The Industrial Truck Association (ITA) will present meritorious service awards to two past presidents, Larry A Borre and Robert L Wuench, at the group's upcoming annual meeting.

Borre, ITA president in 1998-1999, was a key executive with Barrett Industrial Trucks and Nissan Forklift Corp NA, and Wuench, ITA president in 2000-2001, was affiliated with Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc.

Each played a significant role during years of ITA service on the board of directors and executive committee, and as association president.

The 54th annual meeting will be held in Rancho Mirage, California from October 29 to November 1.

Gary Forger, Modern Materials Handling editorial director, will moderate a presidents' forum featuring input from Ambrogio Bollino, from Cesab Carrelli Elevatori, Bologna, Italy, representing the FEM; Rikuro Tasaka, from TCM Corp, Tokyo, Japan, representing the JIVA; and James Malvaso, Raymond Corp, Greene, New York, USA, representing the ITA.

As ITA president, Malvaso is also scheduled to present a state-of-the-industry report.

Su Enyi, managing director of the China Industrial Truck Association (CITA), will describe a new subsidiary, CITA Purchasing Co, that aims to assist foreign companies in their Chinese business enterprises.

ITA legal counsel Gary Cross will preside as judge for a mock trial intended to educate attendees on how a jury might deliberate the findings in a typical industrial accident case and the importance of international standards in US litigation.