Toyota's 8-Series

Manufacturing of new separately designed reach truck models for sister brands Toyota and Raymond has begun in a Brantford factory.

Models of the 8-Series AC reach lift truck from Toyota and the model 7600 Reach-Fork truck from Raymond were displayed in separate ProMat 2009 exhibits in January.

Within their separate networks, Toyota Material Handling USA Inc (TMHU) of Irvine, California will distribute the new 8-Series AC forklifts through 68 authorised dealers with a total of 190 locations throughout the United States, and Raymond Corp of Greene, New York will distribute the 7600 Reach-Fork trucks through its 33 North American authorised service centers with a total of 105 branches.

Three models in the new Toyota 8-Series AC have an AC-powered drive system and AC-powered hydraulic system (on 36-volt models). The models include a single-reach lift truck with 3,500 or 4,500 pound (1,575 or 2,025kg) lifting capacities and a 3,000-pound (1,350-kg) capacity double-reach unit. Three new masts bring the height offerings to nearly 30.5 feet (9.1m).

The new Raymond model 7600 is available with a 4,500 pound (2,025-kg) capacity, lifts up to 37 feet (11.1m), comes with AC motors on both lift and drive, allows an operator to sit or stand depending on the material handling task and has an open view mast-no centre cylinder-for better operator visibility. Raymond Deep-Reach configurations offer an industry-leading 3,200 pound (1,440kg) capacity for that function.

The manufacturing site in Brantford builds the new Toyota and Raymond equipment under a synergistic corporate relationship. In the US, the Toyota and Raymond brands remain separate but benefit from shared technology, marketing and distribution.

Most of the Toyota materials handling product line sold in the US is made in North America with a large majority produced at the Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing facility in Columbus, Indiana. In 2006, Toyota introduced its 8-Series internal combustion forklift line, which surpassed 2007 US emission standards and, ahead of schedule, 2010 California emission standards.

In 2000, Toyota Industries Corp of Kariya, Japan acquired forklift truck corporation BT Industries AB of Linköping, Sweden along with BT subsidiaries Raymond and Cesab SpA (Carrelli Elevatori SpA) of Bologna, Italy. BT, now operating as Toyota Industries Sweden AB, oversees more than 90 materials handling-related subsidiaries with eight factories, including Raymond sites in the US and Canada.