Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Inc (TIEM) will begin manufacturing the company's line of diesel tow tractors in Columbus, Indiana in May.

Toyota Material Handling USA Inc (TMHU) president Shankar Basu says demand for Toyota's tow tractors has grown steadily in the North American market (Forkliftaction.com News #319).

"By manufacturing domestically, we are improving our speed of delivery for our customers and helping them keep their operating efficiency as high as possible."

The 870,000 sqft (80,826 m²) Columbus plant is undergoing a 20,000 sqft (1,858m²) expansion to accommodate the addition of tow tractor manufacturing operations along with other equipment and production. It is the facility's 11th expansion since opening in 1990. TIEM employ about 900 people and produces over 100 forklifts daily. The plant is also responsible for the DC/AC inverter assembly for the Toyota Tacoma off-road utility.

TMHU is exploiting manufacturing synergies by producing tow tractors at Columbus. The welding of the tow tractor frames and the assembly process are consistent with Toyota forklift manufacturing processes, Basu says.

He boasts that TIEM's proven excellence in manufacturing forklifts will lend itself to tow tractor production.

Toyota's diesel tow tractors are available with 4,400lb (1,996kg) and 5,500lb (2,495kg) drawbar pull capacities. Equipped with a 2.4 litre Toyota 1DZ-III diesel engine, the units can haul large loads at high speed over long distances and up steep ramps and grades.

The tow tractor engine has been certified to EPA's Interim Tier IV standards, resulting in 26% less particulate matter than the required Tier III levels.