Dear reader,
WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM,
MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE.
This is issue #126 - 25
September 2003 of the weekly newsletter for industry
professionals.
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The launch of Forkliftaction.com's Industry
Links page has had a huge response from all areas of
materials handling. The links program, where companies
exchange links with Forkliftaction.com, is good news for all
companies involved. As the popularity of Forkliftaction.com
grows, so will traffic to companies that post their links on
the site. Also, all participants' internet search engine
ratings will grow.
Member companies that participate in
this free program also qualify for special discounts on
Forkliftaction.com's other marketing packages, which include
media releases, buttons and other advertisements.
To get
your link posted on Forkliftaction.com, or to find out more
about Forkliftaction.com's marketing packages, contact Penryn
Maddrell on marketing@forkliftaction.com.
This week Forkliftaction.com's research team has
revised the specifications contained in the Equipment
Catalogue for Svetruck,
Taylor
Big Red and Combilift.
If you deal with these brands, please check our entries and
contact Rodger
Lamb if changes are required.
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1.
PINGUELY-HAULOTTE ENTERS FRENCH RENTAL
MARKET 
L'HORME, France
Pinguely-Haulotte
has signalled an assault on the fleet market with the
acquisition of the access equipment rental arm of
Fraikin, the biggest truck renter in
France.
While the terms and conditions of the
deal have been decided, pending governmental approvals,
the sale price has not been revealed. Pinguely-Haulotte,
the third-largest manufacturer of booms and scissor
lifts in the world, said the transaction should close
before the end of the year.
Fraikin subsidiary
LEV, the main component being traded in the sale, owns
nearly 1,500 machines and has a workforce of 180. It has
created one of the first access rental networks in
France, with almost 30 agencies spread across the
country.
LEV generated EUR22.3 million (USD25.6
million) in revenue last year, in spite of unbalanced
market conditions and an economic slowdown.
"The
combination of a well-known and performing rental
company in France and one of the top three world
manufacturers of this market will allow the resulting
entity to enlarge its product and service ranges,"
Pinguely-Haulotte said.
With the retention of
LEV's existing management, the purchase gives
Pinguely-Haulotte better access to end users and lets
Fraikin focus on its multi-services rental of industrial
and utility vehicles.
With a fleet of 30,000
vehicles, Fraikin is the truck rental leader in France.
It is also present in the UK, Benelux and Spain.
- Pinguely-Haulotte
website -
2.
JLG REPORTS GAINS, POSITIONS FOR GROWTH
McCONNELLSBURG, PA, United
States
JLG Industries Inc has reported fiscal-year
per-share improvement, a new private-label dealer
financing program and an accelerated transition for its
OmniQuip acquisition.
The Pennsylvania-based
maker of access equipment and telehandlers was
"dynamically positioned for growth when the economic
recovery arrives", chairman Bill Lasky said on September
23.
Mr Lasky said JLG had improved its
manufacturing and operating margins, generated positive
cash flow of USD28 million and reduced its debt by 14%
to USD171 million.
For the fiscal year ended July
31, JLG reported profit of USD14.2 million on revenues
of USD759.8 million. Revenue sources included sales of
USD733.5 million, financing of USD19.2 million and
rentals of USD7.1 million. Last year JLG reported a loss
of USD101.6 million on revenues of USD770.1
million.
JLG earned US33 cents per share,
compared to last year's US30 cents. For the year ended
July 31, JLG had higher sales of telehandlers at
USD119.5 million, but lower sales of aerial work
platforms at USD435.2 million and excavators at USD48.4
million.
JLG expects its new Pro-Fit series of
electric scissor lifts to reverse the sales decline in
the excavator market. JLG will manufacture the line at
plants in the USA and Belgium.
For the comparable
years by geographic region, revenues from European
countries slipped to USD145.0 million in FY2003 from
USD167.9 million in 2002.
US revenues were
basically flat at USD555.2 million, and revenues from
Australia, Pacific Rim nations and Latin America
increased to USD59.6 million from USD45.9 million last
year.
On September 19, JLG disclosed a
non-exclusive program agreement with GE Dealer Finance
to provide private financing for JLG customers. GE
Dealer Finance had purchased more than USD70 million of
lease receivables from JLG subsidiary Access Financial
Solutions Inc (AFS) during JLG's 2003 fiscal
year.
The firm's customers will continue to have
direct interaction with AFS while GE Dealer Finance
serves as the primary financing source. Under the
program, JLG will not retain debt from financing
transactions on its balance sheet as the company has in
the past.
After acquiring the OmniQuip business
unit of Textron Inc on August 1, JLG has accelerated the
transition and integration process from an estimated 14
months to a now anticipated six months. On August 4, JLG
announced plans to close OmniQuip's Port Washington,
Wisconsin, facility and move operations to JLG's
McConnellsburg plant.
In early September, JLG
completed a severance agreement with the union
representing OmniQuip employees. Mr Lasky said
manufacturing of some of OmniQuip's relocated SkyTrak
telescopic handlers would begin in McConnellsburg on
September 29. All OmniQuip production would be moved to
McConnellsburg by the end of January.
- JLG website -
3.
KALMAR PAPER HANDLERS MADE TO ORDER
FRVI, Sweden
Kalmar Industries has
developed a specialised paper handling truck in response
to a tender offered by paper giant Assi Domn
Frvi.
Following a year of intensive development
work, the first five of the eight tonne capacity,
diesel-powered paper trucks were delivered in June, and
another two electric vehicles will be delivered in
coming months.
Assi Domn Frvi decided to
acquire new handlers because its existing fleet had been
operating for nearly eight years. A list of requirements
was drawn up and potential suppliers invited to
tender.
Kalmar's tender was selected, and a year
of development work resulted in a unique paper
truck.
Frvi's Ola Brusman, buyer in charge of
the purchase, told Forkliftaction.com News that
flexibility was the company's most important
requirement.
"With 70 drivers and continuous work
in six shifts, the vehicles must suit everybody,
regardless of their size, strength and driving style. A
spacious cabin offering good visibility in all types of
work and a rotating driving seat were important
requirements. Environmentally-friendly engines with low
emissions and sound levels were also essential," he
said.
Kalmar's new paper handler features
integrated functions for precise, efficient and careful
handling of rolls of paper and cardboard. Vertical
holding of stands, correct clamping pressure at all
times and protection against chain slackness and
involuntary opening of loaded units ensure paper rolls
are not damaged.
See online for a photograph
- Kalmar Industries
website -
4.
UMW ON A SURE FOOTING IN MALAYSIA
SHAH ALAM, Malaysia
UMW Industries
Sdn Bhd (UMW), the largest Toyota dealer in Malaysia,
expects annual forklift sales to exceed 1,500 units by
the end of the year.
General manager Lee Chin Min
told a press conference on September 16 that UMW had
sold about 1,000 units so far this year. The highest
sales ever were in 1997 when 2,000 units were
sold.
"Sales have averaged 1,200 units over the
last two years," Mr Lee said.
According to the
Japan Industrial Vehicle Association (JIVA), UMW
controls 55% of the Malaysian forklift market. Tan Chong
Motor Holdings Bhd follows, with a 20% share.
UMW
distributes Toyota forklifts, reach trucks and towing
tractors and BT forklifts. The company employs 370
people across 16 branches nationwide, and its annual
turnover exceeds USD39.5 million.
- UMW Industries website -
5.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
WIESBADEN, Germany
Hans-Peter
Schmohl, 59, a member of the executive board of Linde
AG, Wiesbaden, will leave the company for personal
reasons on December 31.
Mr Schmohl, who is
responsible for Linde's materials handling business,
joined the Linde board in February 2000. Linde chief
executive Wolfgang Reitzle would assume responsibility
for the division until a successor for Mr Schmohl was
found, Linde said in a statement said.
Linde
website
MULHEIM, Germany - FiLCO GmbH has
appointed Michel Lejeune as manager of the fledgling
company's spare parts division.
Mr Lejeune, who
speaks English, French and German, would "offer
customers most attractive prices", the company
said.
FiLCO website
6.
BENDI MAKER WINS QUEEN'S AWARD
REDDITCH, United Kingdom
Translift
Engineering, which manufactures the Bendi very narrow
aisle forklift, has won the Queen's Award for
Enterprise.
The award, for outstanding
achievement in innovation, was presented to Translift
chairman Freddy Brown by the Duke of Gloucester on
September 16.
Mr Brown told news website
icBirmingham the company, which commands 50% of the UK
very narrow aisle market, won the award because of its
advanced technology.
"We have worked hard at
giving the industry what it wants 10 years ahead of
time," he said. "We pride ourselves on producing things
and watching other companies try and catch us
up.
"It's great to be recognised for all our hard
work with a Queen's Award as we strive to continue to be
at the head of the field."
The Queen's Awards for
business performance and are awarded in three
categories: international trade, innovation and
sustainable development. The awards are judged by a
panel and awarded by the Queen with the recommendation
of the UK prime minister.
- Translift website -
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7.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY FOR
FORKLIFT-DRIVERS
DSSELDORF, Germany
In
order to give forklift-drivers the maximum safety
HONISCH GMBH is providing their PANORAMA-Mirror 2000
- ORIGINAL (H x W: 133 x 260 mm) with a 180
PANORAMA-VIEW, unbreakable, manufactured out of
ABS-material and to be regarded as additional
safety for the drivers of forklift-,
industrial-trucks, off-road- and agricultural
equipment.
It has been tested and certified by
German Safety-Authorities No.: ZE 80115/310/06 and is
also in accordance with EU
regulations.
Website: www.honisch.de
Phone: +49
(0) 211 - 218080
Email: info@honisch.de
8.
ATTICA EQUIPMENT COMPLETES MORE LARGE DELIVERIES - TRADE
UNITS NOW SELLING
COQUITLAM, Canada
Attica
Equipment Ltd has completed its USD3.85 million,
32-Kalmar forklift supply deal with Doman Industries,
and two other large orders for 30,000lbs capacity Kalmar
forklifts have rolled in as well.
Because of
these deals, Attica now has traded units, from 1978 to
the late 1990s, available now at wholesale prices for
immediate worldwide delivery.
Attica
Equipment has sold forklifts and other machinery in
Western Canada for 24 years. The company's product line
includes Kalmar and TCM forklifts, Club Car golf &
industrial vehicles and Rol-Lift material handling
equipment.
Phone (604) 941-9608
Fax (604)
941-2158
Visit www.atticaequip.com
Email
Contact
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