Dear reader,
WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM,
MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE.
This is issue #84 - 21 November
2002 of the weekly newsletter for industry
professionals.
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Welcome to our newest members, including those from
the following companies: PT Swadaya Harapan Nusantara of
Indonesia, Zwaans BV of Belgium, NC Nielsen of Denmark, Nacco
Materials Handling of the United Kingdom, OM Carelli Elevatori
of Italy, Sedlak of the USA, Master Craft Industrial Equipment
of the USA, Wajax Industries of Canada, Fripur SA of Uruguay,
Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift Europe of the Netherlands, JL
Forklift & Parts of Thailand, National Fleet Network of
Australia, Woodward Textile Mills of Malaysia, BT of the Czech
Republic and Kaup of Germany.
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1.
CURTAIN LIFTED ON CEMATS NEW THREE-YEAR
FORMAT 
HANNOVER, Germany
Deutsche Messe
AG, which stages CeMAT, has confirmed industry
speculation that the exhibition will be separated from
the Hannover Fair and changed to a three-year cycle by
announcing this week that the new CeMAT Hannover show
will make its debut in October
2005.
Manufacturers told Forkliftaction.com News
this year that the biennial format of the show did not
coincide with innovation cycles, meaning it was
difficult for manufacturers to develop and launch new
products at the show every two years.
In its new
format, CeMAT Hannover 2005 will attract more than 1000
exhibitors and have more than 80,000 square metres of
display space, becoming with worlds leading trade show
for materials handling and logistics.
VDMA
(German Engineering Foundation) Materials Handling and
Logistic Systems Association managing director
Hans-Peter Schmohl said the new event would clarify the
previously fractured European trade show landscape for
materials handling and logistics.
"From now on,
the central event for materials handling and logistics
has a name: CeMAT Hannover," he said.
- CeMAT website -
2.
LINDE OPTIMISES ITS MULTIBRAND STRATEGY
ASCHAFFENBURG, Germany
Linde has
launched a program to optimise its multibrand strategy
in its materials handling business.
The
"TRIM.100" program - Total Reorganisation of our
International Multibrand Strategy - aims to save EUR100
million (USD100.045 million) in 2003 and 2004 through
the reorganisation of the sales, development, production
and procurement departments.
Linde will shed
about 500 materials handling jobs and more
Linde-produced components will be used in production.
The process will also involve Komatsu Forklift Ltd,
which has a cooperation agreement with Linde.
In
its most recent business statement, covering January to
September 2002, Linde said Germany was affected by a
slump in corporate investment, and the USA did not send
any positive signals.
Materials handling demand
was expected to stabilise in the fourth quarter but
sales and earnings would be lower than in 2001, the
report said. While 2002 forklift orders showed a drop of
six percent at the end of June, the decline had reduced
to about two percent at the end of
September.
Asian markets continued to grow, and
the downturn in Europe and the USA had eased, but
competition was intense, the report said. The new 39X
forklift series, unveiled at CeMAT in April, was
launched successfully in the third
quarter.
Lindes materials handling segment
maintained its position in Europe, and increased market
share in the USA and Asia. Sales for January to
September came to EUR2.149 billion (USD2.15 billion)
overall, 1.5 percent down on the same period in 2001.
Orders received decreased 2.6 percent to EUR2.292
billion (USD2.293 billion). The operating result of
EUR94 million (USD94 million) was EUR56 million (USD56
million) below last year's figure.
- Linde website -
3.
MEXICO: HIGHWAY ROBBERS STRIKE AGAIN
AZACAPOTZALCO, Mexico
Forklift
thieves have struck again, stealing four Clark forklifts
at gunpoint on November 11.
The four Clark CMP 30
LPG forklifts were in transit from Laredo, Texas, to a
Mexico City Clark dealership when the transport truck
was stopped and robbed by thieves. The truck driver was
initially kidnapped by the robbers but later
released.
A second truck, carrying two Clark
electric walkie forklifts, escaped. All Clarks USA
dealers have been alerted to the theft, said Tom Krill,
of Clark Material Handling Company.
The serial
numbers of the stolen forklifts
are:
CMP230L-4066-6872KF;
CMP230L-4073-6872KF;
CMP230L-4074-6872KF;
and
CMP230L-4076-6872KF.
If
(Forkliftaction.com members) are offered any of these
units, receive parts or service inquiries against these
serial numbers, please obtain all possible details and
contact tomkrill@clarkmhc.com
as soon as possible, he said.
- Clark website -
4.
ITA: ITS NOT ALL BAD
SCOTTSDALE, United States
The war
against terror and major media events will continue to
impact on the US economy next year, says Industrial
Truck Association (ITA) president Jim Moran.
The
ITA Presidents Forum, the highlight of its annual
meeting, held from October 30 to November 2, focused on
corporate and military events and their impact on the
general health of the materials handling industry in the
US and worldwide.
Media exposure of spectacular
bankruptcies such as Enron and WorldCom had caused
consumer confidence to drift downward, Mr Moran
said.
Since consumer purchases make up about
two-thirds of the US economy, this downward trend is
critical and alarming. The trend needs to be carefully
watched by any company doing business in the USA, he
said.
Despite the negative impact on the economy
at large, the forklift industry had seen an upward trend
in received orders.
As anticipated, the first
quarter started out down, as a carry over from the last
quarter of 2001. The second quarter had a 13.5 percent
increase in bookings over 2001, and the third quarter
had a 24.8 percent increase, Mr Moran
said.
While analysts believed the USA would not
slide into a double dip recession, it will be a slow
climb and we will all have to be patient. Consumer
confidence would gradually return if there were
improvements in the stock market, a lessening in the
unemployment rate, and if the housing market remained
strong, Mr Moran said.
The Canadian economy had
grown independent of the US economy, which was expected
to continue in 2003, but the Mexican economy had
remained tied to the US, with inflation running high,
and the value of the peso decreasing against the US
dollar.
- ITA
website -
5.
BT INDUSTRIES: SLOWDOWN SLOWING
MJOLBY, Sweden
BT Industries AB, in
its interim report covering January to September 2002,
said a rise in demand, which started mid-year, continued
in the third quarter, though to a slightly lesser
degree.
In Western Europe, orders received grew
four percent and net sales grew one percent to SEK5.166
billion (USD569.8 million). Because of a lower order
backlog, net US sales fell 19 percent to SEK3.493
billion (USD385.3 million) in the first three quarters.
Outside Western Europe and the USA, orders rose 16
percent and net sales grew four percent to SEK830
million (USD91.5 million).
Compared to January to
September 2001, warehouse truck sales were down 15
percent to SEK4.138 billion (USD456.4 million),
counterbalanced trucks dropped two percent to SEK1.238
billion (USD136.5 million) and manual trucks fell six
percent to SEK348 million (USD38.4 million).
- BT Industries
website -
6.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
TAMPA, United States
RIPKEY TAKES
THE REINS AT FLORIDA LIFT SYSTEMS
Tampa, USA -
Florida Lift Systems, Inc has hired Jim Ripkey, an
industry expert associated with the Material Handling
Equipment Distributors' Association (MHEDA), as its new
president and chief operating officer.
Mr Ripkey
has been a leader in the US materials handling industry
for 12 years. Recent accolades include being selected as
one of the MHEDAs 40 under 40 industry leaders, which
recognises the industrys top 40 professionals under the
age of 40, and being chosen to co-present MHEDA national
training initiatives.
He was most recently
vice-president and general manager of Hy-Tek Material
Handling, Inc, and is a former materials handling
executive with Yale Materials Handling.
The
change takes place as Florida Lift Systems celebrates
its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1952, the company is
central Floridas largest forklift
dealer.
DENNIS SLATER NEW AEM
PRESIDENT
CHICAGO, USA - The Association of
Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has elected Dennis Slater
as its new president, effective January 1,
2003.
Mr Slater this year was co-president of the
association, overseeing the merger of the Construction
Industry Manufacturers Association (CIMA) and the
Equipment Manufacturers Institute to form the AEM. His
co-president, Emmett Barker, is retiring at the end of
this year.
Mr Slater was formerly president and
secretary of CIMA, after joining that association in
1982. Apart from his new AEM commitments, Mr Slater will
continue his role as managing director of the
CONEXPO-CON/AGG international exhibition.
7.
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TERRAIN
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currency
~ Perkins diesel hydrostatic 4-wheel
drive
~ 7,000 Kgs capacity
~ Elecar triplex mast -
6700 mm (264 inches)
~ Full tapered forks for lumber
or timber use - 1200mm (48inch)
~ Sideshift and fork
positioning
~ Unit has operated only 72 hours
~
New machine, new full warranty, immediate delivery, low
price!!
FOR MORE INFORMATION please contact: Larry
Farquhar, Atlantic Material
Handling, Canada phone: 1
506 333 1902, fax: 1 506 652 9147 email: larryf@atlanticrentals.com
or visit: www.atlanticrentals.com.
8.
US MAY RELAX FORKLIFT SEATBELT STANDARDS
WASHINGTON, United States
Conflict
about seatbelt safety standards for forklift operators
is boiling between business owners and the
Washington-based Industrial Truck Association
(ITA).
Under pressure from business, the US
Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA)
released a draft in September that proposed softening
current requirements if four standards were met: the
forklift operated in a clean, flat workplace, had been
properly maintained, followed safe speed limits and was
under the control of a driver who had extensive
training.
The draft says: Where an evaluation of
the above factors, and of any other factor determined to
be relevant, indicates that the possibility of a tipover
is remote, and in fact there is no history of tipovers
or near misses, a citation for failure to use an active
operator protection device or system will not be
issued.
Since 1995, OSHA inspectors have
required forklift operators to wear seatbelts while
driving, and issued citations to employers if the rule
was violated.
The ITA, which represents US
forklift manufacturers, believes the proposal would
compromise safety because seldom is an environment
totally safe, nor a driver totally trained. In addition,
the American National Standards Institute has called for
the use of operator restraint devices. US forklift
manufacturers had installed seatbelts on forklifts since
1990, the ITA said.
Comments on the OSHA draft
close on December 1.
- OSHA website -
9.
ARVINMERITOR SELLS OFF-HIGHWAY AXLE
BUSINESS
TROY, United States
ArvinMeritor,
Inc has sold its off-highway axle business, which
principally manufactures planetary axles for off-road
applications, to AxleTech International.
The sale
includes manufacturing sites in Wisconsin, USA, and
France, and its planetary axle operations in Osasco,
Brazil, and Seoul, Korea. Terms of the sale were not
released.
ArvinMeritor spokesman Tom Gosnell said
the sale excluded the companys drive-train, trailer
axle, suspensions and specialty products businesses, and
a joint-venture interest in China.
ArvinMeritor
is a global supplier of integrated systems, modules and
components to the motor vehicle industry. The company
serves materials handling equipment, light vehicle,
commercial truck, trailer and specialty original
equipment manufacturers.
- ArvinMeritor
website -
10.
CVS: BELOTTI INTEGRATION SURFACING IN
PRODUCTION
ROVOLETO DI CADEO, Italy
The CVS
Ferrari and Belotti Handling SpA merger is bringing
changes in the production of container handling
equipment.
CVS acquired Belotti, of Genoa, Italy,
in June and operates the business as Ferrari Belotti.
We are trying to combine the best of the two
brands and achieve engineering and production
synergies, CVS Ferrari Group sales and marketing
director Elvio Simonetti said. For example, we will
possibly fit a Belotti spreader on both (brands) reach
stackers.
CVS Ferrari was communicating what the
acquisition meant to customers and presenting
opportunities. We are offering straddle carriers to the
biggest European port operator, Eurogate, Mr Simonetti
said.
CVS Ferrari will exhibit at Intermodal
Transport & Logistics 2002, formerly Intermodal
Europe, on December 10-12 in Rotterdam, the
Netherlands.
- CVS Ferrari website -
11.
ELEVEN-UNIT DEAL FOR AISLE-MASTER
CLONTIBRET, Ireland
Irish forklift
manufacturer Aisle-Master has secured an order for 11
articulated Aisle-Master 44S LPG forklifts from the Dana
Corporation in Toledo, USA.
The trucks will be
used at Danas facilities in Tennessee, Kentucky and
Michigan, where it produces drive shafts for the
automotive industry. An Aisle-Master statement said the
forklifts were chosen after an intensive evaluation
process, which included trials of electric and LP
gas-powered narrow aisle forklifts.
The
Aisle-Master is designed to work in 78-inch (1.98
metres) aisles, saving valuable space at Danas
facilities, where existing aisles are between 12 feet
(3.65 metres) and 15 feet (4.57 metres), necessary for
counterbalance forklifts.
Aisle-Master US product
manager Finbarr Collins said the 4400-pounds (two
tonnes) capacity forklifts were fitted with 187-inch
(4.75 metres) triple masts.
- Aisle-Master
website -
12.
EXPANSION FOR SECOND CITY FORKLIFT
DAVENTRY, United Kingdom
Second City
Forklift Truck Ltd has purchased Nene Mechanical
Handlings forklift service and hire business, and taken
over the United Kingdom distributorship for New Hunslet
long-load sideloaders and Drexel Swingmast
forklifts.
The acquisition was a springboard into
the East Midlands for Second City, and adds important
niche products to its existing Nichiyu, TCM and
Narrow-Aisle lines, a joint statement said.
Nene
Mechanical Handling will continue to supply specialised
materials handling equipment to the forklift industry,
and have a fleet of non-standard equipment available to
Second City Lift Truck Ltd for purchase or hire.
13.
NORTHERN CLAIMS TOYOTA TERRITORY
CASTLEFORD, United Kingdom
Toyota
Industrial Equipment (Northern) Ltd has expanded to
become the largest regional Toyota forklift distributor
in the United Kingdom.
The expansion follows the
acquisition this year of the northwest and northeast
Toyota distribution areas, which were previously
non-Toyota owned.
Toyota Northern has expanded
from being Toyota Leeds to become one of the United
Kingdom's major forces in the forklift market.
In
the 11 years since it became part of the Toyota group,
Toyota Northerns annual sales have grown from 1100 to
4500 forklifts, representing a 26 percent share of the
national market, said sales and marketing director Terry
Stephens.
"We now have the north of England
covered for the supply of the full range of electric,
gas, and diesel-powered forklifts. Customers now have
one point of contact for all Toyota industrial equipment
sales, hire, and after-sales, for the first time ever,
he said.
We also offer forklift hire to cover
breakdowns or provide extra capacity during busy
periods.
- Toyota Forklifts
UK website -
14.
FORKLIFT PHILANTHROPIST DIES AGED 81
HIGHLAND PARK, United States
Matel
Dawson Jr, a forklift operator who gave more than USD1.3
million of his earnings to universities, scholarships
and the United Negro College Fund, died on November 2
aged 81.
Mr Dawson became known throughout the
USA as the "forklift philanthropist" for his generous
donations to Wayne State University, Louisiana State
University, the National Association for the Advancement
of Coloured People (NAACP) and churches.
Mr
Dawson worked at Ford Motor Company's Rouge industrial
complex for 60 years, building his life savings by
working double shifts and weekends, investing wisely and
living modestly.
He was discovered dead at his
home, a Detroit News report said. The medical examiner
has not established a cause of
death.
Forkliftaction.com has reported on Mr
Dawson's generous nature in the past. Click here to read our
report.
Picture courtesy of the Detroit
News.
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17.
FORK LIFT TRUCK REPAIR PARTS (LIFT
KING)
Washington,DC, United
States
Closing: 03 January 2003 TBA - Contract:
VC0047-03
18.
FORK LIFT TRUCK REPAIR PARTS
(HYSTER)
Washington,DC, United
States
Closing: 03 January 2003 TBA - Contract:
VC0046-03
19.
REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE TO ELECTIC CARTS (SPV'S) AND FORK
LIFTS
Washington, DC, United
States
Closing: 27 November 2002 TBA - Contract:
AWG01-02312-SV-100
20.
RENTAL OF FORKLIFTS
Yokota AB, Japan
Closing: 27 November 2002 TBA - Contract:
F62562-03-T-0024
21.
FORK LIFT TRUCK REPAIR (RAYMONDS
PARTS)
Washington,DC, United
States
Closing: 03 January 2003 TBA - Contract:
VC0048-03
22.
HOISTS
Zwolle, Netherlands
Closing: 18
December 2002 2:00pm - Contract: CPV: 29221630
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