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Dear reader, WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM, MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE. This is issue #284 - 02 November 2006 of the weekly newsletter for industry professionals. |
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 “BT puts Ringo, Oscar and Ercole to work and keeps diaries.” |
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Jungheinrich CEO leaves company  HAMBURG, Germany Jungheinrich CEO Dr Cletus von Pichler, who moved the German forklift manufacturer towards globalisation, left the company on October 31. Von Pichler, who was also president and chairman of the board of management, left Jungheinrich AG of Hamburg, Germany, by “mutual consent”, a Jungheinrich statement said. No further details were provided. Jungheinrich head of corporate communications Markus Piazza said Jungheinrich had prospered “significantly in sales and earnings” since von Pichler became company president and CEO in January 2000. “He has completely reorganised the sales force [to focus on the Jungheinrich brand]. He also reorganised the structure of the product plants. “Dr von Pichler strongly emphasised globalisation of the company and strengthened overseas sales activities significantly,” Piazza said. Von Pichler has a PhD and a master of science diploma in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Graz, in Graz, Austria. He was a lecturer at the university’s Institute for Manufacturing Technology & Machine Tools from 1969 to 1971. Before joining Jungheinrich, von Pichler was president and CEO of Munich-based plastics machinery manufacturer Krauss-Maffei AG, from 1997 to 1998. The group’s supervisory board has appointed Wolfgang Kiel as a temporary board of management chairman from November 1. Kiel has been with Jungheinrich for 30 years. From 1990 to 1995, he was a board of management member and deputy chairman. After that he joined the company’s supervisory board. His supervisory board mandate has been suspended for the duration of his position as board of management chairman. Modern Materials Handling magazine placed Jungheinrich fourth on its latest list of top 20 global forklift suppliers. The ranking list, based on 2005 global sales revenue puts Jungheinrich (USD1.95 billion) behind Toyota (USD5.07 billion), Linde (USD4.50 billion) and Nacco Industries (USD2.40 billion) (Forkliftaction.com News #272).  Competitor Terex views Oshkosh-JLG deal as a positive WESTPORT, CT, United States Terex Corp CEO Ronald DeFeo sees the pending combination of Oshkosh Truck Corp and JLG Industries Inc and their pricing leverage as a positive for his company. As disclosed on October 16, Oshkosh, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, plans to buy JLG by mid-January (Forkliftaction.com News #282). Oshkosh and JLG “are going to have to be good at integration and pretty good at getting pricing in the marketplace, which can only be a positive for us because price discipline is important in our category”, DeFeo said. “With strong buyers, it is important to have strong sellers”, such as Oshkosh-JLG and Terex. “We view the JLG market position as similar to ours. We both have good strong shares in the major rental companies and good strong positions globally. “JLG is a quality company and an excellent competitor so [linking with Oshkosh] is a good combination from an industry point of view,” DeFeo said. For the fiscal year ended July 31, JLG, of McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, reported sales of USD1.16 billion for aerial work platforms and USD776 million for telehandlers. Through the third quarter, ended September 30, Westport-based Terex reported sales of USD1.58 billion for its aerial work platforms segment, including its European telehandler business. Terex has appointed Tim Ford as president of Terex Aerial Work Platforms. He succeeds Robert R Wilkerson, who continues as Terex executive vice president and chief change officer. Under changes that were effective from October 15, JLG amended severance and corporate change-in-control arrangements with its executive officers. JLG CEO Bill Lasky will now receive three times his annual compensation ― rather than the previous two times ― if there is an involuntary termination of employment without cause or a voluntary termination for good reason. Key JLG executives Craig Paylor, Thomas Singer, James Woodward and Peter Bonafede Jr would receive two times annual compensation ― rather than one time ― under comparable termination scenarios. Four other executives would be eligible for two times annual compensation, according to JLG’s filing with the US Securities & Exchange Commission.  BT keeps diaries of 40 forklifts in 18 countries MJÖLBY, Sweden By Christine Liew In a clever marketing ploy, Swedish forklift manufacturer BT has dispatched 40 LHM230 hand pallet trucks to 18 European countries to work free for new and existing customers. The project, known as Lifter Diaries, is the brainchild of Mjölby–based, BT Europe’s marketing support manager Michael Utterström and Tony Light from UK-based Kingsdown Marketing. Utterström said: “Promoting the BT hand truck is a bit of a challenge. Many end users seem to attach very little attention to hand pallet trucks and it can be hard to deliver a strong message that will be fully understood. “At the same time, the BT product has exceptional qualities and its overall cost efficiencies cannot be ignored, with a BT truck potentially having a lifespan several times longer than other products.” The Lifter Diaries was conceived to “make a hand truck promotion interesting and different”. Each lifter, as BT’s hand pallet trucks are known, will be moved to a new customer’s work site after three months. A work report detailing user experiences and the lifter’s “activities and achievements” will be compiled by BT representatives and put on the BT website, www.bt-forklifts.com/lifterdiaries. The lifters have been given names and are fitted with silver-finish tow bars instead of the usual black. Working in countries that include Italy, Germany, Ukraine and Romania, they have sticker labels on their tow bars, bearing their names and their countries’ flags. A lifter named Ringo is working for the Ringoot vegetable and fruit distribution market in Belgium, while Oscar is working for French fine chocolatier Jeff de Bruges. Ercole is working in GIVC SpA’s vineyard in northern Italy. BT sales companies in the 18 countries named the trucks individually, drawing inspiration from Nordic mythology, the Vikings and common human names in each country. The sales companies chose participants for the project. Some were new customers who were not using BT lifters and some were existing customers. Participants use the truck for free during the Lifter Diaries period. The first work reports will be posted early in 2007. Full details of the Lifter Diaries fleet and a video clip showing the start of the project are on the website. In 2005, BT provided a lifetime guarantee for its hand pallet truck’s fork frame. With the new project, BT emphasised its belief in the longevity of the truck. “The very nature of the promotion shouts out ‘we have a great product that will last a very long time’,” Utterström said. BT produced its first hand pallet truck in 1947. Modifications over the years include changes from mechanical to hydraulic lifting mechanisms and foot pump to tow bar pump lifting function, a quicker lift, a new polymer handle, greasable bushings for “improved serviceability” and an overload valve, which prevents lifting above the rated capacity. This year, BT started producing the HPT truck, which it claims has the world’s most durable high-performance pump unit (Forkliftaction.com News #283). In 2005, it released the LHM200SC, a hand pallet truck with a weighing scale. In 2004, it launched the Pro Lifter M motorised hand pallet truck and, in 2003, the Pro Lifter.  Forkliftaction.com goes to the Netherlands! Stephen Burford and Ann Hofmans will represent FLA at Logistica in Utrecht, Netherlands, 14th to 18th November. We will be easily recognised in our bright orange shirts. Contact us for a meeting with Stephen and Ann. English, Dutch, French and German spoken. Forkliftaction.com can assist you with: Contact us for an appointment in Utrecht: write to info@forkliftaction.com   Airtrax names Robert Watson as CEO BLACKWOOD, NJ, United States Airtrax Inc has appointed Robert M Watson as CEO, president and a director from November 1. The move aims to stabilise the developer of omni-directional vehicle wheel technology. Blackwood-based Airtrax’s stock trades publicly as an over-the-counter bulletin board issue. Airtrax founder, technology advocate Peter L Amico Sr, died of natural causes at his Hammonton, New Jersey, home on August 25 (Forkliftaction.com News #275). Watson, a corporate restructuring veteran, was previously president and CEO of clothing manufacturer Hartz & Company from 2001 until October 2006. Hartz has two production facilities in the United States and sales & marketing offices in New York City. Nicholas E Fenelli, who had served since August on an interim basis as Airtrax CEO and chief financial officer, remains with the company as chief operations officer. Airtrax is recruiting a new CFO. On August 31, the Airtrax board elected director Andrew G Guzzetti to succeed Amico as chairman. Guzzetti is managing director of the private equity group at investment bank and retail brokerage McGinn Smith and Co Inc, of Albany, New York. Airtrax’s modular, omni-directional system allows vehicle wheels to move in lateral, diagonal and rotational directions. Airtrax introduced the technology on its ATX-3000 Sidewinder forklift product line. Market and funding challenges and problems in Europe have negatively impacted on Airtrax’s manufacturing and marketing capabilities, an Airtrax statement said. Airtrax expected to write off another USD1 million in partially secured loans to FiLCO GmbH, of Mulheim, Germany, for the quarter that ended on September 30, after writing off about USD5.5 million in loans to FiLCO as of June 30, the statement said. Airtrax had intended to acquire FiLCO, a forklift manufacturer, but terminated a 2004 purchase agreement in February after FiLCO filed an insolvency petition in January. Airtrax’s statement said a new strategic plan focused on “higher margin technology applications that meet the specific and unique demands of military and commercial markets”. A new Airtrax marketing plan would increase consumer awareness by communicating the key benefits of its patented omni-directional technology, the statement said. Briefs Mitsubishi adds AC to platform pallet truck READING, United Kingdom Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks’ new PBV20-25N(H) platform pallet truck series includes AC technology. The series consists of a standard PBV20N model and a heavy duty PBV25NH. The PBV20N was useful for transferring pallets for distances of more than 50 metres and the PBV25NH was designed for intensive use over longer distances with heavier loads, a Mitsubishi statement said. Raymond updates 7000 series forklift GREENE, NY, United States Raymond Corp has updated its 7000 series Reach-Fork trucks with higher lift heights and heavier load capacities. The 7420 model lifts up to 421 inches (1,069.34cm), has a 4,500lb (2,401.2kg) capacity and a 3,200lb (1,451.5kg) double deep reach capacity. The 7440 model has a maximum lift height of 441 inches (1,128cm), a 4,500lb (2,401.2kg) capacity and a 3,200lb (1,451.5kg) double deep reach capacity. A Raymond spokesperson said the forklifts’ lift height had increased 20 per cent and load capacity 27 per cent from the original series, introduced in March 2004. He said the forklifts would be available in North America, Australia, “portions of Central and South America, the Middle-East, and some Pacific rim nations”. Cat Lift Trucks introduces new walkie series HOUSTON, TX, United States Cat Lift Trucks has introduced the WR6000-WR8000 series of AC-powered rider walkie forklifts. The series has two models with capacities of 6,000lbs (2,721.6kg) and 8,000lbs (3,628.7kg). Users can walk behind the forklift or ride on its platform. The walkie has a “rugged torque-resistant frame and custom-fitted fork lengths”, a Cat Lift Trucks statement said. JLG ships Cat-branded telehandlers to US McCONNELLSBURG, PA, United States JLG Industries Inc started shipping Caterpillar-branded TL series telehandlers to Cat dealers in North America and Latin America on October 25, ahead of its November deadline (Forkliftaction.com News #263). JLG president and CEO Bill Lasky said he was pleased shipment of the Cat TL series to all global markets was ahead of schedule. The TL telehandlers were shipped to European, African, Middle-Eastern and Asia-Pacific markets in July. Search 8139 listings in the MarketplaceSample of used equipment for sale:
and thousands more... Click here to include your used forklifts, stackers, telehandlers, container handlers, attachments etc.  Gottwald supplies Hamburg’s biggest crane DÜSSELDORF, Germany Gottwald Port Technology has supplied the Port of Hamburg with its largest mobile harbour crane. The G HMK 7608, working at a terminal owned by C. Steinweg GmbH & Co KG, was the first of Gottwald’s new generation five series harbour cranes to be delivered in Germany. The crane was launched in the northern hemisphere’s spring. C. Steinweg bought the crane as part of a EUR3.5 million (USD4.47 million) plan to expand the terminal. “The new mobile harbour crane means we nearly double capacity,” C Steinweg managing director Ulf Boll said. The crane, which has a lifting capacity of up to 150 tonnes, would be used to lift turbines and pressure tanks. It is equipped with a four-rope hoist and a diesel-generator with an output of 895kW. Its maximum hoisting speed is 100 metres a minute. Gottwald, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, has received orders for more than 20 of the new cranes. Gottwald, based in Düsseldorf, Germany, produces mobile harbour cranes, automated guided vehicles, automated stacking cranes and wide span gantries. About 800 people work in Düsseldorf. A member of Demag Cranes AG, Gottwald’s turnover for the 2004/05 fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, was EUR237.1 million (USD302.8 million). JCB relatives conquer mountain for asthma ROCESTER, United Kingdom Two JCB employees have scaled Africa’s highest mountain to raise more than GBP10,500 (USD20,045.50) for a UK asthma charity. Chris Dolman, 55, who works for JCB Service at the JCB World Parts Centre, in Uttoxeter, UK, and his nephew, Gavin Dolman, 24, who works temporarily at JCB’s global headquarters in Rocester, UK, completed a nine-day trek to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro. The duo reached the peak, 19,335 feet (5,893.3 metres) above sea level, after enduring 12-hour night walks and extreme changes in temperatures. Temperatures were at the mountain’s base but minus 15 degrees Celsius at the top. The Dolmans raised nearly GBP10,600 (USD20,236.40) for Asthma UK, aided by a GBP250 (USD477.28) donation from JCB and GBP900 (USD1,718.19) raised at a charity evening at JCB’s Lakeside Club. JCB donated GBP500 (USD954.55) of JCB-branded products, some of which was clothing won by the party on the trek, and some raffled for the charity. The expedition was launched when Asthma UK asked Gavin Dolman for help with fundraising. Gavin was working as a paediatric nurse at the Queen’s Hospital in Burton-on-Trent at the time. Chris’s brother Wilf, 58, and Gavin’s father, Lawrence, 56, joined the duo during the expedition. In September, another JCB employee, Derek Truby, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise more than GBP1,000 (USD1,909.10) for a UK hospice (Forkliftaction.com News #275).  Put Forkliftaction.com in your local advertising plan.  Do you only sell your products in local market(s)? Do you only do business locally? All advertisements in this newsletter can be set to only reach the readers in the countries and states of your business market. "Quick action ads", local promotions, corporate press releases, product show cases, banners and skyscrapers ... : we can tailor your advertising campaign to your local market and budget Want to find out more? Write to info@forkliftaction.com, phone +61 7 3369 9090, or fax +61 7 3369 9096. Visit www.forkliftaction.com, the biggest materials handling industry portal on the web. Forklift helps quench toilet paper flames MIAMI, FL, United States Firefighters in southeastern Florida used a forklift to help extinguish a fire caused by a giant toilet paper roll. The Associated Press reported Miami-Dade County firefighters received a call about a building fire last week. They arrived at the scene to find a 1,000lb toilet paper roll on fire, in the back of a semitrailer. A forklift was used to remove the roll before firefighters put out the fire.
Safety professionals call for national safety body MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia Australia’s national association of safety professionals, the Safety Institute of Australia (SIA), wants a single national body to be responsible for workplace safety. In a statement, the SIA called on governments to “stop playing games” and move towards “consistent occupational health and safety legislation”. An SIA survey found 88 per cent of safety professionals supported a single federal system. There are currently eight separate, state or territory-run workplace safety entities in Australia, plus safety consultancies. The Australian Safety & Compensation Council (ASCC) is a Federal Government initiative that aims to “harmonise” national OHS standards. Victoria and Western Australia are the only states that issue web-based warnings for forklift operators to remain strapped in their forklifts during rollovers. ( SIA Victoria president Phil Lovelock said various state and territory regimes “stymied efforts by employers and safety suppliers to improve workplace safety”. “There is simply no need for the extra red tape that so many sets of codes of practice and regulations bring.” The SIA statement said state premiers and territory chief ministers met last week and agreed to “work towards harmonisation of state OHS laws”. However, Lovelock said talks had begun more than a decade ago and he was not optimistic. “The ASCC, which replaced the National Occupational Health & Safety Council, has now taken up the challenge but while you have stunts like walkouts by the states, we’re not hopeful that they’re truly committed to change,” he said. An SIA safety report will be released at the Safety in Action conference in March 2007 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Melbourne-based SIA has about 1,800 Australian members. Battery electrics win favour in Australia SYDNEY, NSW, Australia Privately owned Australian forklift hire and sales company Lencrow Group has been appointed as exclusive Australian distributor of the Carer range of one tonne to 25-tonne battery electric forklifts. Lencrow Group, based in Sydney, has offices in Melbourne and Brisbane, and agents in South Australia. Lencrow managing director Ross Grassick said he had been dubious about electric forklifts but now thought they were “incredible”. “Australia is an IC [internal combustion] country but, after 30 years in the forklift industry, I have seen how battery-electrics can actually perform, and I think the duty cycles are incredible,” he said. “Some European customers are saying the electrics have a 13-hour duty cycle. I’m unsure about that, but what I have seen is that savings in fuel and running costs are indisputable.” Italian electric forklift manufacturer Carer snc is based in Cotignola, northern Italy, and has 46 electric models. The forklifts aimed to “carry out exactly the same tasks as internal combustion engine forklifts and provide users with exactly the same productivity - but at significantly lower running costs”, a Carer statement said. It said Carer exported 40 per cent of its forklift range to Europe, the US and Australasia and claimed to enjoy a 30 per cent share of the Italian heavy duty forklift market. Grassick said end users were “impressed” with Carer forklifts’ energy capacity. “Bavarian Beer has 1.8-tonne Carer models running up and down ramps and most of them have air-conditioned cabins.” The Carer range includes one tonne to 16-tonne production models and 16-tonne to 25-tonne special orders. Grassick said Lencrow dealt directly with Carer’s Italian engineers for machine-based Australian customer requirements. “If a customer needs the chassis to be three inches longer, for example, we contact the Italian factory,” he said. Australian distributor for JCB telehandlers MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia Australian materials handling and construction equipment distributor Construction Equipment Australia (CEA) is the Australian distributor of British-made JCB Loadall telescopic handlers. CEA has six Australian branches in Melbourne (head office), Sydney, Brisbane, Mackay, Adelaide and Perth, and sub dealers in Launceston, Townsville and Cairns. CEA general manager sales Mark Pollock said the telehandler range included compact and larger models with lift heights between four metres and 17 metres. Pollock said the Loadall cooling package was suited to hot, humid Australian conditions. “Models are available with a reverse fan system that allows the operator to switch the fan direction temporarily from the cab, clearing the intake screen for optimum cooling performance.” UK-based JCB will soon produce the 506 and 508 Loadall telescopic handlers at its new North American headquarters in Savannah, Georgia. JCB celebrated its 61st birthday on October 23. Its birthday was marked by a visit from the Duke of Kent who presented JCB Earthmovers a Queen’s Award for the international trade category. In a speech during the award presentation ceremony, the Duke of Kent said JCB had a unique record having won 18 Queen’s Awards. JCB’s telehandler business, JCB Loadalls, won two Queen’s Awards for export achievement in 1984 and 1996.  Send this newsletter to an associate
B&B leads the world in used equipment sales B&B Attachments, the largest supplier of refurbished attachments in the UK and Ireland is expanding its used equipment sales with over 500 refurbished attachments available for distribution in the UK and throughout the rest of the world. Earlier this year, B&B Attachments made a major investment in additional resources for its Cramlington facility to reflect the growth in sales of refurbished attachments. The company doubled the amount of storage allocated to this product sector and expanded its workshop capacity by a hundred percent to enable it to quickly and efficiently refurbish clamps ready to provide a fast response time to customers. Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. 4th Philippine Ports and Shipping 2007 Philippines Exhibition and Conference To understand the substantial commercial opportunities currently presented in The Philippines, you are invited to participate in the biennial 4th Philippine Ports and Shipping 2007 Manila Exhibition and Conference – now in its 4th successful year - taking place at the luxurious 5 star The Peninsula Hotel Manila. This event is today the largest biennial Container Ports and Terminal Operations Exhibition and Conference in The Philippines every 2 years. Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. 
Telehandler and rough-terrain forklift sales predicted to slow in 2007 MILWAUKEE, WI, United States The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) predicts growth in global construction markets will slow in 2007. Sales for the lifting equipment category are expected to gain 32 per cent by end of 2006 for the US, 28.5 per cent for Canada and 13.8 per cent for other world markets. In 2007, sales are expected to increase 10.4 per cent in North America and 12.3 per cent for other world markets. Click here for the full Fork Talk feature, including pictures.
Dave Hoover: Forklift training - prepare in advance and do it correctly NEWARK, OH, United States Some trainers feel they don’t need to look at the forklifts and applications since they have a “super program” that is one size fits all. I have seen companies and trainers who have not changed their programs at all in more than 10 years. OSHA has made its stance clear, that type of training would be non-compliant. Click here for the full Safety First feature, including pictures. |
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