Dear ,
WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM, MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE.
This is issue #56 of your personal newsletter - May 9, 2002.
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The independent, global newsletter for industry professionals.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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INSIDE FORKLIFTACTION.COM
1. HYSTER: EUROPEAN INVESTMENT PAYING OFF
2. UK: 2002 OUTLOOK BRIGHTER THAN YEAR-END-2001
3. LINDE DEBUTS IMPROVED REPLACEMENT FORKLIFT
4. FM CERTIFICATION FOR SICHELSCHMIDT FORKLIFTS
5. STAFF SHORTAGES PROLONG AFRICAN PORT'S THROUGHPUT PROBLEMS
6. DRIVER TRAPPED AFTER ELEVATOR SHAFT FALL
(r)MD-BO
INSIDE FORKLIFTACTION.COM
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1. HYSTER: EUROPEAN INVESTMENT PAYING OFF
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FLEET, United Kingdom -- Hyster Europe managing director Jean-Pierre Guerand is optimistic about the company's prospects in 2002.
Hyster was benefiting from prolonged investments in manufacturing, product development and global purchasing, and was set to capitalise on these this year, he said.
Despite a world economy "which has teetered on the edge of a recession" and the unstable political situation since September 11, Hyster had continued to make excellent progress, Mr Guerand said. Some European dealers had reported their highest start-of-year orders for some time.
Hyster has developed a range of new warehouse trucks since 1999, enhancing standard key components with innovative features, such as the Hyster tiller head, to established itself in the warehousing market.
Last year's H8.00-16.00XM Big Truck series, produced at Hyster's Nijmegen plant in the Netherlands, was also successful, with sales exceeding expectations. The Big Truck division is currently working with specialist manufacturer Elme to produce two new spreaders for its empty container handlers.
Hyster last month launched a new reach forklift to branch into a market Mr Guerand said had been "somewhat closed" to the company.
"This is a significant development both for Hyster and this market (the reach forklift) because it will challenge the hold of our competitors and mark Hyster's arrival in the big league," he said.
Hyster has also strengthened its European dealer network with the appointment of Zeppelin in Germany. The Zeppelin/Hyster link is a significant move into the German materials handling market.
Website: www.hyster.co.uk
2. UK: 2002 OUTLOOK BRIGHTER THAN YEAR-END-2001
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UNITED KINGDOM -- Last year 26,060 forklifts were ordered in the United Kingdom. While that was almost a five percent decline on the previous year, the market remains at a high level, says British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) secretary general James Clark.
The UK market has sold more than 25,000 forklifts a year for four consecutive years, compared to 13,530 units in 1991, the worst year of the last severe market downturn. Mr Clark said the decline in orders occurred mainly in the last six months of the year.
"So, in perspective, the market is still in a healthy condition, regardless of a recent slowdown in demand, which grew in intensity during the second half of 2001," he said. "December 2001 saw the lowest monthly level of forklift orders since November 1992."
The counterbalance forklift market underperformed the total market by a small margin, falling by 5.5 percent in the year to December 2001, Mr Clark said. While a significant fall in the market for electric forklifts was noted, the market for internal combustion forklifts performed well in comparison.
"The only major truck type to show an increase in orders in 2001 was low-level order pickers. The market for such trucks is often seen as a barometer for forklift demand from the retail sector and, as such, reflects the relative strength of UK retail sales. Over a five-year period, the market for low-level order pickers has grown more than 50 percent," he said.
After several years of considerable growth, fostered partly by a trend in distribution towards "cross-docking", and some market shift from manual to powered horizontal movement, the market for powered pallet trucks declined 11.2 percent.
"Put into a historical context, however, the market for powered pallet trucks has grown by 36 percent over the five years to December 2001, even taking into account the fall in 2001," Mr Clark said.
The prognosis for 2002 depended much on the interpretation of latter-2001 figures. Mr Clark said whether the downturn was the beginning of a longer-term trend or merely a "blip" would depend on the continued strength of the UK retail sector.
"Early evidence from BITA members indicates the picture may not be quite as poor as expected," he said.
Website: www.bita.org.uk
3. LINDE DEBUTS IMPROVED REPLACEMENT FORKLIFT
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(r)LBF:\data\NEWHANNOVER, Germany -- Linde used CeMAT 2002 as a platform to launch its new 2.0-2.5-tonne capacity 39X diesel and gas counterbalance forklift, replacing a model more than 15 years old.
The new generation forklift will replacing its market-leading predecessor, introduced in its original form in 1985, and production may run at "some 10,000 units a year or 40 percent of our German production", according to marketing department head Jens Menneke.
The 39X was 20 percent lighter, took 25 percent less time for load cycles, and used 30 percent less fuel than its predecessor, Mr Menneke said. Great effort was made to meet growing environmental concerns, meaning oil changes were required only every 6,000 hours.
The new model made 50 percent less noise and the driver had almost 50 percent more visibility through the mast, a result of the top-mounted mast tilt rams, which also increased stability. Linde's load control system - already available on its battery electric forklifts - was integrated.
Production of the 39X began in March at Linde's German plant. In June the machine will be introduced in Spain, Austria and Switzerland, with Italy, the Benelux, the United Kingdom and France to follow in the second half. "Distribution will be global by the end of the year," Mr Menneke said.
Website: www.linde-forklifts.com
4. FM CERTIFICATION FOR SICHELSCHMIDT FORKLIFTS
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ROCKAWAY, USA -- Sichelschmidt, a manufacturer of explosion-proof forklifts, has had its electric walk-behind products certified by the Factory Mutual testing laboratory for use in US Class 1, Division 1, Group C & D hazardous areas.
With the US certification, Sichelschmidt says it is the only manufacturer in the world that can supply explosion-proof walk-behind equipment tested and certified to US codes, and tested and certified by the PTB, a German laboratory, to meet European codes for electrical equipment in Zone 1 & 2 explosion hazardous areas.
Sichelschmidt markets a range of explosion-proof walk-behind and rider forklifts. The company's maintenance-free drive and hydraulic motors make its forklifts technologically advanced and reliable, the company says. Sichelschmidt has an extensive network of dealers throughout the world.
Website: www.sichelschmidt.com
5. STAFF SHORTAGES PROLONG AFRICAN PORT'S THROUGHPUT PROBLEMS
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CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh -- The majority of 68 new pieces of container handling equipment, brought in to Chittagong Port to alleviate cargo throughput problems, remain unused due to a lack of skilled manpower.
The Bangladesh Independent said the equipment, 13 straddle carriers, nine reach stackers, 22 tractors and 24 trailers, had been imported and was ready for use, but the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) needed 166 skilled and unskilled employees to operate the equipment.
Following procurement of the equipment, container handling capacity at the port was expected to rise substantially, but nothing would happen until the government approved employment of the workers, the report said.
The 68 machines at the port are part of a 79-unit first stage procurement deal the CPA reached with undisclosed manufacturers. The remaining 11 units are expected soon. The second phase of procurement would be another 63 pieces of equipment -- 17 trailers, eight forklifts, 26 tractors, nine reach stackers and six rubber-tyred gantries.
6. DRIVER TRAPPED AFTER ELEVATOR SHAFT FALL
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SYDNEY, Australia -- A forklift driver was trapped for almost three hours after driving his forklift into an empty service elevator well at Sydney's Central Railway Station on Monday.
The man, 22, still inside his forklift, plunged five metres between two train platforms, breaking his leg, according to the Australian Associated Press.
An ambulance spokeswoman said the man opened the elevator's doors and drove into the shaft, not realising the elevator was five metres below.
The forklift hit the roof of the elevator, piercing it with one of its tines. Police, fire and ambulance personnel worked for almost three hours to release the man, who was taken to hospital.
ends