Cascade gains volume but remains cautious
Fairview, OR, United States

Forklift attachments maker Cascade Corp reports higher quarterly sales and shipment volumes for all markets, but remains cautious in its outlook.
"Generally, global lift truck markets are recovering based on order and shipment rates," Cascade says. "However, it is difficult to predict with certainty the pace and extent of the recovery. We believe lift truck shipment levels will continue at current levels for the remainder of the year."
Cascade reports profit of USD8.8 million on sales of USD107.4 million for the third quarter ended 31 October. The sales figure is 33% higher than the USD80.8-million result for that quarter last year excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
For the comparable quarters, Cascade shipments in China increased 53%, Europe 40%, Asia Pacific 33% and North America 25%.
Fairview-based Cascade manufactures materials handling load-engagement devices and related replacement parts, mainly for the forklift truck industry.

OSHA: Firm fails to provide forklift training
Hondo, TX, United States

Federal regulators propose fining a beverage distributor USD52,250 for alleged safety and health violations including failure to provide forklift training.
On 1 December, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported, citing Frio Distributing Co following an inspection that began on 10 September at the firm's facility in Hondo.
"This company jeopardised the safety of its workers by failing to provide forklift training," says Jeff Funke, OSHA area director in San Antonio, Texas. "It's imperative that employers adhere to OSHA's safety and health standards to prevent injuries and fatalities by properly training their workers."
OSHA cites Frio with one willful, nine serious and two other-than-serious violations.
The willful violation involves failing to properly train workers in the use of forklifts. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.
OSHA gives a company 15 days from receipt of allegations to comply, request an informal conference or contest the citations and proposed penalties before an independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
OSHA is an agency within the US Department of Labor.


MHIA's ShopPro workshop precedes ProMat 2011
Charlotte, NC, United States

Each attendee at a 15 December ShowPro workshop in Atlanta will receive a booklet containing coupons worth more than USD6,000 for services from ProMat 2011 providers.
Charlotte-based Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) holds the hands-on ShowPro event in the Georgia World Congress Centre at no cost to ProMat trade show exhibitors and MHIA members. ProMat 2011 will be held from 21-24 March in the McCormick Place South exhibit hall in Chicago.
Interactive workshop sessions will focus on exhibit marketing strategies, ways to sending a world-class staff to the show, moving your machinery and exhibits in and out of McCormick Place, new work rules at McCormick Place, creating a more effective exhibit experience and improving lead quality and sales conversion.
The ShowPro workshop follows the 14 December exhibit space draw for MHIA's new supply chain-oriented MODEX 2012 trade show taking place from 6-9 February 2012 in Atlanta.