Airtrax Inc has sold the first of its ATX-3000 omni-directional forklifts.

Ten ATX-3000s are in Airtrax's pilot production run, to be used as demonstrators and for initial sales. Crane & Machinery will assemble the forklift and manufacture major components in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Bill Wahl Supply, in Washington Township, New Jersey, has ordered an ATX-3000 with a 77-inch, two-stage mast. President Bill Wahl said the forklift would reduce operating costs for moving, storing and shipping the company's building supplies.

Musson Theatrical, based in Santa Clara, California, has ordered an ATX-3000 with a 170-inch, three-stage mast. President Bob Downs said the company bought the omni-directional forklift to help save on expensive Silicon Valley storage space.

An Airtrax statement said the ATX pilot production run would allow the company to refine the assembly process, develop procedures and implement inventory control and quality assurance.

Airtrax and Crane & Machinery plan to have a rapidly scaleable production capacity to meet anticipated demand. Initially they will produce 40 units a month, but can expand to hundreds of machines.