Picking platform wins award
MILTON KEYNES, UK
Hubtex UK Ltd's twin masted picking platform, the EZK20, has won the 2007 Fork Lift Truck Association award for ergonomics. The award was announced on February 3.

A Hubtex statement said the picking platform was unique in that it allowed two people to pick long loads, safely and quickly. It has been used in the timber and other industries.

The new Merlo telehandler.

Smaller telehandlers replace K and KS series
RINGWOOD, UK
Merlo has replaced its K and KS series telehandlers with five smaller Roto slewing telehandlers.

A Merlo statement said the telehandlers had improved cab comfort, a new boom design and adjusted stabiliser footprints. The 3,800kg telehandlers have 2,500kg capacities at maximum lift heights. The 50.10S model has a maximum capacity of 5,000kg and 2,500kg at its full lift height of 10.4 metres.

Merlo spokesperson Peter Grant said the extending cylinder remained in the boom base in the new design and only the boom sections moved out. Hence, lost capacity or "parasitic weight" was minimised.

Konecranes to supply reach stackers to Africa
HYVINKÄÄ, Finland
Konecranes Lifttrucks will supply 13 reach stackers worth EUR5.5 million (USD7.2 million) to three port authorities in Africa.

Six reach stackers will be supplied to the Namibian Port Authority, three to Kenya Ports Authority and four to Meridian Ports Services Ltd, in Ghana. The equipment will be delivered by the northern hemisphere spring, a Konecranes statement said.

The 45-tonne capacity units are capable of stacking containers five high. In the last decade, Konecranes has delivered more than 200 forklifts, container lift trucks and reach stackers to Africa, the statement said.

Toyota 8-series released in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
South African-based Toyota Forklift, also known as Saficon Industrial Equipment, is distributing the Toyota 8-Series.

Toyota Forklift is a subsidiary of Imperial Holdings Ltd, a major company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Toyota Forklift is the sole South African distributor of Toyota Forklifts, BT warehousing equipment, and Kalmar container handlers and heavy duty forklifts. Its head office is near Johannesburg and it has five wholly owned branches and several dealerships.

A Toyota statement said the 8-Series was "the world's cleanest internal combustion forklift. It also offers significant advancements in durability, ergonomics and the overall cost of operation".

In 2006, Toyota Forklift won a Toyota Japan quarterly excellence award for business growth, sales, performance and year-end profit.