Dear reader,
WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM,
MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE.
This is issue #143 - 05 February
2004 of the weekly newsletter for industry
professionals.
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Look for the orange Forkliftaction.com shirts at
IMHX 2004 in Birmingham, UK and NA 2004 in Cleveland, Ohio,
USA, next month. Forkliftaction.com journalists and team
members will be at both shows, mingling with readers, members
and customers. If youre exhibiting at either show, or just
going to have a look, let us know and well make sure we meet
up. If youd like to arrange meetings to discuss marketing or
any interesting news thats happening in your business,
contact info@forkliftaction.com.
This
week Forkliftaction.com's research team has revised the
specifications contained in the Equipment Catalogue for CVS
Ferraris range of heavy lift forklifts, container handlers,
reach stackers and towing tractors. If you deal with this
brand, please check our entries and contact Rodger Lamb if
changes are required.
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1.
CLARK POSITIONED FOR 2004 GROWTH 
LEXINGTON, KY, United States
Clark
Material Handling Company has achieved positive net
income for the fourth quarter of 2003, the second
consecutive quarter "in the black".
Clark
president Brian Butler said: "Our fourth quarter
performance is a direct result of the performance of our
parts operations in Kentucky, our production facilities
in Korea, and an increase in sales of Clark forklifts
and aftermarket parts."
Mr Butler said the
company's performance in 2003 demonstrated it had
repositioned its worldwide operations and was
"dynamically positioned" for growth in
2004.
Clark would not provide financial
figures.
-
Clark MHC website -
2.
JAPAN'S DOMESTIC SALES UP FOR 2003
TOKYO, Japan
Forklift sales in Japan
totalled 68,449 units in 2003, up 3.9% from 2002,
according to a survey by the Japan Industrial Vehicles
Association (JIVA).
Of all forklifts sold in
Japan last year, 20,674 were diesels and 17,578 had
petrol engines. Figures for AC forklifts were not
available. A total of 108,417 forklift trucks, including
export-designated units, were produced for the year, up
6.7%.
Exports stood at 35,811 units, up 14.1%
from 2002. Of these, 18,501 were diesels, while petrol
trucks accounted for 10,025.
In December, 5,226
forklifts were sold, down 3.4% from December 2002,
dropping for the first time in four months.
- JIVA website -
3.
NARROW AISLE FORKLIFT INVENTOR DIES
GREENE, NY, United States
Christian
Gibson, inventor of the first narrow aisle forklift,
died on January 22, aged 89.
Raymond Corp
president James Malvaso said Gibson's contribution to
warehousing was legendary.
"Chris's passing marks
a sad day in the history of the materials handling
business," he said. "His contributions formed a
foundation for the success of this company and changed
the way businesses think about
warehousing."
Gibson joined Raymond in 1943, the
first professional engineer hired by company founder
George Raymond Sr. Raymond manufactured the USA's first
narrow aisle forklift in 1949. By 1953, Raymond had
manufactured 1,000 of the new trucks.
Gibson
retired in 1983, but continued to work with Raymond as a
consultant until October, 2002.
- Raymond website -
4.
**ADVERTISEMENT** MACHINERY FOR SALE
Qty. 2 Hyster Hyster H800E/H36.00E,
year 2000
Coil Handling or Fork Handling
Configuration
H970E/H44.00E with special
engineering from Hyster. 80,000 pounds at 48 LC (36,000
kg @ 1200mm), wheelbase shortened 22 (56cm). Equipped
as follows:
Cummins QSB11 Turbo Diesel
3 Speed
Powershift
180in/4.6m OAHL Omni Mast (Single
Stage)
90in/2.3m Integral Coil Ram
Cabin with A/C
& Extended for rider/trainee
4,400 & 4,800
hours
Options Available
124in/3.2m Fork
Carriage with side shift or fork positioner
Forks to
Specification
173in/4.4m MFH Standard Vista Upright
(2 stage)
Contact: Matt Dougherty
FCM,
Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
P:
+1-404-363-4888
W: www.fcmforklifts.com
E: matt@fcmforklifts.com
5.
ROCLA FORGETS 2003, LOOKS TO BRIGHT YEAR
AHEAD
JRVENP, Finland
Rocla Oyj has
branded 2003 a "weak year" and is focusing on
encouraging projections for 2004.
Rocla yesterday
announced full year net sales of EUR80.9 million
(USD101.5 million), 10% down from EUR89.5 million
(USD112.3 million) in 2002.
While demand for
warehouse trucks stayed constant throughout the year,
Rocla kept sales in the sector above the market average
with successful product launches and increases in
leasing.
Rocla's sales of industrial trucks fell
6%, from EUR69.6 million (USD87.4 million) to EUR65.7
million (USD82.5 million) year-on-year, but the company
was encouraged by the reception of its Orion range of
warehouse trucks, developed jointly with
Mitsubishi-Caterpillar Forklift Europe, which was
introduced in September.
"Overall growth of
demand in this area was still modest and competition
continued to intensify. Price pressure remained tough
and the excess capacity of major truck producers caused
a growth of truck supply," the company
said.
Rocla had EUR14.8 million (USD18.6 million)
in orders on its books as at January 1, 40% higher than
at the same time last year.
"The new year is off
to a better start. A stronger order book, new product
launches and the start-up of deliveries for the American
market boost capacity use and thus growth prospects,"
the company said.
"The last quarter of 2003 and
order bookings over the turn of the year provide a
platform for favourable prospects. As a whole, 2004 is
expected to bring clear improvements in net sales as
well as in results."
- Rocla website -
6.
CROWN LANDS AUSTRALIAN ABATTOIR DEAL
WAGGA WAGGA, Australia
Crown
Equipment's Australian arm has secured a 16-unit
forklift sale with agrifood giant Cargill Australia's
beef abattoir in Wagga Wagga, in country New South
Wales.
The fleet comprises 14 Crown CG25
LPG-powered forklifts, with capacities of 1.8 tonnes,
2.5 tonnes and 4.0 tonnes, for general duties, and two
battery-electric Crown RR 5200 Rider Reach Trucks with
2.0 tonne capacity for the company's cold
store.
Cargill safety manager Greg Boyle said the
rider trucks suited a new five-pallet high, two-deep
racking system the company had installed.
"Being
in a cold store, we had to be running battery-electric
units to ensure there were no exhaust fumes," he said.
"With the need to reach double-deep at such a rack
height, the Crown trucks provide excellent vision,
handling, control, and a high standard of braking and
turning ability."
Mr Boyle said the CG25
forklifts would handle goods in the abattoir's chilled
and frozen load-out sections, the general storage
facility and a render plant, which processes beef hides
and blood and bone.
- Crown
Australia website -
7.
**FORK TALK** BITA GOES BIG ON IMHX
BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom
The
British Industrial Truck Association (BITA), co-owner of
IMHX 2004, will use the March 2 to March 4 event to
inform the industry of its current
initiatives.
Top of the list is the association's
involvement in the development of Consolidated Fork Lift
Truck Services (CFTS). A joint venture with the Fork
Lift Truck Association, CFTS was created last year to
provide quality assurance and an accreditation process
for thorough examination of forklifts.
BITA will
also use the exhibition to promote its careers program.
Several initiatives are in place to promote materials
handling as a career path to students in the UK. Careers
officers have been invited to bring students to the
exhibition to see what is on offer from a broad range of
employers.
BITA will make daily presentations in
the "knowledge zone" theatres on several topics,
including impending corporate manslaughter legislation
and BITA's involvement in harmonising global materials
handling standards.
BITA will also promote its
Truck User Group membership. For an annual subscription,
truck users can join BITA and enjoy benefits including a
technical helpline, access to industry statistics, a 20%
discount on BITA publications, and invitations to BITA
social events.
- IMHX 2004 website -
8.
**ADVERTISEMENT** NEW PIVOT SEAT NOW AVAILABLE FOR
FORKLIFTS & UTILITY TRUCKS!
The Huddle Group has introduced the
"Transport" retrofitable pivot seat.
The
"U-TURN" Pivot is also available as a stand alone unit,
retrofitable with all seats and trucks!
Universal -
fits most seat/truck combinations
15-degree
pivot
Choice - "Both Way" or "One Way" pivot
Low profile - only adds 5/8" to height
Durable,
heavy-duty construction
Huddle also has a "Rebound"
suspension unit (for WBV and low-frequency vibration)
and a full ergonomic seat incorporating both the U-Turn
and Rebound.
CONTACT: Huddle Group, +1-260-470-9838,
visit www.huddlegroup.com, or email: rovitt@huddlegroup.com.
9.
MATERIALS HANDLERS AMONG TOP 100 PRODUCTS FOR
2003
OAK BROOK, IL, United
States
Construction Equipment magazine, in its
December issue, has announced its 100 top products for
2003.
These 10 products were highlighted in the
awards' lifting and materials handling category:
Model S-158 medium-duty telescopic aerial work platform
from Bronto Skylift Oy Ab, Tampere, Finland.
B-Series telehandlers from Caterpillar Inc, Peoria,
Illinois, USA.
RS Series telehandlers from Gehl Co,
West Bend, Wisconsin, USA.
Z-80/60 articulating
boom from Genie Industries, Redmond, Washington,
USA.
Model TMS900E truck crane from Grove
Worldwide, Shady Grove, Pennsylvania, USA.
52/380
and 72/516 articulated cranes from Iowa Mold Tooling Co
Inc, Garner, Iowa, USA.
PlaceAce Series Lull
telehandlers from JLG Industries Inc, McConnellsburg,
Pennsylvania, USA.
348 Hylab 5 crawler crane from
Link-Belt Construction Equipment Co, Lexington,
Kentucky, USA.
1015 lattice-boom crawler from
Manitowoc Co Inc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA.
Teletruk forklift from Sellick Equipment Ltd, Harrow,
Ontario, Canada.
-
Construction Equipment website -
10.
VANDALS RUN AMOK WITH FORKLIFT, VAN AND
GUN
BARTLETT, IL, United States
Vandals
used a forklift, a van and guns to mindlessly damage
offices and a warehouse in a newly opened business park
in Bartlett, Illinois.
The rampage occurred on
January 26, between 2am and 4am, at six or more
businesses. Perpetrators used the forklift to destroy an
interior wall at Five Star Safety Equipment Inc. Three
television sets and cash were stolen.
A gun was used
to shatter a glass office door at H&S Decorating
Inc, and an H&S van became a battering ram to damage
three other office suites. In another rented space, the
vandals wielded golf clubs. They broke windows and
seriously dented the hood of a mint-condition 1992
Jaguar XJS convertible.
Police have charged two
males, aged 15 and 18. Total damages were estimated at
USD500,000.
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