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Feature Articles
Forkliftaction News takes an in-depth look at current trends, challenges and opportunities impacting the materials handling market. Packed with insights from industry experts, you'll learn about the latest emerging technologies and new solutions on the market.
Showing items 151 - 160 of 224 results.
Cabin Comforts
Feature Article - 21 Jul 2005 (#218)
A Hyster brochure on its "superior ergonomics" cites research that says the average annual cost of operator fatigue in the US is USD6,862 per operator. There are many features in forklifts that can add comfort and ease for operators and subsequently increase operator productivity. Forkliftaction.com News reporter Christine Liew reports.
Forkliftaction.com's caption competition: vote for your winner
Feature Article - 14 Jul 2005 (#217)
The caption competition has now entered its judging phase.
We need you, Forkliftaction.com members, to help us crown the winner of the caption competition. Take a few minutes to read the short list and submit your vote(s).
Heavy Metal: Big Lifts - current trends
Feature Article - 26 May 2005 (#210)
In Part 1, we saw how a big lift operates in a different environment to a small lift. Big lifts not only have larger load capacities but are heavier machines with bigger components and engines. In this feature, we explore three current trends in the design and engineering of these machines: the use of electronic technology, the simultaneous increase in load capacity and decrease in machine size, and operator comfort.
Heavy Metal: Big Lifts – what’s the difference?
Feature Article - 19 May 2005 (#209)
by Christine Liew
In 1948, a sawmill in the small Swedish village of Lidhult needed a machine to move timber.
The sawmill owners bought an old truck, turned the chassis backwards and built a forklift. The machine became the envy of other sawmill owners and a demand was created. A few years later, a forklift production plant replaced the sawmill.
That is the story of the humble beginnings of Kalmar, a forklift manufacturer that built the world's biggest forklifts (90-tonne capacity) in the early 1990s and earned itself a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
Retailers explore RFID, recognise forklifts’ role
Feature Article - 28 Apr 2005 (#206)
Trend-setting retailers Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Tesco PLC and Metro AG are evaluating the open-loop potential of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Roger Renstrom and Christine Liew report.
RFID and forklifts
Feature Article - 14 Apr 2005 (#204)
Forklifts will play a key role in the development of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Raymond Corporation and Crown Equipment Corporation are among the forklift manufacturers with high interest in RFID. Other companies like International Paper Smart Packaging and LXE Inc are developing forklift-based RFID readers. Roger Renstrom and Christine Liew report.
UK and Europe: Rent or Own?
Feature Article - 31 Mar 2005 (#202)
It's the use of equipment in a business that produces benefits, not ownership. In Part 2 of our financing your forklift feature, we look at the UK and Europe. What financing options are there? Forkliftaction.com News reporter Christine Liew spoke to financial experts from two competing companies for insight into the two different markets.
Car buyers start on Internet - will forklift buyers follow the trend?
Feature Article - 23 Mar 2005 (#201)
A recent study shows more car buyers are starting their enquiry on the Internet. Forkliftaction.com sent a summary of the study to the directors of MHEDA and asked if they thought there would be a similar trend for forklifts in the coming years.
Focus: Financing your forklift
Feature Article - 17 Mar 2005 (#200)
Research shows 80 per cent of US companies choose to lease some or all of their equipment. This year alone, more than USD208 billion in equipment will be leased in the US. (source: Aspen Corporate Funding)
Forkliftaction.com News' reporter Christine Liew spoke to De Lage Landen's David Knight, who has 31 years' experience in the leasing and finance business, about leasing equipment in the US.
Chinese exporters hit with anti-dumping duty
Feature Article - 3 Mar 2005 (#198)
The European Commission (EC) has imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of hand pallet trucks and their essential parts from the People's Republic of China (PRC).
An anti-dumping proceeding was initiated after four European Community (Community) producers, representing more than 60 per cent of the Community's total hand pallet truck and essential parts production, lodged a complaint in March 2004 (Forkliftaction.com News #192).
The complainants - Bolzoni-Auramo SpA, Italy; BT Products AB, Sweden; Franz Kahl GmbH, Germany; and Pramac Lifter SpA, Italy - included evidence of dumping and the resulting injury in their complaint.
Four exporting producers from the PRC cooperated with the investigation. They were Ningbo Liftstar Material Transport Equipment Factory, Ningbo; Ningbo Ruyi Joint Stock Co Ltd, Ninghai; Ningbo Tailong Machinery Co Ltd, Ninghai; and Zhejiang Noblelift Equipment Joint Stock Co Ltd, Changxing.
According to Eurostat data, Community consumption of hand pallet trucks was about 493,000 units during the period considered (January 1, 2000, to March 31, 2004) while the volume of PRC imports increased 138 per cent over the period. The increase in imports was particularly marked between 2002 and 2003 (51 per cent).
The market share of dumped imports increased by more than 100 per cent during the period considered. However, the increased market share was found to overlap with the share previously held by the Community industry.
Eurostat data showed the average price of imports from the PRC decreased between 2000 and 2004 by 34 per cent. Prices were stable until 2001 before they decreased 12 per cent in 2001 and even further by another 25 per cent between 2002 and 2003.
The full text of the story is continued online.