • Posted 16 Sep 2011 05:43
  • Modified 16 Sep 2011 06:26 by poster
  • By johnr_j
  • joined 3 Jun'06 - 1,446 messages
  • Georgia, United States
"Have An Exceptional Day!"

Post your Reply

Forkliftaction accepts no responsibility for forum content and requires forum participants to adhere to our rules of conduct. Click here for more information.

If you are having trouble using the Discussion Forums, please contact us for help.

MLA launches new CAT forklift Houston, TX, United States
Upcoming industry events …
November 4-6, 2025 - Jaarbeurs, Netherlands
November 14, 2025 - Melbourne, Australia
December 10-11, 2025 - Louisville, United States
Global Industry News
edition #1254 - 30 October 2025
In this week’s Forkliftaction News - As an industry, our focus is often on key economic indicators such as productivity and profitability, but we all know our sector simply wouldn’t exist without the skilled operators who bring the machinery to life... Continue reading
Movers & Shakers
Kai von Berg Kai von Berg
VP sales Europe, EP Equipment Europe
Group president - Vancouver operations, Columbia Machine
Business development manager - UK, IRE, BENELUX, Tyri Lights
President and CEO, Wajax Corporation
Terberg YT222
Balling, Denmark
Used - Sale
Ice 28INCH-AUTO-SCRUBBER
Morgantown, Pennsylvania, United States
Used - Sale
USD8,350
Editorial calendar - planned features
CONSTRUCTION FORKLIFTS
HANDLING GOODS IN THE COLD
LOADING/UNLOADING FREIGHT
BROWNFIELD AUTOMATION
FORKLIFT ATTACHMENTS
BATTERY AFFORDABILITY AND LIFETIME
FORKLIFT SAFETY
MLA launches new CAT forklift Houston, TX, United States
Upcoming industry events …
November 4-6, 2025 - Jaarbeurs, Netherlands
November 14, 2025 - Melbourne, Australia
December 10-11, 2025 - Louisville, United States
Global Industry News
edition #1254 - 30 October 2025
In this week’s Forkliftaction News - As an industry, our focus is often on key economic indicators such as productivity and profitability, but we all know our sector simply wouldn’t exist without the skilled operators who bring the machinery to life... Continue reading
Fact of the week
The word "robotics" was coined by Russian-born American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov who first used the word in 1942 in his short story 'Runabout'. He characterised robots as helpful servants and as "a better, cleaner race."