Dear Linette,
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MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE.
This is issue #157 - 13 May 2004
of the weekly newsletter for industry
professionals.
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This issue marks the first of a two-part series on
the materials handling industry in Japan. Editorial features
are a great opportunity for companies to share the attention
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1.
MATERIALS HANDLING IN JAPAN: PART ONE 
TOKYO, Japan
Welcome to
part one of Forkliftaction.com News's coverage of the
materials handling industry in Japan. The land of the
rising sun is a mystery to most, but its reputation for
economic efficiency and success is no
secret.
2.
RAYMOND PUSHES RELIABILITY FOR FORKLIFT
OWNERS
GREENE, NY, United
States
Raymond Corp has an optimistic market outlook
and aims to enhance its line while helping forklift
owners maintain their costs through reliable
performance.
The forklift market "is looking
quite favourable" with Raymond's incoming orders a good
indicator, said James Malvaso, Raymond president and
chief executive officer, in an exclusive interview with
Forkliftaction.com News. "Consumer confidence is up, and
capital expenditures are up."
Raymond had a good
financial performance in 2003 and is "off to a better
start this year", he said. Raymond focuses on the market
for indoor electric warehouse trucks.
Raymond is
shipping demonstration Model 7400 Reach-Fork brand lift
trucks to dealers now. Raymond last year conducted
rigorous field tests of the trucks, which include AC
technology and beneficial ergonomics, and introduced the
7400 in March.
Incoming orders for the company's
102XM walkie pallet truck have exceeded expectations and
prompted a need to add production talent ahead of plan
at Raymond's Muscatine, Iowa, plant.
Last
October, Raymond launched the 102XM, which does
180-degree pinwheel turns inside a 96-inch-wide
trailer.
The 7400 and 102XM are examples of
output from design engineers, technicians and
reliability testing at Raymond's research and
development centre next to its Greene headquarters.
Raymond invested about USD6 million in 2002 for the
product development technical centre and a customer
showroom.
Showing off another investment on May
4, the firm held an open house in Greene at its newly
completed USD1.5 million Learning Centre, which replaced
a remote training facility (Forkliftaction.com News
#156).
Mr Malvaso envisions information
management systems as the next frontier for forklift
makers and related warehouse, conveyor and carousel
industries. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) "gives
us a chance to see how far we can push into information
systems", he said. Such systems could "help with the
cost of material handling. Can we yield extreme
benefits?".
Late last year Raymond began
discussions that led to an RFID-development partnership
with Tibbett & Britten Americas, IconNicholson and
the Econorack Group of Companies. Disclosed in March,
the partnership plans to conduct an assessment of RFID
and design and build a RFID Living Lab at Tibbett &
Britten Americas' Connect Logistics distribution
warehouse in Edmonton, Canada.
So far, the
long-range effort has identified macro RFID goals and is
working to define expectations on a micro level, Mr
Malvaso said.
In other news, Raymond is appealing
the USD14 million verdict of a federal district court
jury for improperly terminating dealer Minnesota Supply
Company in 1997 (Forkliftaction.com News #113). "We
still strongly believe it was an erroneous ruling, and
we are in the middle of the appeal process," Mr Malvaso
said.
Raymond employs 2,200 people and has a
third plant in Brantford, Canada, and a parts centre in
Syracuse, New York, in addition to the Greene and
Muscatine operations. All four locations are registered
under ISO 9001-2000. "We build in lot sizes of one" with
a continuous-flow pull-type manufacturing process, Mr
Malvaso said.
Toyota Industries Corp, of Kariya,
Japan, owns Raymond through another holding, BT
Industries AB, of Mjölby, Sweden. Raymond and BT
concentrate on stand-up warehouse electrics, while
Toyota's other forklift operations focus on
counterbalanced utility applications. As manufacturers,
Raymond, BT and Toyota maintain separate brands and
distribute through different end markets.
In a
mutually beneficial end-market crossover, Raymond in
Muscatine makes an electric pallet truck that Toyota
began marketing to its customers in North America in
early 2004.
-
Raymond website -
3.
COMBILIFT LAUNCHES ALTERNATIVE FOR STEEL
INDUSTRY
NEW YORK, NY, United
States
Combilift Ltd has launched the Combilift C6000
GT forklift, a truck aimed at accessing the huge US
steel services distribution industry.
Combilift
US sales manager Tommy Cadden told Forkliftaction.com
News that the industry had used similar stand-up trucks
for decades, but most were electrics.
"Combilift
decided to release a stand-up product that could be
directly interchangeable with the existing machines," he
said. "The unique thing about the Combilift C6000 GT is
that it's designed to operate inside and
outside.
"The response has been very
positive."
First seen at NA 2004 in Cleveland,
the C6000 GT is a 6,000 pound (2.7 tonnes) capacity
sideloader with an LP gas engine and a 30-foot (9.1
metres) lift height. The truck is also available in a
10,000 pound (4.5 tonnes) lift capacity.
The
propane IC engine allows indoor and outdoor operation,
eliminating double handling and the costs and space
required for batteries and battery and charging facility
maintenance. Super-elastic cushion tyres on the rear
provide load stability in rough yards and comfort for
the stand-up operator.
Mr Cadden said the GT was
being manufactured in Ireland and distributed through
the company's 40 exclusive dealers throughout the
USA.
- Combilift
website -
4.
JUNGHEINRICH SEES LITTLE GROWTH
HAMBURG,
Germany
Jungheinrich AG's first quarter orders rose
by 2% from EUR370 million (USD440.7 million) to EUR376
million (USD447.8 million), but net sales dropped 4%
from EUR358 million (USD426.4 million) to EUR345 million
(USD410.9 million).
Net income, at EUR8.7 million
(USD10.4 million) just surpassed last year's EUR8.6
million (USD10.2 million) for the first
quarter.
The 2004 results will be affected by
plant closures in Leighton Buzzard (UK) and Argentan
(France). The company said the transfer of production of
IC engine powered forklifts from England to Moosburg,
Germany, was proceeding to plan. Battery-powered
pedestrian vehicles, which were produced in Argentan,
would be transferred back to Norderstedt, Germany. Hand
pallet trucks would be obtained from Chinese
manufacturer Ningbo Ruyi Joint Stock Co Ltd.
- Jungheinrich
website -
5.
SAFETY FIRST: DAVID HOOVER
NEWARK, OH, United
States
Before conducting all on-site forklift
training classes, our company conducts a site
inspection, which looks at the customer's forklifts,
applications, loads and many other
areas.
6.
LOGISTICS IN FOCUS AT HONG KONG EXPO
HONG KONG, Hong Kong
The
logistics industry is one of the pillars of the Hong
Kong economy, according to the Hong Kong Logistics
Development Council (HKLDC).
HKLDC, a
government-appointed committee that advises on logistics
development policies, has organised an exhibition and
conference next week, titled Logistics Hong Kong, in
response to industry demand for an event targeting the
Hong Kong and Asian logistics markets.
Logistics
Hong Kong, from May 18 to May 20, is pitched at Hong
Kong and mainland China's logistics players and
international suppliers keen to penetrate the Hong Kong
and broader Asian markets.
The inaugural event
will also be an opportunity for those who wish to know
more about the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement
forged between Hong Kong and mainland China.
- Logistics Hong Kong
website -
7.
IN BRIEF...
HYVINKÄÄ, Finland
MORE
RTGS FOR CHARLESTON
KCI Konecranes has received an
order for four 16-wheel rubber-tyred gantry cranes
(RTGs) from South Carolina State Ports Authority in
Charleston, USA. The new machines, with a lifting
capacity of 50 tons (45.3 tonnes), a lifting height of
59 feet (18 metres) and a span of 75 feet (23 metres),
will complement 21 Konecranes RTGs already in operation.
The order value is about EUR5 million (USD5.95 million)
and there is an option for four additional machines. The
cranes will be delivered in December.
BELGIAN
BATTERY PRICES SOAR
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Belgian metal
price hikes, which have been happening since the start
of the year, have affected the price of lead, essential
for batteries. A year ago, the price of lead fluctuated
between USD400 and USD500 a ton. Today prices are as
high as USD900 a ton. Members of Sigma, the Belgian
federation of materials handling providers, increased
industrial battery prices on April 1 using a special
formula to combine earlier and current prices. Sigma
says the inflated prices will disappear when lead prices
fall to "normal" levels.
8.
OM PIMESPO KEEPS RHINOS HAPPY
BIRMINGHAM, United
Kingdom
OM Pimespo raised more than GBP1,000
(USD1,775) for the "Save the Rhino International"
charity during this year's IMHX (Forkliftaction.com News
#148).
The money was raised by employee
Matthew Clark who spent three days pacing the halls of
the exhibition, collecting donations while dressed in a
rhinoceros costume, according to a Centaur
Communications report.
Save the Rhino
International is currently supporting projects in Kenya,
Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia,
South Africa and Sumatra, and raising public awareness
of the need for rhino conservation.
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9.
SMH LAUNCHES IRMN® VERSION 5.0
SMH has
released version 5.0 of its Information Resource
Management Network® (IRMN®). Created by SMH in 1997,
IRMN® 5.0 was re-written to dramatically increase
response times.
Pankaj Shah, instrumental in the
creation of IRMN®, stated "Even we were surprised with
the increased response times."
Major improvements
include:
• 5 times faster
• E-mail order
confirmation
• Search parts in Catalog Pages or
Drawings
• View parts images
• Inquire/Order
multiple parts up to 50 items
• Use IRMN® to prepare
quotes
• Look up a “Recommended Spare Parts List” for
models you service
MORE INFORMATION?
Web: www.smhco.com
Phone: (800)
255-4109
Click here for the full text of this
release.
10.
TRANS PAN PACIFIC 2004 KOREA EXHIBITION AND
CONFERENCE
Following the successful Trans Pan
Pacific 2003 Australia Exhibition & Conference (180
delegates from 17 countries) hosted by Port of Melbourne
Corporation, the 2nd Trans Pan Pacific Korea Exhibition
& Conference takes place in Busan, Korea on June
29-30 at the Paradise Hotel & Casino Busan - one of
only two Korean 5-star hotels in The Leading Hotels
of The World.
A two-day exhibition will present
30 ports, container terminals, container handling
equipment manufacturers, intermodal transport services
providers and event sponsors.
For details contact
Jane Loh on jane@transportevents.com, by phone on
+60-3-8023-5352, or visit www.transportevents.com.
Click here for the full text of this
release.
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15.
MONTHLY FORKLIFT RENTAL OF HYSTER H550F
Fort
Lewis, WA, United States
Closing: 19 May 2004 3:00pm
- Contract: W911S8-04-Q-0009
16.
SLINGS, SHACKLES AND WIRE ROPE
Bremerton WA,
United States
Closing: 08 June 2004 TBA - Contract:
N00406-04-T-1794
17.
PLASTIC PALLETS
Placerville, CA, United
States
Closing: 19 May 2004 TBA - Contract:
RFQ-IBET-03-04-080
18.
SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF FORKLIFT
Winnipeg,
Canada
Closing: 18 May 2004 4:00pm - Contract:
220-2004
19.
LATEST MODEL 1500 KILOGRAM (3,000 POUND) CAPACITY
FORKLIFT TRUCK
City of Moncton,
Canada
Closing: 10 June 2004 11:00am - Contract:
TC04-059
20.
SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF FORKLIFTS
II
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Closing: 19 May
2004 11:00am - Contract: PS04031
21.
INCREASE SLEWING DRIVE SPEED - 40-TON, PORTAL
CRANE
Lester, PA, United States
Closing:
07 June 2004 TBA - Contract: N3258A-04-B-1600
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