Rolf Eiten

Clark Europe GmbH is accelerating its strategic positioning as a full-range supplier.

Rolf Eiten, COO of Clark Europe GmbH, says it is part of Clark's sales strategy to have the appropriate machines in its product line for "all the key market segments, and to fill any gaps successively with new machinery".

Clark is already a full-range supplier of industrial counterbalance forklifts with driver's seats, up to 8 T load capacity. The manufacturer will launch heavy-duty machines with a load capacity of up to 18 T and a load centre of 1,200 mm (47 in.) in the fourth quarter of 2014.

"For pedestrian-operated machines as well as driver-controlled machines, we consider ourselves to be a full-range supplier through co-operation with a European manufacturer, from (which) we buy machines to Clark specifications," Eiten says.

"For some time now, we have also been preparing (to add) warehouse trucks which we ourselves develop and manufacture. In addition, we will be presenting the PX, SX and SRX series produced at Clark in 2014. We are confident that the market launch of our new reach trucks, low-lift and high-lift trucks will be successful."

Clark is experiencing "ever-increasing demand" for electric forklifts, while combustion engine forklifts remain in high demand in Africa and the Middle East.

"Combustion engine machines continue to (attract) a great deal of interest in Europe," Eiten says. "With the new Deutz engine TD 3.6L in the C40- 55sD diesel forklift series, we are well equipped for the future. This engine also meets the European exhaust emission standard IIIB, without diesel particle filter. We are planning to equip additional diesel series with the Deutz engine in the future."

The assembly of 48-volt electric forklifts is scheduled to start in mid-2015 at the new headquarters in Duisburg, Germany. Eiten explains that the CKD assembly in Duisburg will then be limited to a few models for counterweight vehicles.

"We will then take over all current production series and initially supply complete kits from our parent plant in South Korea. While maintaining the standard series, we do, however, want to switch quickly to local manufacturing of essential components. Most of the current parts installed in series production are already of European origin."

When processes are standardised, the company plans to further increase its assembly volumes.

"As things stand at the moment, the first anticipated assembly volume is not yet fixed. One thing though is certain, we do not manufacture in series sizes, but to order. The assembly lines are therefore geared towards assembly according to one batch size. However, there are plans for us to self-assemble based on the needs of our markets," Eiten says.

Eiten was director of sales and marketing for Clark Europe GmbH from 2008. Since June 2013, he has been in charge of the company's operations as COO, working with CEO SS Baik.