Visitors at TCM's stand at Logis-tech Tokyo 2010.

Visitor numbers were down for Asia's largest materials handling and logistics expo, Logis-tech Tokyo 2010.

Masahito Takeo from show organiser Japan Management Association tells Forkliftaction.com News that 126,467 people visited the trade show at Tokyo International Exhibition Centre on September 14-18 - down from 140,576 in 2008.

"Almost all exhibitors cut down their budgets because of the impact of the global financial crisis," Takeo says. In total, 412 companies occupied 12,969sqm (139,597sqft) to showcase their products and services. Twenty-seven overseas companies occupied 30 booths. Only 1.5% of the show's visitors were from overseas.

Logis-tech is the only trade show in Japan focusing on logistics management and distribution systems. It has been held biennially since 1994. The theme for the ninth expo was "Logistics innovation pioneers the future environmental harmony and globalisation".

Toyoki Yamagishi, who organised TCM's stand at Logis-tech, says a total of 100 staff from the forklift manufacturer participated in the four-day show: "About 6,000 people visited and watched our forklift demonstrations. Compared to other stands, our stand was one of the largest."

TCM's exhibition included a nickel-metal hydride battery truck, a forklift safety operation control system, the new FB45 electric forklift, the FRSB16 sit-down reach truck and an automatic guided vehicle.

Toyota spokesman Yawara Sakai says the company sent 30 staff to man its 230 sqm stand each day of the show and its exhibition included Toyota's hybrid forklift, 7 series forklifts, 8.5 ton electric forklift and rapid battery charger.

"Our aim for Logis-tech was to showcase our products' safety, efficiency and environmental-friendliness," Sakai says.

Komatsu showcased Linde container handlers and large forklifts, a battery- hybrid forklift with new express charger and its new forklift with hydrostatic transmission, which it claims offers smooth acceleration, deceleration and handling. The latter was on public display for the first time.

Yoko Yoshimura from Nichiyu says the company exhibited its products in conjunction with MHI. The two companies have sales and marketing tie-ups. In 2009, Nichiyu and MHI established a joint venture company to consolidate their domestic marketing activities (Forkliftaction.com News #476).

The show is jointly organised by The Japan Society of Industrial Machinery Manufacturers, Japan Industrial Vehicles Association, Japan Pallet Association, Japan Material Handling Association, The Japan Institute of Material Handling, Japan Institute of Logistics Systems and Japan Management Association.