The Hoist Companies have moved into the outdoor pneumatic forklift market with the release of the P-Series.

After five years of development, the P-Series was an exercise in precision and a response to consumer feedback, said Hoist sales vice-president Stu Jacover.

"We went to trade shows and job sites and asked consumers what they wanted in a truck," he said. "What they came back with gave us valuable insight and helped with major decisions in the design process."

Consumers wanted big LPG forklifts, which have been phased out by other major manufacturers in recent years. The P-Series, with lift capacities from 22,000 pounds (10 tonnes) to 36,000 pounds (16.3 tonnes), is available with a 5.9-litre Cummins diesel or a 5.7-litre GM LPG engine. A larger, 60,000-pound (27.2 tonnes) machine is expected to be released by 2005.

Both configurations comply with tightened emissions legislation in the US and Europe, and feature Dana Corporation's Clark-Hurth transmissions running through a Rockwell planetary drive axle with a differential lock and wet-disk brakes.

The P-Series features two separate hydraulic pumps. An auxiliary pump operates the hydraulic steering and braking functions, and an on-demand piston-style pump handles lifting and tilting.

"The on-demand technology means cost savings for operators. Because the hydraulic oil isn't constantly pumping around the machine, the system requires less horsepower," Mr Jacover said.

He said the P-Series had been well received, with eight machines sold in the US in June.