Moosburg is back in action

European forklift manufacturing is coming back on line after closures in various countries.

Jungheinrich has resumed operations at its plant in Moosburg, Bavaria. Production of electric and IC engine counterbalance trucks is continuing after a two-week break.

With this reopening, all Jungheinrich plants are now back in operation.

Jungheinrich interrupted production at the Moosburg plant on March 27 due to supply bottlenecks of materials by subcontractors in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic. According to plan, the relevant stocks were replenished during the production break.

The Manitou Group, meanwhile, has partially resumed activity in its production sites in France and Italy. This limited reopening allows the group to gradually restart the whole supply and production chain, in the context of a health crisis that is still cause for concern.

In accordance with the regulations applicable to all the production sites, the group has implemented specific measures to protect the health of its on-site employees and service providers.

Michel Denis, president & CEO, explains: "In the context of the health crisis, we have, in conjunction with our stakeholders, implemented very strict prevention and protection measures to ensure that our employees return to work in optimum safety conditions. All these measures have been disseminated internally and workers are given training as soon as they return on site."

The group stresses that these measures will be adjusted according to the evolution of the COVID-19 crisis and the number of employees present on the sites. A minimum activity service remains operational for critical functions, and teleworking is systematically implemented when appropriate.

Production operations in India, however, are still halted in accordance with current isolation requirements in the country.

Across in the United States, Toyota Material Handling has stopped production at its Walesboro facility until at least April 27.

The shutdown is due to many of the manufacturer's suppliers closing down, resulting in the need to close down the facility, according to a company spokesman.

Toyota employees had returned to work on 7 April after a shutdown that began on 19 March in which the facility received a full sterilisation protocol for its production facilities.

The Walesboro plant closed on March 19 after two possible COVID-19 cases were reported, impacting 890 associates at the forklift production facility. Both of those employees tested negative for the virus.

On 12 April, Toyota announced that one of its employees had tested positive for COVID-19 and four other employees were self-quarantining as a result.