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Dear reader, WELCOME TO FORKLIFTACTION.COM, MATERIALS HANDLING ONLINE. This is issue #340 - 13 December 2007 of the weekly newsletter for industry professionals. |
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 “Pon buys Forklifts Inc.” |
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Jungheinrich builds new forklift plant  HAMBURG, Germany Jungheinrich AG is increasing forklift production output with the construction of a 15,000 m² (161,458 sq ft) facility in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, to be completed in 2009. Jungheinrich has three manufacturing plants in Gemany – Norderstedt, Moosburg and Lüneburg. The forklift manufacturer wants to shift electric low-platform forklift production from Norderstedt to the new plant in Landsberg. This will free up space in Norderstedt and increase production output for Jungheinrich’s electric high-platform forklifts, reach trucks and forklift components. Project director Marc Ehrmann says the global electric low-platform forklift market is expected to grow at an average rate of 8% per annum for the next few years. Several factors contributed to Jungheinrich selecting the Leipzig region for the new plant’s location. Not least is the area’s good transport infrastructure including motorway access, train connections and Leipzig Airport. Ehrmann also praises the commitment of state and local policymakers to the project. “There was intense support by the investing and marketing organisation of the Saxony-Anhalt government – very good co-ordination of all competent authorities of the state and city. At no time did they keep us waiting for any information or answers.” The plant, which will start construction in the northern hemisphere’s spring of 2008, will create more than 100 new jobs in Landsberg. The project has an approximate EUR30 million (USD44.1 million) budget. Ehrmann says the Leipzig region was favoured because of its skilled workforce. “We expect to find well-trained manpower [there]. Leipzig has developed into one of the most popular cities in Eastern Germany in the last few years [and] Jungheinrich is an attractive employer.” The head of the new plant hasn’t been chosen and “only a few” employees from Norderstedt including product managers and development engineers will move to Landsberg. The company will recruit new management staff, engineers and technicians. Landsberg’s initial capacity will be 30,000 forklifts annually with opportunity to grow with market demand. The city is about 400km (249 miles) from Norderstedt and Hamburg by autobahn. Jungheinrich undertook an extensive modernisation of the Norderstedt plant from 2005 to 2007. The company’s central spare parts logistics centre for central and northern Europe is located in the Norderstedt site(Forkliftaction.com News #331).  Pon North America acquires Forklifts Inc CINCINNATI, OH, United States Pon North America has bought forklift and aerial lift distributorship Forklifts Inc. Forklifts Inc, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and led by CEO Doug Gibson, is worth USD82 million. It was established in 1955 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. According to a Pon spokesperson, Forklifts Inc grew through a reputation for good customer service, acquisitions and additional equipment lines. Today, Forklifts Inc represents Cat, Linde, Doosan, Clark and Nissan. The company employs 370 people in six facilities and covers the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and part of Delaware. With the acquisition, Pon now consists of five US materials handling companies that have access to the parent organisation’s capital and resources. The companies each retain autonomy in their regions, but share talent, best practice and equipment resources. Equipment Depot of Texas, Equipment Depot of Illinois, Levee Lift and Portman Equipment belong to Pon. The Pon companies collectively employ over 2,000 people and represent over 30 equipment lines covering 12 US states. Combined sales of the companies exceed USD500 million annually. Pon was founded by Dutch family-owned business Pon Holdings in 1987. The US enterprise was set up to pursue consolidation and growth opportunities in the materials handling and contractors’ markets, focusing on sales, rentals and aftermarket services.  NMHG gains trade zone designation in Alabama SULLIGENT, AL, United States The Sulligent, Alabama plant of Nacco Materials Handling Group Inc (NMHG) has gained access to a foreign-trade zone (FTZ) that may allow, among other things, a reduction or elimination of certain duties. The site makes transmission and drive-axle components for forklifts and soon will produce higher volumes. The designation “allows us to globally source components” and “will help us be more competitive on a global basis with what we manufacture there,” says Greg Dawe, vice president for special projects with NMHG’s Americas Division in Greenville, North Carolina. NMHG has worked since spring to obtain the subzone designation, which the US board for FTZs granted on December 7. The board reports to the US Commerce and Treasury departments. NMHG works with other FTZs. The Louisville and Jefferson County Riverport Authority’s zone benefits NMHG’s Berea, Kentucky plant, and the North Carolina Global TransPark Authority’s zone includes NMHG’s Greenville operation. Unrelated to the FTZ designation, the Sulligent factory is expected during 2008 to absorb transmission and drive axle work now being done at NMHG’s Craigavon, Northern Ireland facility. The Craigavon site will utilise freed-up space for other manufacturing tasks. NMHG intends to invest about USD5 million for more equipment and tooling in Sulligent, Dawe says. Existing physical space is sufficient to accommodate the additional work. The Sulligent plant employs around 490 and anticipates gradually adding at least 30 people during the 2008 ramp-up of operations, Dawe says. NMHG, which markets lift trucks under the Hyster, Yale and Sumitomo-Yale brands, is a business of Nacco Industries Inc of Mayfield Heights, Ohio. In October, Nacco said it expected “to reduce purchases of high cost euro- and British pound sterling-denominated materials and components, reduce freight costs, lessen NMHG’s exposure to future currency exchange rate fluctuations, reduce the manufacturing footprint of NMHG Wholesale’s European manufacturing locations and provide additional opportunities to source components from lower-cost countries.” Moving some Craigavon work to Sulligent is part of the restructuring. JLG meets customer concern with ServicePlus centre McCONNELLSBURG, PA, United States JLG Industries Inc has opened a fourth ServicePlus centre for customers in California, Nevada and Arizona, as part of its strategy to profit from its aftermarket business. Kirsten Skyba, vice president for global marketing, says customer feedback influenced the opening of the new centre in Riverside, south of Los Angeles. “Our customers are very concerned with lifecycle costs of their access equipment. As a result, our strategy remains to make aftermarket service, and ServicePlus, an important part of the value we offer our customers.” When JLG opened its third ServicePlus centre in Georgia in 2006, the telehandler manufacturer said it aimed to generate 35% of its consolidated operating profit from its aftermarket business (Forkliftaction.com News #283). The Riverside customer support centre provides equipment service, mobile tech support, parts stocks and used equipment for JLG equipment rental and distribution customers. Customers can also schedule operator, service and product training classes at the centre. The team of 10 factory-trained technicians perform service and repair when rental companies and equipment distributors’ technicians are busy. Skyba says the number of technicians is expected to grow by 500% as business improves. “We’ve been very successful at recruiting trained service technicians in the past because JLG offers a great work environment and compensation package. “That’s the case with Riverside too. We don’t recruit techs from our customers but we look for mechanics that have all the basic mechanical experience and then train them on our products.” CB DeVoy, who has 25 years’ experience in the equipment rental and service industry, is general manager of the Riverside centre. DeVoy reports to JLG global vice president and ServicePlus general manager Joe Dixon. Other JLG ServicePlus centres are in Bedford, Pennsylvania; Houston; and Atlanta. JLG also has service facilities in Europe and Australia, including a reconditioning facility in Tonneins, France.   Check out these featured businesses! The Business Directory is the biggest global directory of businesses active in the Materials Handling industry. Manufacturers of forklift parts, distributors of attachments, dealers of used forklifts, emission filters or electronics, safety consultants and trainers ... in your country or your market abroad: the Business Directory will help you find your new business contact. Have a look at these featured businesses: Australia - Specialists in narrow aisle and very narrow aisle forklifts UK - Fork Protection Equipment USA - manufacturers of cylinders and component parts on 3 continents Taiwan - Parts Manufacturer Australia - The leading independent supplier of replacement forklift spare parts Italy - Equipment Manufacturer USA - Dismantles Forklifts everyday Singapore - Manufacturer Australia - Seller of used and second hand forklifts in Brisbane Netherlands - Forklift Dealer USA - Indiana Dealership Taiwan - Forklift Manufacturer Australia - Manufacturers of revolutionary casters Italy - Container Handler Manufacturer Chile - 70 years a dealer in Chile China - OM Main Distributor Find more businesses in the Business Directory: www.forkliftaction.com/directory Is your company listed? Find it here. For more information about our Business Directory, email info@forkliftaction.com, phone +61 (0)7 3369 9090 or fax +61 (0)7 3369 9096.  Word of mouth creates global buzz for US trainer BLAINE, WA, United States North America-based Ives Training Group is crossing cultures to provide forklift training in China, Japan, Spain and Dubai. The company just completed nine days of forklift and aerial lift operator and ‘train the trainer’ programs in Macau, China. “This is a first for us and we are just over the top about it,” says Rob Vetter, Ives’ technical director and Forkliftaction.com News’ Safety First columnist. “I’d be willing to wager that there are very few, if any, North America-based equipment training providers that have delivered programs in China,” he adds. Vetter explains that a US-based client provided a positive reference for Ives to the company in China. The anonymous Chinese client, a “very prominent [player] in the live entertainment business with extravagant productions worldwide”, ordered five days of operator training on counterbalanced forklifts, aerial boom lifts and scissor lifts. After that, four of the nine attendees joined Ives’ ‘train the trainer’ program covering, among other things, regulations and standards, instructional techniques, communication skills and training and evaluation forms and procedures. Vetter says Ives considered the different training environment in China. “Certainly, we have to do our due diligence on the local regulations, then familiarise ourselves with any cultural issues and, of course, the language barrier. “We didn’t have any issues in China as the attendees were Australian and American, but in Japan, we will be going through an interpreter which is going to be a real challenge.” Ives has been asked by the Chinese client to conduct four more programs in Macau and operator training and ‘train the trainer’ programs in Japan, Dubai and Spain in 2008.  CeMAT India a resounding success BANGALORE, India Indian and overseas exhibitors alike have labelled the inaugural CeMAT India, held at the International Trade Fair for Intralogistics in Bangalore from 4 to 7 December a success. About 150 exhibitors occupied 3,000 square metres of floor space. One-third came from India, about 20% from Germany and the rest were from Italy, Spain and the US. They exhibited forklifts, lifting equipment and cranes, materials handling systems and software systems. German forklift attachment maker Hans H Meyer GmbH took advantage of the event to introduce Meyer India, its new dealer, while Italian company Bolzoni Auramo SpA was looking to increase its local representation. Like other exhibitors Forkliftaction.com News spoke to, Meyer’s Hansjorg Freund observed that the Indian materials handling market is booming. “With our own dealer, Meyer now has established a presence in this important Indian marketplace.” Freund praised the event as “professionally organised”. “The quantity and quality of visitors to the show was very good. Customers could see, touch and feel the Meyer attachments at our stand,” he said. Bolzoni SpA area sales manager Vittorio Lucchini was also impressed with CeMAT India. “It was really worthwhile having a venue that could create for operators of this sector opportunities for entering the market. There is certainly room for European-made quality but time and resources must be invested to exploit the advantages of the booming market.” Lucchini added that the event facilities were comfortable and modern, but complained that poor infrastructure made travelling to and from the exhibition centre difficult. “We should participate in the next CeMAT India, probably through our local dealer, provided the contacts collected lead to a positive conclusion, as I think it will.” Mark Timothy, Linde Heavy Truck Division Ltd’s international product manager, said he was glad Linde had informed its key customer base of the event. “Visitor response on day one was poor, but the following days were good. We learned from visitors that there was a lack of forward advertising of the event.” Ulrich Rüdiger, Kaup GmbH & Co KG’s area manager for India, complained about the absence of exhibitor catalogues but said the company’s stand welcomed many customers. TVH Group representatives Frederik Lempiere and Sanjoy Roychoudhury used the show to develop contacts and receive end-user feedback from OEMs and TVH dealers in north and south India. Click here to read more Manitou enhances aftermarket support with new agreement NORWALK, CT, United States Manitou North America of Waco, Texas has signed an agreement with software solutions provider SmartEquip for its web-based aftermarket services to boost support for its forklift customers. Manitou NA president Serge Bosche told AED newsletter SmartEquip was selected after “rigorous analysis” of the company’s technology and capabilities to provide a beneficial solution for North American dealers and customers. SmartEquip Parts and Service will be integrated into Manitou NA’s Macola software enterprise resource planning system, enabling users to query parts availability and pricing, and to place orders quickly and accurately. Manitou’s business systems in the US and Europe will be connected, allowing dealers to view parts availability from other locations in real time, overcoming time zone issues. SmartEquip’s venture with Manitou marks the company’s entrance into an international market. “In addition to the work we’re doing here in North America, we look forward to making our technology available to more European companies,” Alexander Schuessler, SmartEquip’s CEO said. Manitou NA is part of Ancenis, France-based Manitou Group, a leading manufacturer of all-terrain forklifts. Manitou NA manufactures and distributes masted forklifts, telehandlers, truck-mounted forklifts and masts to customers in the US and Canada. Search 4417 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.  Forklifts used by tea-loving thieves United Kingdom A consignment of 7,000 Tetley tea bags was stolen from a warehouse in Wigan, Greater Manchester. Thieves forced their way into a warehouse on Bankfield Road and used two forklifts to carry out GBP22,500 (USD45,871) worth of tea bags stored there, the UK’s Channel 4 News reported last week. Police are appealing for witnesses. Briefs Yale expands order picker range FLEET, United Kingdom Yale Europe Materials Handling has introduced the MO20 and MO20S models to its AC-powered low-level order picker range. The new models have a 4kW AC traction motor, a CANbus communication system and a dual technology (AC/DC) Combi controller. Manufactured at the Masate plant in Italy, the machines come with electric steering, wider and longer padded operator platforms, high backrests and low-level entry steps. Telehandler theft rising United Kingdom The National Plant and Equipment Register (TER) forecasts a significant rise in telehandler theft for 2007. Based on thefts to date, it predicts 150 telehandlers will be stolen this year, compared to 105 in 2006, Contract Journal reported. TER’s Tim Purbrick says organised crime gangs “clone” many stolen machines to change their identities before selling them as far as Australia, New Zealand and the US. Exxon Mobil partners with Plug Power BEERSHEBA, Israel Exxon Mobil Corp is partnering with Plug Power Inc, QuestAir Technologies and Ben Gurion University’s Blechner Centre to commercialise an on-vehicle hydrogen production system for fuel cell forklifts. Israel-Times reports that Exxon Mobil, QuestAir and the university have worked for seven years to develop the components for the system. Emil Jacobs, Exxon Mobil’s R&D vice president, says the team wants to develop a system that demonstrates significant infrastructure, logistics and cost advantages Bendi gives Euro quicker turnaround times REDDITCH, United Kingdom Logistics services provider Euro Continental has turned to Translift Bendi for a good base to build up the storage side of the business. Euro’s logistics project manager, James Edstrom, says the Bendi articulated forklift not only worked in narrower aisles but handled trailer loads quicker than other forklift types. Established in 1995, Euro is a haulage company with a 60-vehicle fleet operating internationally. In March, Euro vacated its two premises to combine operations under one roof. Previously, it relied on counterbalanced forklifts for block stacking as it had no racking. The company chose narrow aisle racking for its new warehouse and designed it around Bendi’s articulated forklift. Edstrom estimates Bendi saves 30 minutes unloading a 40-foot (12-metre) trailer compared with a two-forklift, double handling operation. The articulated forklift can work on rough yards and on smooth warehouse floors, eliminating the need for a counterbalanced forklift and a warehouse forklift to do the same job. Euro handles around 75 trucks a day, including double-deck trailers and 7.5-tonners, making fast vehicle turnaround time essential. The gas-powered BG 40 Bendi can lift 1,600kg (3,527.4lb) to 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) and work in aisles just over two metres (6.6 feet) wide. Drivers, guided by pick lists, bring pallet loads down from up to six-metre high racks to replenish order picking faces at ground level. Complete loads are taken directly from racking to trucks, helping Euro meet next-day delivery schedules with the time savings. Edstrom likes the Bendi’s side shift and flashing safety beacon, and appreciates the forklift’s load vision when interfacing with racking beams that he says is better than reach trucks and counterbalanced forklifts. Would you like to see more case studies in Forkliftaction.com News? Email the editor.
Port of Brisbane leads eastern seaboard container race BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia The Port of Brisbane has outperformed both Sydney and Melbourne with record container trade. Container trade hit an all-time high of 875,000 20-foot-equivalent units at the port last financial year, surpassing the growth of all east coast capital city port competitors. The Port of Brisbane now holds almost 20% of the east coast container market. Increases in motor vehicle and general retail product imports, metal manufacture exports and timber imports and exports compensated for a decrease in drought-affected agricultural exports. The port's high rates of growth are expected to continue as investment in capital works at the port progresses to meet future demands. This includes construction of a seventh dedicated container berth due for completion in early 2008, construction of a new general purpose berth and terminal area and completion of two new car storage areas, increasing storage capacity to 20,700 cars. Fast facts from the Port of Brisbane Corporation Annual Report 2006-07: GAC opens ship agency offices Australia-wide SYDNEY, NSW, Australia The GAC Group has announced a major expansion plan with the opening of 13 ship agency offices in major ports throughout Australia. The locations include Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Gladstone and Brisbane in Queensland; Sydney (country headquarters), Newcastle and Port Kembla in New South Wales; Melbourne in Victoria; Adelaide in South Australia; and Fremantle, Dampier and Port Hedland in Western Australia. Each office will offer a full range of ship agency and maritime ancillary services. Announcing GAC's latest move from the Sydney headquarters, Christer Sjödoff, GAC Regional Director, Asia Pacific, says that it is the first time in the group's 51-year history that it has launched such a large number of offices in a single country within a span of just two months. "Australia's exports are continuing to grow, especially in the dry bulk and LNG (liquefied natural gas ) sectors. This, in turn, will see a corresponding growth in the number of vessels calling at Australian ports to export these commodities globally. GAC is a major agency for many of these vessel owners and charterers and we want to be here to give our clients the best in shipping services support." Hot forklifts – have you seen them? SYDNEY, NSW, Australia Police in New South Wales are appealing to anyone with information regarding the theft of forklifts from a forklift business in Warren Road, Smithfield (Cnr Cumberland Hwy & Long St ) to contact them urgently. It is believed that the forklifts and other items were stolen on Monday evening this week. The stolen forklifts include: • 1 x SL26 ‘Toyota’ forklift with serial number 7FG25-25573 • 1 x SL26 ‘Toyota’ forklift with serial number 7FG25-29797 • 1 x SL27 ‘Toyota’ forklift with serial number 7FG25-29818 • 1 x SL28 ‘Toyota’ forklift with serial number 7FG25-27073 • 1 x SL2 ‘Toyota’ forklift with serial number 7FG25-22129 • 1 x SL67 ‘Toyota’ forklift with serial number 7FG25-22791 • 1 x SL68 ‘Toyota’ forklift with serial number 7FG25-22816 • 1 x SL20 ‘Hyster’ H2.50 x m/6 with serial number D177B233805 • 1 x ‘Linde’ H30T with serial number H2X393P02558 A witness has been identified as a result of this offence and is assisting police with the investigation. If these forklifts are sighted, or you have any information pertaining to the commission of this offence or whereabouts of these forklifts, please contact Merrylands Detectives on 02 9897 4837 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Babcock & Brown snaps up US port operator Australia Australia’s Babcock & Brown last week added a big port operator in the US to its growing list of shipping interests across the globe, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald. The acquisition of the general cargo operator ICS, based in Jacksonville, Florida, will allow B&B to expand its point-to-point shipping businesses. B&B indicated that it plans to significantly expand the operations of ICS, which has terminals in Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana. The announcement coincided with the Australian group's purchase of a 50% stake in the biggest operator in the port of Rostock, Germany, on the Baltic Sea. The deal with Seehafen Rostock takes the number of B&B 's European port operators to seven after confirmation that last week's deal to buy into a Belgian company, Westerlund Group, was likely to result in it ending up with 100% control rather than below half. That purchase brings with it port operators in Antwerp, Belgium; Rouen, France, and Changshu,China. Call for papers SYDNEY, NSW, Australia The Supply Chain conference to be held in Sydney in April by the Supply Chain & Logistics Association of Australia (SCLAA) in conjunction with MATEX warehouse and materials handling exhibition will focus on "Management and Strategy" and "Back to Basics". The SCLAA is looking for speakers on a broad range of topics: Management & Strategy: Retention Strategies; Skills Shortage Management; Contract Management; Labour Management; Waste Management; Australian Freight Management; IT Management; Global Supply Chains; Carbon Trading; Productivity Benchmarks; Offshoring; OHS and Safety Management; Casualisation of the Workforce; Strategic Procurement; Best Practices and First Choice Employers.. Back to Basics: Recruiting into the Industry - Gen Y & X; Apprenticeship Programs; Warehouse Layout - Material Flow; Pallet Storage; Receiving & Shipping; Battery Care; Forklift Management; OHS Compliance; Substance Abuse & Compliance; Customs Clearance; Tracking & Traceability; Order Picking; Racking & Storage Solutions; Software Selection; Access Systems and Using 3PLs and 4PLs. Please send your Expression of Interest to nsw@sclaa.com.au including a two- to three-paragraph overview on your topic and presentation, a speaker profile and a 300 dpi jpeg photo of the speaker before Friday 21 December.  Send this newsletter to an associate
"Linde PureMotion" – efficient for man, the environment and the company Linde Material Handling provides its customers with unique and easy to handle product solutions for more efficiency. With Linde PureMotion, the company combines its technological expertise for the protection of man and environment in all company areas. The principle of sustainability comes to the fore. Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. 
WWP release its new WP60-13 Click here for more information on this product, including pictures. Smart Impact Sensor (SIS) from SpeedShield makes you look smarter! Click here for more information on this product, including pictures. RAEDER-VOGEL: Special wheel materials for cold store and deep-freeze applications Click here for more information on this product, including pictures. 
When it comes to protection, size does not matter CAERPHILLY, United Kingdom The size of an organisation or business is irrelevant when it comes to looking after employees, says Health and Safety Commission (HSC) chair Judith Hackitt. Click here for the full Fork Talk feature, including pictures. 
Top tips for buying a used forklift by Mark Ward - Barloworld Handling Limited, OXON, United Kingdom The majority of second-hand forklifts are operated by small to medium-sized businesses that either cannot afford or don’t need to buy new. Often, it is left to busy managers to purchase a truck and they are not always experienced in purchasing industrial machinery. By following a few basic rules, however, buyers can avoid the pitfalls and improve their chances of making a great investment. Read more  |
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