Dear reader,
WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM,
MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE.
This is issue #154 - 22 April
2004 of the weekly newsletter for industry
professionals.
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1.
NMHG WHOLESALE EARNS LESS ON HIGHER
SALES 
MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, OH, United
States
The wholesale segment of Nacco Material
Handling Group (NMHG) reported lower profit and higher
sales for the first quarter, ended March 31.
NMHG
Wholesale had a profit of USD2.5 million on sales of
USD421.3 million for the 2004 first quarter, against
profit of USD4.7 million on sales of USD382.6 million
for the comparable 2003 quarter. However, the outlook
was optimistic, the company said.
"In 2004, NMHG
Wholesale continues to expect stronger lift truck
markets in the Americas and Japan, strong growth in the
China lift truck market and relatively flat lift truck
markets in Europe and the rest of Asia-Pacific," NMHG
said yesterday.
"While the first quarter backlog
has risen significantly compared with a year ago, and is
anticipated to remain strong, NMHG Wholesale anticipates
its unit shipment levels for 2004 will remain at
controlled rates to accommodate the phase-in of new
products at its manufacturing facilities."
While
adverse currency movements and increasing material costs
may affect the rest of 2004, "NMHG Wholesale is hopeful
price increases initiated in the first quarter of 2004
will help mitigate the effects of these
items".
The company's wholly-owned retail
dealerships reported a quarterly loss of USD2 million on
sales of USD49.5 million, compared to a loss of USD1.4
million on sales of USD36.4 million last year. Increased
repair and maintenance expenditures on rental contracts
in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe were blamed for
the higher loss.
- NMHG
website -
2.
NEW KALMAR EMPTY CONTAINER HANDLER - 8+1
STACKING
LIDHULT, Sweden
Kalmar has launched
an empty container handler (ECH) specifically designed
to lift two containers.
Kalmar said in a
statement that the 10-tonne capacity ECH, dubbed the DCE
100, could stack containers up to nine-high, or 8+1. The
machine uses a new Bromma attachment, co-developed by
Kalmar, with hooks for container connections.
It
features a reinforced mast and streamlines electrical
and hydraulics systems. The DCE 100 has just one cable
for electricity supply and two hoses for
hydraulics.
-
Kalmar website -
3.
**ADVERTISEMENT** NEXEN: MANUFACTURING PARTNERS
WANTED
Following the success of Nexen Fork
Lifts since its launch, Nexen is now looking for
partners to manufacture future models. The company is
planning a rough-terrain forklift and a seven or
eight-tonne machine.
IMHX 2004 was Nexen's first
major exhibition, and the company and its products were
met with great enthusiasm.
Director Pam Oakes
said: "We are very pleased with the enquiries we
received, not only from the UK, but a lot of overseas
companies interested in becoming dealers."
FOR
MORE INFORMATION:
Phone: +44 1502 532211
Fax: +44
1502 508273
Email: info@nexengroup.co.uk
Website: www.nexengroup.co.uk
4.
**FORK TALK** PORT EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS FORM NEW
ASSOCIATION
Manufacturers of rubber-tyred gantries,
straddle carriers, reachstackers, heavy forklifts and
other port machinery have banded together to form the
Port Equipment Manufacturers' Association
(PEMA).
PEMA's foundation membership includes Bromma
Conquip, CVS Ferrari, Fantuzzi Group, Hyster, Kalmar
Industries, Konecranes, Liebherr, Linde, Mitsui
Engineering & Shipbuilding, Paceco Corp, RAM, SMV
Liftrucks, Stinis, Svetruck, Terberg and
ZPMC.
5.
TOYOTA EXPANDS FACILITY, BUILDS 200,000TH
FORKLIFT
COLUMBUS, IN, United States
Toyota
Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM) is investing
nearly USD10 million to expand its Columbus facility by
14.5%.
On April 15, TIEM held a ceremony marking
production of its 200,000th forklift and a
groundbreaking for the facility expansion. By early
2005, TIEM plans to increase its space to 859,023 square
feet (77,312 square metres), up from 750,223 square feet
(67,520 square metres).
"This expansion is
another step in our continuing efforts to build a strong
foundation and a solid future for our company," said
Yoshimitsu Ogihara, TIEM president.
"These
improvements will provide more effective training
facilities, enhance communication between sales and
manufacturing, and accommodate the tremendous growth
Toyota has experienced in recent years."
TIEM is
adding a round showroom to display 15 forklifts, a
theatre with stadium seating for 40 people, a
demonstration room with bleacher seats for 100 and a
training facility for dealers, customers and
associates.
In addition, TIEM is expanding its
existing distribution centre for completed forklifts,
accommodating its national field office and enlarging
the main office for purchasing, production control,
logistics and sales administration
departments.
TIEM expects to increase efficiency
and productivity while maintaining employment at around
the current 626 people.
Toyota Material Handling
USA Inc (TMHU), of Irvine, California, which handles
sales of Toyota forklifts under the Toyota Industrial
Equipment brand, will have space in the national field
office.
A four-wheel IC cushion tyre forklift was
the 200,000th unit off the TIEM assembly line. TIEM
produced its first forklift at Columbus in May 1990 and
reached milestones for the 50,000th unit in June 1996
and the 100,000th in July 1999.
- Toyota website -
6.
JUNGHEINRICH RESULTS SLIGHTLY DOWN ON
2002
HAMBURG, Germany
Jungheinrich held
up well in fiscal year 2003, despite a difficult
economic environment and the termination of its MIC SA
activities in France (Forkliftaction.com News
#138).
Group sales in the reporting year, at
EUR1.471 billion (USD1.744 billion), almost reached
2002's EUR1.476 billion (USD1.749 billion). The 3% sales
decline was compensated by growth of 5% in after-sales
service, which is less vulnerable to cyclical
fluctuations.
As at December 31, the number of
employees throughout the group fell from 9,248 to 9,233,
with more than 50% of the workforce employed outside
Germany.
In the first three months of this year,
sales, at EUR347 million (USD411 million), were 3% lower
than the first quarter of 2003.
"We consider a
slight rise in the market volume for our industry in
Europe to be possible. From this we can expect to see a
growing level of incoming orders, with positive effects
for our business and earnings performance," said Dr
Cletus von Pichler, Jungheinrich chairman.
- Jungheinrich
website -
7.
**ADVERTISEMENT** AGENTS, DEALERS WANTED
Oy Meclift Ltd, a Finnish manufacturer
of innovative cargo handling equipment, is looking for
agents and dealers worldwide.
Meclift products
include variable reach trucks and side reach stackers
for handling containers and heavy loads in harbours,
paper mills, steel mills and railways. Lift capacities
range from 12 to 70 tonnes.
If you are interested
in promoting these world-class products, forward your
company name, website, contact person, phone, fax and
email address to sales@meclift.fi.
All enquiries
will be treated confidentially.
See www.meclift.fi for more company and
product information.
8.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
OLATHE, KS, United States
Systems
Material Handling Company (SMH) has appointed John
Gaughan as manager of business development. He has
more than 16 years of materials handling sales and
marketing experience, and will help SMH develop and
expand its business.
LOS ANGELES, CA, United
States - Boman Forklift has appointed Jim
Anderson, a materials handling veteran, to its sales
team. He has experience in sales of new and used
forklifts and in operator training.
9.
SHOPPA'S BUYS LUBBOCK DEALER
FORTH WORTH, TX, United
States
Shoppa's Material Handling, a Fort Worth,
Texas-based supplier of Toyota forklifts, has acquired
Western Forklift & Supply, in Lubbock,
Texas.
The acquisition price was not released.
The acquisition expands Shoppa's operations into the
Panhandle and West Texas markets. Shoppa's operates a
facility in Fort Worth and has branches in Brownwood and
Wichita Falls, according to a report in The Fort-Worth
Star-Telegram.
Shoppa's Material Handling sells,
leases and services Toyota forklifts and related
equipment. It also sells used forklifts and attachments
and parts, and sells new and used warehouse racks and
shelving.
10.
IN BRIEF...
SYDNEY, Australia
Westrac Equipment
has been appointed Caterpillar's dealer for New South
Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, replacing
Gough & Gilmour. The appointment, effective from
April 9, is the finalisation of an industrial relations
dispute decided between Gough and Caterpillar last
June.
SYDNEY, Australia - Apex Associates has
taken over the Australian agency for the UK's Premier
Pallet Systems. Apex, which supplies batteries,
hydraulics, seating, wheels and fork arms, took over the
agency from Masco.
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