Airtrax Inc has received initial orders for 55 Sidewinder omni-directional forklifts, and expects to begin generating revenue by December 31.

The initial orders are worth more than USD1.75 million for the company.

The orders come after years of groundwork done by Airtrax in establishing a supply chain with strategic suppliers. Danaher Motion Control, Schaeff Forklift and The Timken Company provide critical components and/or assembly of the Sidewinder forklift.

Airtrax president Peter Amico said Timken had exclusive rights to supply Airtrax's patented wheel and would supply wheels for the production of the first 10 Sidewinders to be built at Schaeff Forklift in Bridgeview, Illinois, this quarter.

"The industry stature of our supply partners is just one of the reasons we've selected them to provide critical components," he said. "Receiving these initial orders for the Sidewinder marks a milestone achievement in bringing our revolutionary omni-directional vehicles to market.

"Production of the Sidewinder vehicle has taken longer than we anticipated due in part to delays in outsourced parts, both overseas and in the United States.

"Airtrax has been particularly sensitive to keeping the manufacture of this product US-based."

Peter Amico added that the American National Standards Institute had begun its certification process on the Sidewinder.