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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.

10 minute read

**FORK TALK** THE BIGGEST SAFETY ADVANCE IN YEARS

Feature Article - 13 Nov 2003 (#133) The UK materials handling industry has unveiled a definitive new national scheme for safety examination of forklifts, a moved hailed as the industry's biggest safety advance in many years. Under the Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER 98) and the Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98), thorough examination (TE) is an at least 12-monthly safety inspection for all forklifts operating in UK. Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CTFS), a joint venture between the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) and the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA), would administer the program, a statement said. Click here for more detailed information.

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3 minute read

TYRES, WHEELS & CASTORS: PART ONE

Feature Article - 6 Nov 2003 (#132) Tyres, wheels and castors... Where would we be without them? They are the things every materials handling-related business relies on for its daily bread. Welcome to Forkliftaction.com's feature on the world market for forklift tyres, wheels and castors. The first of this two-part series will focus on issues facing the forklift tyre market. Stay tuned for part two, our wheels and castors feature editorial, on November 20. Click here for the full text of this special feature.

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3 minute read

THE AUSTRALIAN FORKLIFT MARKET: PART TWO

Feature Article - 23 Oct 2003 (#130) This week Forkliftaction.com News presents the second and final instalment of its feature on the Australian forklift and materials handling industry. Thank you to the Australian companies that contributed to the editorial showcase of the industry down under. And thanks to the advertisers that took advantage of the spotlight on Australia to market their companies and products. In this special feature, chief reporter Damien Tomlinson sat down with Howard Grant, secretary of the Australian Industrial Truck Association (AITA), which this year celebrates 42 years of official representation, to discuss the industry. An advocate and representative of forklift manufacturers, suppliers and ancillary companies, the AITA has been at the forefront of developments in the Australian market since its inception in 1961. Click here for the full text of this special feature.

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1 minute read

**SAFETY FIRST** CARE FOR FORKS

Feature Article - 16 Oct 2003 (#129) Neglect and abuse are two terms that frequently apply to the treatment of the most fundamental part of a forklift - the forks. These two pieces of metal are specially shaped, specifically tempered and heavy. They lift tonnes of material regularly. Sometimes operators and owners forget that even steel wears. The generally accepted amount of wear is 10% at the heel. The incredible ratio of 2:1 (at 10% wear) loss in fork capacity is not generally appreciated.

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4 minute read

**SPECIAL FEATURE** AUSTRALIA ALREADY BOOMING AS WORLD RECOVERS

Feature Article - 9 Oct 2003 (#128) While the world is only now beginning to shrug off the worldwide economic shutdown attributed to September 11 and the subsequent war on terror, the Australian materials handling industry has been booming for well over a year. In what appears to be a snub to the world's problems, the Australian market has happily continued to grow, with all manufacturers contacted by Forkliftaction.com reporting growth both in sales and market share. While Australia represents only a fraction of the world market for industrial forklifts and materials handling machinery, this self-contained market has operated separately from the world market for many years. Continued... Click here to read more of this special feature.

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1 minute read

**SAFETY FIRST** GIVE ME A BRAKE

Feature Article - 18 Sep 2003 (#125) Sit-down counterbalance forklifts can be very difficult to stop, particularly on wet surfaces. Many operators don't know the vehicles have brakes only on the front wheels.

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2 minute read

ENTANGLEMENTS SPOTLIGHT MID-SOUTH REGION

Feature Article - 11 Sep 2003 (#124) Forklift industry legal and business developments in Memphis have highlighted the Mid-South region's dealerships and their distribution and manufacturing relationships. Click here for the full text of this special feature.

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1 minute read

**SAFETY FIRST** IS YOUR FORKLIFT A TOOL OR A WEAPON?

Feature Article - 14 Aug 2003 (#120) Forklift technology has come a long way. Manufacturers are now building vehicles with in-built safety features to reduce accidents through automatic deployment of stability devices. Some lift trucks are now equipped with automatic levelling measures, while others feature memory functions to improve accuracy in repetitive tasks. Click here to read the full text of this special feature.

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1 minute read

SAFETY FIRST: IT'S NOT JUST A FORKLIFT

Feature Article - 17 Jul 2003 (#116) As forklift-related deaths and injuries continue at an alarming rate, Forkliftaction.com News this week launches Safety First, a new, regular feature providing practical safety tips and operator training articles by industry experts. Click here to read the first in the series.

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2 minute read

**SPECIAL FEATURE** MIXED RESULTS FOR UK MARKET'S Q1

Feature Article - 26 Jun 2003 (#113) The Fork Lift Truck Association has released its latest snapshot of the UK forklift market in a quarterly trend survey. After highlighting several positive swings in its last survey, covering the quarter ending December 31, the FLTA's latest analysis shows a mixed picture. Click here to read the full text of this special feature.

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