The joint ventures between MHI and Cat Inc. are not just in MHE. Cat Japan is also a joint venture with MHI, previously 50/50, and as of 2008 68/32 for Cat.
Also MHI supply a number of engines to Cat which have replaced their own Perkins engines in some products.
Cat are actually continue to expand their joint ventures and alliances, continuing with their JLG Caterpillar alliance for Telehandlers, various work tool alliances and now mini-excavators amongst many others.
Nothing is ever sure fire and whilst profit is shared according to your holding in a company but so is loss. Cat have had a good return in 16 years of MHE business with MHI with minimal input and risk, and compared to Cat's overall global losses the MHE business is small fry.
Was talking to the Pirtek guy yesterday as he made me up a hydraulic hose, customer they go to where Brigg's supply the forklifts has pulled all the Cat trucks out & put a new fleet of Yale trucks in.
Pirtek guy is sick to death of going in there & replacing sideshift hoses on the Yale counter balances due to a design fault with the hose roller.
MSN money had a topic on this discussiing the price of thier stock within the stock market. Material Handling is nothing but a money maker if a company is run properly and I think CAT has to much to loose by pulling out of thier market share.
I don't think CAT will get out of MHE on financial grounds as they own 20% of the MCF company and receive a royalty on every yellow truck sold. More likely it is the old adage 'concentrating on core business'. What they would realise in off loading their interest is small change to the CAT organisation. Major concern though for those companies currently representing such a great brand!!
good points millreef, I did mention 'minority involvement,' but as you highlight seems like they have n't been viewing MHE as anywhere on the radar since those heady days of success up in the Mids...
They built their own trucks when they were built in Desford, England prior to contracting out to Daewoo. They desiegned and built the complete electric and IC range from 1.5 to 15t. Electric range in those days was the industry best by a long way. When they joined forces with Mitsi they then combined the CAT electrics with the Mitsi IC range up to 4.5t.
henley hawk. when did cat build a lifttruck that they could call their own?
Hey Steady on old chap! The Company you refer to is I guess correct and I would expect that longer term they will go forward with the Mitsubishi brand which is Globally recognised also, not sure about the Jungheinrich link in the U.S... I think we'll see more rationilaztion of brands, it makes sense, the other will just concentrate on the 'big bucks not little trucks' in my opinion!
Well what a shock H.H. Ive heard the national dealer for that very same product cant cope anyway with all that Nippon stock to clear. Who wants a Cat anyway when a DOG is for LIFE you Southern SNOB.