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 |  |  | | |  The Caption Competition Is Back!
Forkliftaction.com’s caption competition, one of the most popular initiatives among members, has returned to the Forkliftaction.com Discussion Forums.
Click here to get started. Have a look at the funny photo, supplied by Ky Luc Company in Vietnam, put on your thinking cap and post your suggestion using the forum.
How clever can YOU be?
The most entertaining caption will be judged by you, the readers, and will be announced in the forum and in the newsletter.
Have fun! |
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Clark in the black for 5th consecutive quarter
LEXINGTON, KY, United States
Clark Material Handling Company, the US arm of the Korean-owned forklift maker, has achieved net income for the third quarter, the fifth consecutive quarter it has done so.
While he would not reveal the actual figures, Clark president Brian Butler said “financially, the third quarter was our strongest quarter of 2004, both in net income and net cash flow.”
The results showed double-digit increases in both revenues and net income, according to Butler.
Clark MHC, one of the world’s oldest forklift manufacturers, filed for creditor protection under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in April 2000 with assets of USD349 million and debts of USD374 million.
The company emerged from bankruptcy protection in January last year after Young An Hat Co of Korea bought the company.
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2005: the year of caution?
LONDON, United Kingdom
A survey has revealed that 32 per cent of companies in the UK forklift industry are entering 2005 in a cautious mood.
The study, by Plimsoll Publishing Ltd, said 49 per cent of the survey respondents suffered a fall in profit since the 2003 survey.
“This supports the fact that margins are coming under increasing competitive pressure,” said senior analyst David Pattison. “With current market growth negative at 5 per cent, perhaps a cautious approach is right.”
The survey puts all companies into four “mood” groups:
Cautious
More than 30 per cent of companies are uncertain how 2005 will be; financial performance has been satisfactory; sales are falling by 2 per cent, with margins averaging 2.5 per cent.
“Nevertheless, most of these companies could be described as prudent, as they hardly carry any debts. If 2005 proves unfavourable, their balance sheets should offer some protection, but they must keep a close eye on aggressive competitors,” the study says.
Upbeat
Only 11 per cent of companies are upbeat about their prospects for 2005. These companies are not having any trouble achieving extra sales growth, with many having increased sales by 9.4 per cent. They are also not seeing any reduction in margins – typically reporting margins as high as 5.5 per cent.
“Their priority for 2005 should be to build on their existing success. This will not be as easy in today’s highly competitive industry,” the study says.
Gung-ho
“Almost bullish” describes 29 per cent of companies in their prospects for 2005. These companies appear determined to press on with their aggressive pursuit of market share. These companies shared most of the growth in the market last year.
“It is an exciting time to be at one of these companies as employment is up from last year. Most are selling at a loss, a trend currently popular in the industry. Can they maintain this risky strategy?” the study asks.
Under Pressure
An equal share (29 per cent) of companies surveyed were finding the market more competitive than ever. All reported falling sales, some by as much as 10 per cent.
“Clearly this has affected their profitability, as three-quarters of these companies are selling at a loss. Their priority in 2005 should be to hang on to current sales, get on top of their costs, and reduce their levels of debt,” the survey says.
The Plimsoll Portfolio Analysis – Fork Lift Trucks is available by visiting www.plimsoll.co.uk. Forkliftaction.com News readers will receive a 5 per cent discount off the purchase price. | |
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Kalmar STS cranes headed for the Caribbean
POINTE-Á-PITRE, Guadeloupe
Port Autonome de la Guadeloupe (PAG) at Pointe-á-Pitre, Guadeloupe, has ordered two post-Panamax ship-to-shore (STS) container cranes from Kalmar Industries.
With an outreach of 43 metres, the heavy-duty cranes will be capable of handling 16-wide containerships. The price of the contract was not released.
The cranes are destined for Terminal de Jarry, which has a total quay length of 600 metres and on which three ship-to-shore cranes are already in use.
Kalmar Ship-to-Shore Cranes sales manager Kees Derks said Kalmar had supplied reach stackers, terminal tractors and forklifts to the Port of Guadeloupe in the past.
“We are delighted that PAG has also decided to purchase ship-to-shore cranes from Kalmar. The cranes will be supplied with Bromma separating twin-lift spreaders, thus boosting the terminal’s capacity, as well as being designed to withstand hurricane wind speeds of 280km/hour,” he said.
The main parameters of the two ship-to-shore cranes are:
Safe working load on ropes/under spreader78/60 tonnes
Outreach 43 metres
Railspan 15 metres
Backreach 25 metres
Hoisting height 33 metres
Hoisting depth 15 metres
Hoisting speed rated load/empty spreader 60/120 metres per minute
Trolley travelling speed 180 metres per minute
Gantry travelling speed 45 metres per minute
Kalmar has also received an order from Rotterdam Short Sea Terminals (RST) for the delivery of two widespan ship-to-shore container cranes for its Beatrixhaven terminal.
RST already operates 11 ship-to-shore cranes in the Port of Rotterdam on a total quay length of 1.5 km. Its annual capacity is 1.2 million TEU.
The two new cranes will be delivered in October and November 2005 and are destined for a new quay extension, due for completion in late 2005.
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ADVERTISEMENT
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Please send full specifications, photos, hours worked and contact details including phone numbers to:
Email: dan@globequip.biz
Fax: 61 7 3262 5855 |  |
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Australia reacts well to UK rack protector
SYDNEY, Australia
Rack Armour (Australia) Pty Ltd, the Australian branch of the Rack Group in the UK, reports it has received “overwhelming” interest from major corporations since its launch in September.
Director Alex Robinson told Forkliftaction.com News that the company’s first public showing of its Rack Armour product was at The Safety Show in Sydney last month.
“We had an overwhelming response from people just walking past, seeing the demonstrations and having a chat,” he said. “The product has been an enormous success in the UK, and thankfully that seems to have been mirrored in Australia.”
Rack Armour is a plastic impact absorber designed to protect racking systems from buckling due to impacts with forklifts or other mobile equipment. The product is basically quite simple and is made from ballistics-grade dense plastic.
Since the Safety Show, Rack Armour reports it has received expressions of interest from Australian corporations such as Woolworths, Harvey-Norman, Sanitarium, Kimberly-Clark and DHL.
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JCB MD steps down, CEO steps up
ROCESTER, United Kingdom
JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford has announced he will relinquish his position as managing director to chief executive John Patterson on December 1.
Bamford, one of the UK’s richest men, succeeded his father in December 1975. At that time, the company’s annual turnover was GPB44 million (USD81.3 million) and JCB employed 1,300 people.
Today, JCB employs more than 5000 people at 13 factories on all four continents, with an annual turnover of more than GBP1 billion (USD1.8 billion).
“This change in responsibilities is recognition of the excellent job John Patterson has done. I will still continue to be actively involved in the business on a day-to-day basis,” Bamford said.
Patterson joined JCB as a service engineer in 1971. He went on to hold senior positions both in the UK and overseas, becoming chief executive in January 1998.
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Daewoo wins GBP1 million contract
WAKEFIELD, United Kingdom
Korean forklift maker Daewoo’s UK arm has won a GBP1 million (USD1.8 million), five-year contract with building services supplier Deborah Services Ltd.
A former Toyota account, Deborah Services will receive 50 new Daewoo forklifts at its locations across the UK.
DSL transport manager Steve Haigh praised Daewoo’s work in the build-up to the deal. “We value good suppliers, that can really help us at ground level. The Daewoo trucks are well put together, are not pretentious or fancy, and that suits the way we work. We now have trucks that have increased capacity, better reach, that the drivers like and use less fuel.”
Daewoo UK general manager Kun H Lee said the contract would further the company’s profile in the UK.
“This is a real first for us. We supply major organisations across the world, but this is the first time we have been able to structure a deal across the whole of the UK,” he said.
Over 80 Daewoo models are available in the UK from 1.3 to 3.0 tonnes, electric models and 1.5 to 15.0 tonnes for IC models.
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Plan your marketing better with Forkliftaction.com’s editorial calendar!
Forkliftaction.com helps you plan your advertising by providing a calendar of editorial features appearing in Forkliftaction.com News in the coming months.
Features planned are:
November: Machinery Storage & Transportation - November 4, November 18
December: Materials Handling in South America - December 2, December 16
January: Manual Materials Handling Equipment - January 6, January 20
February: Telescopic Handling Equipment – February 3, February 17
March: Financing Your Forklift Options – March 3, March 17
April: Future Markets – April 7, April 21
May: Heavy Metal: Big Lifts – May 5, May 19
Editorial features are an excellent way for your company to share the spotlight of these features. Feature advertising rates start at USD275 for a text advertisement in the news, and media releases, with pictures and detailed information, start at USD320! If your company operates in these sectors, don’t miss this opportunity to access the world’s materials handling decision-makers.
Contact us for more information.
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Persimmon to double JCB investment?
ROCESTER, United Kingdom
UK house builder Persimmon Homes could double its GBP1.5 million (USD2.8 million) investment in JCB telescopic handlers, with the planned purchase of more machines by the end of the year.
The firm, which has more than 400 sites throughout the UK, has taken delivery of new JCB 533-105s, 535-95s, 535-125s, 535-140s, 540-140s and 535-170s, with lift heights ranging from 9.5-17 metres.
The machines will be carrying out materials handling duties on Persimmon and Charles Church developments throughout the country.
Persimmon Homes (South Midlands) managing director Nigel Greenaway said JCB “did a good deal” on their new machines.
“While there may be other manufacturers that come reasonably close, JCBs are the superior machine when it comes to balancing performance reliability against cost and depreciation,” he said.
“Back up and availability of spares and service is also vital and we get good service from (dealer) Watling JCB.”
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USA ranks highest for capital imports
Materials handling manufacturers account for billions of dollars in annual exports. End users spend equally large amounts of import dollars.
New data from the International Monetary Fund, contained in an ABN-AMRO Morgans report, shows the “sources and uses of global capital” – where our dollars come and go.
The data shows that the USA, in the 2003 calendar year, imported (borrowed) 71.5 per cent of the world’s capital, followed distantly by the UK (4.5 per cent) and Australia (4.1 per cent).
It is perhaps surprising that only three countries – America, Britain and Australia – import 80.1 per cent of world capital. The question is, where is all this money coming from?
The biggest exporter of world capital may surprise no-one. Japan exported (lent) 21.0 per cent of world capital in calendar 2003. The next best at saving are the Germans who come way down with 8.2 per cent. China comes third with 7.1 per cent.
Russia, which in 1998 caused international turmoil by rescheduling sovereign debt, surprisingly was the fourth largest capital exporter in 2003, with 5.5 per cent.
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Clark dealers lift spirits at Ronald’s house
LEXINGTON, KY, United States
Clark’s National Dealers Association (CNDA) has presented a USD28,000 donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Lexington.
Darr FMH president and CNDA treasurer John Faulkner said the donation would help fund the installation of a new kitchen and dining room at RMHC, which has served 17,000 families since 1984.
“The Clark National Dealers Association was organised in 1991 by all of the North American Clark dealers,” Faulkner said. “The association is extremely pleased to make this contribution to RMHC.”
On hand at the cheque presentation (pictured) on October 25 were Faulkner, President, Darr marketing manager Maria Wagner, Equipment Depot president Don Moes, Equipment Depot vice-president general manager Vern Bailey and Clark president Brian Butler.
RMHC executive director Beth Blackman said: “This is the largest contribution to date for our kitchen and dining area. We depend totally on community donations like this one to accomplish our mission.
“Our house is 20 years old, and after a while, upgrades need to be made.”
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Forklift causes warehouse evacuation
PORT EVERGLADES, FL, United States
A warehouse run by US Customs at Port Everglades was evacuated on November 8 after a forklift punctured a 55-gallon drum containing a flammable chemical, a fire official said.
The accident occurred around 11.15 am in the 3400 block of McIntosh Road. About 30 gallons of the unknown chemical spilled from the drum into the warehouse, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
The 10 people inside the warehouse were uninjured, officials said. Firefighters ventilated the warehouse and poured absorbing material on the spill before a private company cleaned it up.
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1. Parts Catalogue CD Now Available!!!!!
The WORLD’S first parts catalogue on CD with the “2-click” promise: find what you want quickly and easily in just 2 mouse clicks with the Handling Logistics Parts Directory CD.
Choose from the category options, which link you directly to the part you need. To help you further there is technical data and a detailed picture of every part.
Parts CD creator Mr Rhys Davies calls the Handling Logistics Parts Directory “A breath of fresh air”.
On launch day of the most recent update, Mr Davies was asked “Why a CD and not a more conventional parts paper catalogue?”
Mr Davies replied “It’s simple....
Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. | |
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| Fast Facts | 1. From November 1, 2004, Pilot Seating Systems Ltd will trade as Promek Seating Systems Ltd.
2. Liebherr expects turnover to increase by 8 per cent to more than EUR4.4 billion (USD5.7 billion).
3. Parts Catalogue CD Now Available!!!!!
FORKLIFTACTION.COM
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