SUMI TURNS 20 News Story - 22 Nov 2001 ( #36 ) - Adelaide, Australia <1 min read ADELAIDE, Australia -- Australian battery electric forklift company Sumi is celebrating 20 years in forklift manufacturing.Originally known as Big Joe when it entered the market in 1981, Sumi has sold more than 5000 forklifts throughout Australia and Asia.The company, which says it is the only Australian-owned forklift manufacturer in the country, has factory-owned dealerships throughout Australia, and is expanding internationally through exports to China, East Timor, Singapore, New Zealand, India, Fiji and Indonesia.