Jungheinrich trucks.

Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp has moved its spare parts distribution operations to a 17,000 square foot (1,579 square metre) warehouse, five times the size of the previous facility, in a bid to attract more US customers.

Michael Hendriksz, Jungheinrich's director of aftersales, said the Richmond warehouse would stock 95 per cent of parts for Jungheinrich forklifts sold in the US.

"We're already the technological leader in Europe but, to get a foothold in the US market, we need to be better than the competition ... this move will put to rest any concerns potential customers have about parts scarcity from a Europe-based company," he said.

The new warehouse would stock USD1 million of 8,000 spare parts, ensuring delivery overnight anywhere in the US.

Through an arrangement with Federal Express, Jungheinrich could deliver parts from Germany to the US within 48 hours. All shipments would be pre-cleared with customs at Frankfurt airport. When the plane landed in the US, packages would be delivered directly by FedEx to the dealer or end user, a Jungheinrich statement said.

The new warehouse also produced hydraulic hoses, hose fittings and lift chains.
Jungheinrich parts & service support manager Phil Keay said hoses were manufactured in the US because they had a limited shelf life and needed a "first-in, first-out system".

"Also, hoses and lift chains are, dimension-wise, specific to each vehicle model. It's easier for us to produce them here on demand."

Hendriksz said the company headquarters would soon move to new premises, three times bigger than the current premises.

The improvement in Jungheinrich's spare parts distribution system was undertaken to match its German parent company's efficient warehouse operations, the statement said (Forkliftaction.com News #254).