Construction attachment “natural extension” for Cascade
FAIRVIEW, OR, United States

Cascade Corp has acquired PSM Corp, a construction attachment manufacturer, based in Woodinville, Washington (Forkliftaction.com News #278).

Andy Anderson, Cascade’s chief financial officer, said the purchase price was about USD40 million before working capital adjustments.

“While PSM’s operating results will be included in our North American operating segment, and not reported separately, we expect the acquisition to add USD20 million to USD30 million in revenue [for 2007].”

PSM designs, manufactures and markets attachments and tools for medium- and heavy-duty construction vehicles used in the infrastructure, demolition, recycling, forestry, utility and general construction markets. PSM employs 120 people.

Cascade CEO Robert Warren said Cascade saw the construction attachment market as a natural extension of the company’s present product line. Cascade manufactures materials handling attachments and forklift tools. Cascade has manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia and its annual sales are about USD450 million.

“Combining Cascade’s and PSM’s knowledge and resources will allow us to better serve existing PSM customers, significantly expand our geographic scope in the Americas, and begin producing construction attachments and tools in China for the Chinese domestic markets,” Warren said.

Anderson said Cascade anticipated a “moderate increase” in 2007 capital expenditure as the company began “expansion activities” in North America and China.

New company distributes Hytsu in US
GERMANTOWN, WI, United States

Two former senior employees of a Caterpillar forklift dealership in Wisconsin have launched a company to distribute Hytsu forklifts in the US.

Bob Lemmer and John Callen have opened Global Products, in Germantown, Wisconsin, to distribute the Chinese forklift brand in all US states, except Hawaii and Alaska, and in Canada on an “as is” basis. Germantown is about 160.9km from Chicago, Illinois.

Lemmer and Callen said the decision to leave secure positions and launch their own business was “very difficult”. They parted amicably from their ex-employer.

“After working in a company, you see the ownership get healthier and wealthier. You are a highly paid employee but you start to think you could do better if you owned a company,” Lemmar said.

Combined, Lemmer and Callen have more than 55 years’ experience in the US forklift industry.

Lemmer, ex-vice president of the forklift dealership, brings business management and finance expertise to Global Products while Callen contributes substantial spare parts management experience.

Global Products’ stockholders include management of Lemmer and Callen’s former employer.

The Wisconsin forklift dealership was a Caterpillar dealer, which became a “2B1C” (two brands one channel) dealer under a Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America program. That prevented the dealership from representing Hytsu, something Lemmer had been investigating since 1999.

“We sold Hytsu hand trucks, but were unable to be a full-line Hytsu dealer after becoming a 2B1C dealer,” Lemmar said.

Consequently, Lemmer launched Global Products with Callen.

Lemmer said Chinese manufacturers would put pressure on US forklift dealers.

“Remember what the Chinese product is. It’s very, very cost competitive. It’s very similar to Japanese forklifts in the 1960s and 1970s.”

Callen said Global Products’ challenge was to promote the durability and reliability of the forklifts to dealers.

“Hytsu forklifts have many of the same components as other forklifts. For example, a Mitsubishi/Caterpillar engine, a ZAPI controller and German steel is used for mast production.”

He said Global Products was working closely with Hytsu on stocking “high mortality” parts in its 2,000 square foot (185.8 square metre) Wisconsin warehouse.

“Some Japanese and Chinese forklift brands failed in the US because they can’t deliver parts within 24-38 hours. Obviously we want to close the gap.” Callen said Global Products would work with forklift parts distributor Systems Material Handling (SMH) to obtain forklift parts.

Global Products’ goal for 2007 is to recruit 10 US dealers and sell 100 forklifts. Lemmer said Global Products would approach Komatsu dealers to add Hytsu’s products to their portfolios.

“Hytsu’s goal [in US] is to equal what Toyota and Nissan have done, in the next 15 years.”

Doosan distributor wins British Airways contract
NORTHHAMPTON, United Kingdom

Doosan Infracore UK distributor Rushlift has won a long-term contract to supply forklifts to the British Airways World Cargo Centre at London’s Heathrow Airport.

Twenty-two electric and one diesel forklifts have been delivered so far to Heathrow. Doosan spokesperson Tony Benson said the contract’s details were confidential but a deal to supply Gatwick Airport was expected to be finalised at the IMHX trade show in Birmingham, on March 13-16.

Benson said all “main suppliers” were invited to tender for the BA contract and three suppliers’ forklifts were trialled.

The B18X electric Doosan forklifts have a continuous watering system in which a de-ionised water reservoir ensured battery electrolyte levels were “optimised”. Battery monitors checked temperature levels and battery life and charger guards eliminated “opportunity charging”, Benson said.

Modifications were made to the driver compartment to accommodate British Airways’ onboard computer system and to the load guards to allow for specialist attachments. A cabin was added to the D25S diesel forklift.

Darren White, Doosan’s UK general sales manager, credited Rushlift for its hard work.

“We experienced record sales in the UK in 2006 and Rushlift is an integral part of that success. We could not think of a more fitting way to begin our new Doosan-branded era.”

Daewoo forklifts were marketed under the Doosan Daewoo name in Europe after Daewoo Heavy Industries & Machinery’s majority shareholding was acquired by Doosan Heavy Industries Inc (Forkliftaction.com News #291) in 2005. The South Korean manufacturer has announced that all forklifts would be badged only as Doosan this year.

Doosan Infracore said in a statement that it had reached its target of a seven per cent UK market share and had achieved more than 1,000 unit sales in 2006. Benson said Doosan’s UK market shares in 2004 and 2005 were estimated at 3.6 per cent and 5.4 per cent respectively.

“Doosan's UK sales have doubled in 5 years and almost quadrupled since 1995. During the same period, the UK market for forklift trucks has held steady at around 14,000 to 17,000 units.”

The UK company was established in 1994 and has 24 regional dealers and a national distribution deal with Rushlift.

Rushlift Mechanical Handling Ltd, established in 1979 by Bill Moody, also supplies Komatsu, Combilift, Still and Atlet forklifts. According to Benson, Rushlift has four depots in the UK, more than 1,500 forklift customers and an annual turnover of GBP28 million (USD54.9 million).

Kalmar to buy forklift hire and service business
STOCKHOLM, Sweden

Kalmar has signed an agreement to buy an industrial sales and service business in northern Sweden.

Kalmar CEO Christer Granskog said the acquisition targeted growth in Sweden and bolstered Kalmar as a full-service provider in wood handling to pulp and paper mills and sawmills. Kalmar said in a statement that it aimed to merge its existing regional organisation with the Swedish company.

Both parties agreed not to disclose the transaction value.

Truck och Maskin i Örnsköldsvik AB, based in the Swedish province of Norrland, was established by Anne Eriksson in 1981. The company employs almost 100 people in sites throughout Norrland. It specialises in long and short-term hire of forklifts and logstackers, with or without drivers, and service contracts for major paper and pulp mills and sawmills. The company has four workshops, two in Örnsköldsvik and one each in Piteå and Kramfors. Annual sales for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2006, were about EUR14 million (USD18.1 million).

The agreement to acquire Truck och Maskin i Örnsköldsvik AB is subject to competition authority approval.

Separately, Kalmar has won an order for 12 E-One rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes from South American terminal operator Santos Brasil S/A. Santos Brasil ordered 7+1 wide and 1-over-6 high units after receiving its current fleet of five Kalmar conventional hydraulic RTGs in early 2006.The order value was not disclosed.

Kalmar has also secured an order from Finnsteve Oy AB to build four ship-to-shore cranes. The cranes will be operational by November 2008 at the Vuosaari Port, in Finland. Finnsteve specialises in handling unitised cargo – containers, trucks and trailers – at the Ports of Helsinki, Kotka and Turku.

Manitou optimistic about 2007 growth
ANCENIS, France

Manitou BF has predicted double-digit growth for 2007 net sales, after announcing a 14.5 per cent increase in consolidated net sales for 2006.

The French rough-terrain specialist achieved 2006 sales of EUR422.9 million (USD547.8 million) in France, EUR540.5 million (USD700.2 million) in other EU countries and EUR164.4 million (USD213.0 million) in other countries. The consolidated net sales figure was EUR1,127 million (USD1,460.0 million), up 14.5 per cent from 2005’s EUR985.0 million (USD1,276.0 million).

A Manitou statement said “recent months” had seen “particularly strong growth” in Germany, the Benelux, Spain, Italy and newcomers to the European Union.

“Outside the EU, the group is enjoying the fruits of efforts it made to speed the rate of its expansion in those countries with strong growth potential.”

Manitou would not elaborate on efforts to promote growth outside the EU.

In the statement, Manitou included “speeding up expansion of the industrial forklift and warehouse truck sectors” as a 2007 objective.

Growth in net sales of about 10 per cent was predicted for 2007.

WorkSafe inspectors to target Port Melbourne
MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia

WorkSafe Victoria will inspect small-to-medium-sized businesses in Port Melbourne on March 5–9 after distributing information packs in the area next week.

A WorkSafe statement said the inspections and packs were part of WorkSafe’s Safer Work Zones campaign which would target forklift safety, employer/employee health & safety, risk management for working at heights, suitability of storage racks, safe storage of chemicals, and tagging and testing of equipment.

WorkSafe executive director John Merritt said improvement or prohibition notices could be issued during the inspections.

The statement said businesses could apply for a WorkSafe-funded, free, three-hour safety audit conducted by an independent consultant by phoning freecall 1800 136 089 or visiting www.worksafe.vic.gov.au.

Linde Gas Australia sold to Wesfarmers
SYDNEY, New South Wales, Australia

Linde Gas Australia, a division of German-based Linde AG, has been sold to Perth-based Wesfarmers Ltd for AUD500 million.

Disposing of Linde Gas Australia was a condition imposed by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission after Linde AG acquired industrial gas company the BOC Group on September 5, 2006.

A Wesfarmers statement said that, under Wesfarmers ownership, Linde Gas would be re-named Coregas Pty Ltd and would operate as a stand-alone business within the Wesfarmers Energy Division.

Wesfarmers Energy managing director Tim Bult said a business integration plan had been developed and would now be implemented.

Linde Gas Australia has operated in Australia for more than 30 years. It is a major competitor in Australia’s industrial gas market. Based in Yennora, Sydney, it has a national network of agents and distributors. It supplies medical, industrial, cutting & welding and specialty gases.

Expand and ‘go global’, says logistics expert
SYDNEY, New South Wales, Australia

An Australian transport and logistics expert says global expansion is pivotal to business success.

Toll Holdings managing director Paul Little said responding to regional and global customer-driven demand would deliver positive outcomes for business.

“To protect your home patch and grow your customer base, it is essential to move into new markets when asked by clients. For Toll, acquisition growth remains high on the agenda in Australia, New Zealand and particularly Asia, as is a view to expand the company’s Asian scale and capability,” he said.

“One of Toll’s motivations in establishing an Asian capability is to service its Australian customers for movements into or out of Asia. We clearly understood that if we didn’t take up the challenge, there were many global operators who would jump at the opportunity.”

Little said speed to market and technology were also important.

“For improved supply chain efficiencies in the next five to 10 years, transport and logistics service providers should concentrate on speed and frequency to market, use of smart technology, managing escalating fuel costs, creating global reach and the trend towards direct purchasing,” he said.

Little will speak on the impact of expansion, particularly into Asia, at the Australian Logistics Council Annual Forum 2007, The Globalisation of Logistics, on Thursday February 15 at Sea World Resort, on the Gold Coast.

Union can’t probe fatal forklift incident
MT ISA, Queensland, Australia

The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) has been prevented from investigating a fatal forklift incident at a north Queensland mine.

A man, 19, was killed 350 metres underground after a basket fell from a forklift on December 15, 2006, at BHP Billiton’s Cannington Mine, near Mt Isa.

Responding to an AWU written request to investigate the incident, BHP said “we do not believe anything can be usefully added”, an AWU statement said.

AWU national president and Queensland secretary Bill Ludwig said the union was unable to gain access to the site, due to WorkChoices legislation that restricted the ability of unions to investigate health and safety risks at workplaces.

"It is now easier for people to visit David Hicks at Guantanamo Bay, than for unions to meet their members in the workplace to make sure they are safe at work," he said.

A Queensland Government Department of Mines & Energy spokesperson would not comment on the union’s capacity to investigate the fatality and said the Police and the Mines Inspectorate were investigating.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.  It is important not to prejudice a Police and Mines Inspectorate investigation that will ultimately come before the coroner,” he said.

“This is about the tragic loss of a young man’s life. It is important to identify what went wrong and to find out not only how it happened, but why it happened.”

Ludwig said the AWU would meet Queensland’s Mines & Energy Minister Geoff Wilson to discuss “the next steps in forcing BHP to clean up [its] act and look after the safety of workers”.

A Queensland Workplace Health & Safety (WHSQ) spokesperson said WHSQ, a division of the Queensland Government’s Department of Industrial Relations, did not have jurisdiction for mine safety in Queensland.

4th Philippine Ports and Shipping 2007 Philippines Exhibition and Conference

Hosted by Philippine Port Authority, Endorsed by the Department of Transportation and Communications, The Peninsula Manila, Philippines,
Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 February 2007

Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures.

Watts Tyres expands US operation with new acquisition

Watts Tyres Plc has today announced the purchase of Diprima’s Industrial Tire Business, after reaching an agreement with Diprima Marketing Services Inc,

This latest acquisition, combined with the existing Watts facility in Valley City Ohio, gives the firm a strategic position in both the north and south of the US, putting it on track to achieve its ambitious growth plans.

Jean-Paul Mindermann, Chief Executive for Watts Tyres Plc comments: " We have established a strong partnership with Diprima over the years, and this acquisition gives both parties the opportunity to concentrate on their core businesses.  It will enable us to strengthen...

Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures.

5th Intermodal Africa 2007 South Africa exhibition and conference

Hosted By The National Ports Authority of South Africa
International Convention Centre, Durban
Thursday 29 and Friday 30 March 2007

Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures.

RAEDER-VOGEL – innovative high-quality wheels and castors for the forklift industry

More than 60 years of experience as a manufacturer of wheels and castors in Germany and more than 30 years of experience as a manufacturer of VULKOLLAN® wheels and castors have made us one of the leading suppliers of wheels for the forklift and materials handling industry worldwide.

Click here for more information on this product, including pictures.

Organisations promote miner safety
MILWAUKEE, WI, United States

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) have teamed up to improve miner health and safety.

Click here for the full Fork Talk feature, including pictures.

• Past newsletters
• Search news archive
• Forklift jobs database

• Used forklift marketplace
• Forklift Spec-Checker
... much more online!