Multiton dealers to lose factory prices
RICHMOND, VA, United States

The US subsidiary of Jungheinrich Group, Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp, will phase out the Multiton name and fully integrate the business into its core product lines.

Ending the Multiton brand name was the last strategic move of the January 1, 2005, merger between Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp and Multiton MIC Corp, a Jungheinrich statement said.

The phase-out was in progress at North American dealerships and was expected to be completed by October.

A Multiton dealer, who did not want to be named, said the change was a “big inconvenience” for his company.

“I have customers who call all pallet jacks Multitons, like the way we call all tissue brands Kleenex. It takes a long time to get that kind of recognition.

“We lose the name recognition. Our customers have probably associated us with the Multiton logo. We display ‘For Multiton’ on service vehicles and in yellow page ads.” He said Jungheinrich would not compensate his company for costs involved in removing the Multiton name.

The dealer said he would no longer have the benefit of factory prices and direct access to parts for Multitons.

“We have to go to the newly designated Jungheinrich dealer. [We have] no factory technical advice on units we have sold for the last 15 years.”

A competitor from a neighbouring US state, who had never sold Multiton, would be the new Jungheinrich dealer, he said.

Ray Schmidt, Jungheinrich’s US class III product manager said ex-Multiton dealers could secure parts and service via Jungheinrich dealers from September 29.

“There are 60 exclusive Jungheinrich dealers that are current or soon-to-be dealers, with plans to add approximately 20 more in the future,” he said.

Schmidt said no compensation was “required” for Multiton dealers as adequate notice to discontinue their programs under the Multiton banner had been given.

“In general since Multiton is an open line and is carried as an allied type of product for most of our dealers, most did not actively market our product.”

All existing product warranties would be continued and the original Multiton models rebranded with the Jungheinrich name, model names and documentation. However, some products, like the M50 manual pallet jack and Mark series of machinery moving dollies, would be discontinued. The EME light duty electric pallet truck could also be discontinued, the Jungheinrich statement said.

“Jungheinrich's standard pallet truck model is the AM2200.  It was determined that a second pallet truck model would be redundant …The machinery moving dollies are not a Jungheinrich approved product.  There is a limited market for these products.The profitability of the product no longer meets our minimum margin requirements,” Schmidt said.  

He said six of Multiton’s Jungheinrich products were already available in the Jungheinrich line. The company would add two of Multiton products to its line next year.

With the brand phase-out, Jungheinrich said end users would experience shorter lead times on product and parts delivery and better local, factory-trained service and support.

John Sneddon, Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp president, said: “This transition dovetails with Jungheinrich’s corporate commitment to responsively meet the unique needs of the North American marketplace by expanding its product scope and service capabilities.”

Multiton, established in 1951, produced hand pallet trucks and machine moving dollies in Port Washington, New York. It became part of the Jungheinrich Group, of Germany, in 1976. Its brand, product line and dealer organisation became an internal sales division of Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp, of Richmond, Virginia.

Through the partnership, Multiton expanded its product line to include high lift hand trucks, electric walkie pallet trucks and stackers, and developed innovations like transistorised controllers, a brake by-pass switch and AC-powered motors.

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Manitou’s French sales down, international sales up
ANCENIS, France

After releasing financial results for the first half of 2006, Manitou BF says it plans to accelerate the rate of growth for the second half of the calendar year.

The company’s consolidated sales showed a 10.3 per cent improvement from the same period in 2005. Manitou aimed to exceed an initial forecast of 10 per cent growth for financial year ending December 31, 2006.

While sales in France decreased 0.9 per cent from EUR232.4 million to EUR230.3 million for the first half of 2006, sales in other European Union (EU) countries increased 15.6 per cent, and other regions’ sales increased 31.7 per cent.

Growth was “particularly strong” in Germany, Italy, Spain, Benelux and countries outside the EU and  the company’s order book was full for the next 2.5 months, a Manitou statement said.

Total sales for first half of 2006 were EUR586.2 million compared to 2005’s EUR531.3 million.

Telehandler works high in the Alps
LAKE BAITONE, Italy

A Merlo telehandler has travelled 1,700 metres by cable to help repair a 30-year-old dam that provides electricity to the Italian region around Lake Baitone.

Merlo SpA, of Italy, provided a ROTO 40.25 MCSS to an electricity supplier at Lake Baitone, in the middle of the Italian Adamello National Park, in the Rechtiche Alps. The dam is 2,300 metres above sea level and 10km from the nearest village.

Dam contractor Alessandro Gelmi said the dam’s parapet had to be refaced with 2,500 cubic metres of concrete. The Merlo telehandler was considered the easiest equipment to take to the site and the safest and most practical to work with.

“The work depends on the machine selected. We knew we must choose a machine that is robust, reliable, easy to drive, compact, maneuverable and, above all else, safe.

“The site is a long way from any help and safety has to be our number one consideration,” Gelmi said.

Work would be conducted on the highest point of the dam, 37.9 metres –high. The machine needed to be positioned with the stabilisers partially extended and yet be safe.

A Merlo statement said the telehandler featured Merlo’s merlin continuous slew safety system (MCSS), which matched the digital control of the merlin network to an electronic sampling device that continuously monitored pressure in the outrigger pads.

As the machine’s stability was monitored in ‘real time’, the outriggers need not be fully extended. Audible and visual warnings of imminent instability were followed by a full motion lock if the operator continued, the statement said.

The four tonne capacity, 25 lift height ROTO had to be broken down into sections no heavier than six tons and transported via a 1,700 metre cable up a 700 metre ascent.

The dam work is expected to finish in the northern autumn of 2007.

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