Send this newsletter to an associate   Print version   Dear reader, WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM, MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE. This is issue #178 - 07 October 2004 of the weekly newsletter for industry professionals. Narrow Aisle’s Flexi Gas is being readied for the world stage. INSIDE FORKLIFTACTION.COM NEWS • Cascade moves to acquire Falkenroth • Linde UK poised for record year • The Flexi Gas goes abroad • EXPOMANEJO 2005 - Get involved! ADVERT • French confident of strong year • Strong dealership clinches MOD contract for Hyster • Forklift saves crash victims • Check Out Our New Homepage! • Raymond Corporation gives cash to fire department • Forklift stops traffic in New Mexico FORK TALK: USA prepares for ProMat 2005 Send this newsletter to an associate   Forkliftaction.com is looking for an experienced, motivated SALES EXECUTIVE to join our established advertising sales department. Requirements: • Significant business to business sales experience • Strong internet/email experience • Excellent communication, phone and interpersonal skills • Good organisation and reporting skills • Experience with MS Office • Dedication and self-motivation • Team player • European or Asian language skills an advantage but not essential We offer: • Exciting opportunities • Training and coaching provided • Retainer with commission • Flexible hours Send your resume or queries to jobs@forkliftaction.com.   Cascade moves to acquire Falkenroth PORTLAND, OR, United States Forklift attachments manufacturer Cascade Corporation has entered into a preliminary agreement to acquire troubled German manufacturer, Falkenroth Fördertechnik GmbH & Co. In what represents the formalisation of talks announced in the company’s financial statements last month (Forkliftaction.com News #173), Cascade is negotiating to purchase Falkenroth’s assets from its German trustee. The acquisition of the once “major German competitor” would widen Cascade’s product offering and foothold in Europe, said Cascade chief financial officer Andy Anderson. “It also provides our OEM customers with assurance that the capacity will be available to meet their production requirements, even in the most rapidly-expanding markets,” he said. Anderson told Forkliftaction.com News that Cascade was one of several, unnamed companies invited by the trustee to make offers on the Falkenroth business. He would not comment on whether Falkenroth had been an acquisition target for Cascade before it collapsed earlier this year. Cascade made two key acquisitions in 2003: the German fork tyne manufacturer FEMA Forks (Forkliftaction.com News #102); and Italian attachments maker Roncari Srl in October (Forkliftaction.com News #131). Now that a principle bidder for Falkenroth has been identified, the acquisition is expected to proceed quickly. Cascade would make a further announcement on the deal “within the next two weeks”, Anderson said. - Cascade website - Linde UK poised for record year BASINGSTOKE, United Kingdom Linde’s UK division is set for a record year, with orders up 14.5 per cent and its Basingstoke plant aiming to produce more than 9000 forklifts, up 6.5 per cent. Linde’s success was a result of increases in demand across the market this year, said Linde sales and marketing director Stephen Moule. “For the first six months of 2004 the growth rate has accelerated, with an increase of almost 12 per cent (over last year), and we believe the market will reach 32,000 units (this) year,” Moule said. The materials handling industry was reaping flow-on benefits from renewed activity in public projects and, more generally, a positive UK economy. “The economy is performing well, and that leads to growth in consumer confidence, which translates into increased spending,” Moule said. “The market is heading for a record year, and I think the market can exceed that in 2005 and produce more than 33,000 forklifts.” - Linde UK website - The Flexi Gas goes abroad BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom Narrow Aisle Ltd’s Flexi Gas is being readied for the world stage. The LPG-powered version of Narrow Aisle’s very narrow aisle forklift, debuted at IMHX 2004 this year (Forkliftaction.com News #151), has been launched into Europe, the US and Asia in a move the company hopes will net about GBP6 million (USD10.7 million) in annual sales. Narrow Aisle is aiming to sell about 200 machines a year and, with the addition of parts, hopes to raise the annual return to GBP10 million (USD17.8 million) by 2009. The company’s sales and marketing director, John Maguire, told the Birmingham Post & Mail that the machine would be a popular alternative for inside-outside warehouse operation, as it did not require recharging facilities or spare batteries. “All the signs at present are that the Flexi Gas is being well-received by the market,” he said. Narrow Aisle managing director Peter Wooldridge did not return Forkliftaction.com News’s calls before deadline. EXPOMANEJO 2005 - Get involved! ADVERTISEMENT Here is YOUR opportunity to participate in THE materials handling show of MEXICO in March 2005.The event will take place in Mexico City's brand new Santa Fe Exhibition Hall, covering 116,000 sq.ft (10,800sqm), of which 36,464 sq.ft. (3,392sqm) will be dedicated exclusively to exhibition booths. For more info, visit our WEBsite - www.expomanejo.org.mx or email jpvazquez@expomanejp.org.mx. French confident of strong year L'HORME, France French rough-terrain and aerial platforms manufacturer, Pinguely-Haulotte, says it should achieve its EUR280 million (USD344.4 million) sales target after a strong showing in September. Hitting that target would represent a 20 per cent boost in sales over the company’s EUR220.665 million (USD271.4 million) 2003 result. The company said in a statement to Forkliftaction.com News that a strategic decision to reduce costs and boost productivity had paid dividends. “With the beginning of the market recovery and order intake up 25 per cent at the end of September, everything is in place to amplify the progress registered in the first half,” the company said. The statement said the company’s performance this year had cemented its place at number three in the world rankings for aerial platform manufacturers. Strong dealership clinches MOD contract for Hyster FLEET, United Kingdom Hyster and its UK distributor, Barloworld Handling attributes its recent major contract win from the British Ministry of Defence to Hyster’s global dealer support network. The contract will see Hyster deliver equipment to all three of the British armed forces – army, navy and air force – over a period of eight years. While Hyster did not specify a dollar value when announcing the contract, equipment to be supplied will range from warehouse trucks, forklift trucks (from 1-48 tons), container handlers and reach stackers. Alan Blyth, Hyster’s senior major accounts manager says the strong manufacturer/dealer combination was instrumental in gaining the substantial foothold with the military in Europe. Gary Clements, the divisional director of Barloworld Handling agreed with Blyth saying, “Hyster has particular strengths in two areas, its product offering and its reputation with both the US and British armed forces. That’s an important factor because armies are not just confined to one country; they need support worldwide.” Alan Blyth for Hyster confirmed that the company is in talks with a number of other European countries about their defence needs. - Hyster UK website - Forklift saves crash victims CEBU CITY, Philippines A forklift operator has used his machine to save five people pinned under a car involved in a head-on crash. Jose Medrano used his forklift to lift the car, allowing the occupants to escape safely. Minutes later, the car was engulfed in flames. Medrano said he was on his way to the Cebu port on his forklift when he discovered the accident. The victims’ car had turned upside down after colliding with another vehicle. Lilia and Eugene Hizon and their three children were rushed to hospital suffering minor injuries. “I’ve always dreamed of becoming a superhero,” said Medrano. “Now I know you don’t have to have super powers to become one.” The driver of the other vehicle was arrested by police, who are continuing their investigations. Check Out Our New Homepage! Forkliftaction.com has unveiled a major redevelopment of our front page, located at www.forkliftaction.com. Our homepage has been redesigned with simplicity and accessibility in mind, and provides easy access to all of our free online services. Forkliftaction.com visitors can now easily search our popular Business Directory, research machinery with our Spec-Checker, and even browse through our online photo gallery. Selected messages from the Discussion Forums are also displayed, as are positions vacant and our events calendar. We hope you like it! Raymond Corporation gives cash to fire department GREENE, NY, United States The Raymond Corporation and Foundation have committed USD650,000 over five years to the Village of Greene Fire Department building fund in New York. The fund is part of a USD2 million project to replace the existing fire station and provide more responsive emergency services to the community. The Raymond Corporation is the leading North American provider of a broad range of materials handling equipment, including manual and electric pallet trucks and walkie stackers to counterbalanced trucks and dual-purpose pallet handling trucks. The Greene Fire Department has 70 volunteers and Pete Raymond, a member of the Raymond Foundation board said, “The Foundation nurtures the quality of life in this community. Ensuring the future of our fire department is essential to that quality of life”. Forklift stops traffic in New Mexico RIO RANCHO, NM, United States A forklift stopped traffic for two hours after colliding with a pedestrian overpass on a major road in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The forklift crashed into the Rio Grande pedestrian overpass on westbound Paseo del Norte during rush hour on September 30, the Rio Rancho Journal reported. Police responded to reports of a forklift swerving through traffic and raising and lowering its tynes. Operator Eddie Lucero, 31, who suffered minor injuries in the collision, faces charges of embezzlement, drunk-driving and driving with a revoked license. He told police he had consumed six or seven beers before the incident. Lucero is believed to have driven the forklift from TD Farrell, a local company where he is employed as a temporary worker. Send this newsletter to an associate   USA PREPARES FOR PROMAT 2005 CHICAGO, IL, United States The Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) has begun its marketing drive in earnest in the lead-up to ProMat 2005, January10-13 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 700 exhibitors will showcase their materials handling and logistics solutions at Chicago’s 300,000 square foot (27,870 square metres) McCormick Place South exhibition hall. ProMat showcases the glitz and glamour of the international materials handling industry in what is the US’s signature event. ProMat 2005 will be divided into four solution-specific sections: equipment and components for manufacturing solutions, fulfilment and delivery solutions, IT solutions and assembly logistics and support solutions. An educational conference, sponsored by the Material Handling Institute, will also focus on improving productivity in these four areas. Speakers include Sandy Towle (ARC Advisory Group), Dr John White (University of Arkansas), Boda Rao (Seagate Technology) and Simon Langford (Wal-Mart Stores). ProMat visitors will also be able to visit the MHIA’s 25,000 square foot (2322 square metres) radio frequency identification (RFID) Knowledge Centre, which will feature interactive presentations and information from companies at the forefront of RFID adoption. As the organisers say, “ProMat 2005 will be the most comprehensive international material handling and logistics show and conference held in the US in 2005”. - ProMat 2005 website -   IN THE DISCUSSION FORUMS UPCOMING EVENTS JOB VACANCIES RESUMES FAST FACTS In the Discussion Forums Hydrogen vs LPG vs electricity... Who are you backing to win the fight? "Will hydrogen-powered forklifts take over the current battery or LP powered forklifts? I say yes, and in the near future. Give me your opinion." dougster, Vanuatu Can you help? "Can anyone let me know how to become a third-party inspector for load testing and other inspections for forklifts? I am in the United Arab Emirates." azeezur, United Arab Emirates How do you rate Hyster? "Limits were made to be broken and Hyster has always been ahead. A lot of people who would love to add 10-20 tonne capacity to their trucks. It seems quality comes in quantity; the more "stuff" you can move, the more money you make. If Hyster can prove the safety is there, the truck will be great!" tom_j, United States FORKLIFTACTION.COM Discussion Forums >> Upcoming Events 1. Parts and Service Marketing - AED Palm Springs, CA, United States November 9-10, 2004 2. Great Lakes Industrial Show Cleveland, OH, United States 9th to 11th November 2004 3. TOC2004 Americas Santiago, Chile 9th to 11th November 2004 FORKLIFTACTION.COM Events >> Jobs 1. Forklift Service Manager - Full time Portland, United States 2. Equipment Sales - Full time Birmingham, AL, United States FORKLIFTACTION.COM Jobs >> Resumes 1. Forklift & Systems Representative/Material Handling Agents - Full time Field Location, United States FORKLIFTACTION.COM Resumes >> Fast Facts 1. When the F1 World Championship went to Shanghai, China, late last month, Linde Xiamen was there. The company supplied 14 forklifts and 25 hand pallet trucks for logistical use by the F1 teams. 2. Lancashire Fork Truck Services has sold 15 machines (five R50-10, one R50-15, two R20-15 and one R20-20 forklifts, two FM-14 reach trucks and four EGU pallet trucks) to Centura Foods in Cheshire, UK. 3. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has joined the UN’s Global Compact Initiative, which promotes human rights, labour standards, environmental responsibility and anti-corruption initiatives. FORKLIFTACTION.COM News >>   To tailor your newsletter preferences, click here to access your member account online. Should you no longer wish to receive news from Forkliftaction.com, please click here to cancel your subscription. Forkliftaction.com News is published by Forkliftaction.com PO Box 1439, Milton QLD 4064, Australia – info@forkliftaction.com.