Send this newsletter to an associate
 | | | A few stories this week pull attention away from the financial woes and towards a perennial issue – safety. Columnist Danny Maron highlights the need for hands-on training, while a couple of stories show that some employers continue to ignore safety issues – at their peril. And, on a lighter note, we report on the first-ever forklift rodeo in Portugal, a country better known for bullfights and bull wrangling. Nonetheless, inspired by the USA Open Forklift Rodeo supported by Forkliftaction.com, the Portuguese event was a huge success and may mark the start of a broader international contest. As they say, watch this space … |
|
 | |
Bolzoni “financially sound” to weather the storm 
Piacenza, Italy | European forklift attachment maker Bolzoni SpA has announced that its net profit for the financial year ended 31 December 2008 has more than halved from the previous year due to the global economic downturn, high prices of raw materials and unfavourable exchange rates.
The company, that is listed on the Italian stock exchange, made a net profit of EUR3.1 million (USD4.1 million) compared to EUR6.7 million (USD8.8 million) the previous year. Consolidated turnover for 2008 was EUR141.1 million (USD185.2 million), 3.1% lower than 2007’s EUR145.6 million (USD191.1 million). Bolzoni says sales shrank, especially in the second half of the year, reflecting the “bad macroeconomic scenario worldwide”.
The unfavourable exchange rates of the Euro to US dollar during the first seven months of the year and the Euro to British pound in the final quarter of the year affected Bolzoni’s margin levels. EBITDA for 2008 was EUR14.4 million (USD18.9 million) compared to 2007’s EUR17.8 million (USD23.4 million).
On a positive note, Bolzoni’s net financial indebtedness dropped from 2007’s EUR25.9 million (USD34.0 million) to EUR24.9 million (USD32.7 million) at the end of 2008.
Company chairman Emilio Bolzoni says the fact that Bolzoni has a low level of indebtedness shows that it is financially sound and will weather the current global economic uncertainty well.
CEO Roberto Scotti adds that Bolzoni has adopted measures to maintain the company’s financial health, which will be reflected in the financial results of 2009’s second quarter.
The 2008 financial results were approved by Bolzoni shareholders during the general meeting this month. At the meeting, shareholders also approved the board of directors, with Emilio Bolzoni as chairman of the board and managing director, and Roberto Scotti remaining as CEO. |  |
| | OSHA cites F&B for forklift, safety violations
New Bedford, MA, United States | The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is alleging 34 violations at the New Bedford plant of F&B Rubberized Inc and has proposed fines of USD44,250.
It is alleged the rubber products manufacturer was employing an unidentified number of forklift operators without training, using forklifts emitting excessive carbon monoxide levels and operating units with missing or illegible data plates.
Other serious violations include locked exits, obstructed exit access and an unmarked exit, lack of welding screens and personal protective equipment for welders and exposed live electrical parts.
“These citations address a cross-section of manufacturing-related safety and health hazards that need to be addressed effectively and continuously to prevent injuries and illnesses, and ensure the health and safety of the workers at this plant,” says Brenda Gordon, OSHA’s area director for Boston and southeastern Massachusetts.
F&B was formed in the early 1970s to use tyre rubber in die-cut forms. The firm provides a variety of rollers, chaffing gear and other wear-susceptible replacement components to various customers including those in the fishing industry.
“There were at least three forklift trucks that emitted carbon monoxide levels above 50 parts per million (ppm), OSHA’s permissible exposure limit,” says a citation for a serious violation.
One Nissan forklift was emitting 1,535 ppm. OSHA says 1,200 ppm is “the level that is immediately dangerous to life and health”. Another was not equipped with a data plate, and a third Nissan and a Toyota forklift “were equipped with data plates that were not legible,” according to a citation.
Other than the inspections initiated in November 2008, F&B had not been subject to OSHA inspection or regulatory action in the past five years, according to Edmund Fitzgerald, deputy regional OSHA director.
OSHA issued the citations on 15 April. From receipt of the actions, F&B has 15 business days to comply, request an informal conference or contest the citations and proposed penalties before an independent review commission.
OSHA is an agency of the US Department of Labour. | |
| | Fulfillment firm buys Jungheinrich forklifts
Leetsdale, PA, United States | Rapid Fulfillment Inc has replaced four propane forklifts with four Jungheinrich counterbalanced three-phase AC electric units, each with a lifting capacity of 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg).
The third-party order fulfillment and marketing distribution company ordered the new equipment in December, put the Jungheinrich EFG220 models into operation in February and, subsequently, sold the propane-powered forklifts locally, says Dan Coll, owner and president. H&K Equipment Company of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania was the Jungheinrich distributor for the order.
Based in Leetsdale near Pittsburgh, Rapid Fulfillment employs 12 people on a full-time basis and up to 40 others in temporary roles relating to the firm’s focus on point-of-purchase, e-commerce and marketing distribution services.
“After extensive research, the decision to purchase Jungheinrich electric forklifts made the most sense from both an environmental and maintenance standpoint,” Coll reports. The transition to battery-powered forklifts furthers “our ‘green’ efforts and continuous efforts to pioneer ‘green’ initiatives throughout our industry”.
Jungheinrich notes the latest generation of AC technology in forklifts provides for low energy consumption as a result of optimized efficiency and energy recovery, minimal service costs due to the reduction of mechanical and hydraulic components, and efficient electric steering. | |
| | Kalmar adapts forklifts for fertiliser manufacturer
Stockholm, Sweden | Kalmar has received an order for 16 specially adapted Kalmar DCE100 heavy-duty forklifts from GrowHow UK Ltd, a UK fertiliser manufacturer and process chemicals supplier.
To keep pace with production and delivery, GrowHow’s forklift operators handle six bags of fertiliser, each weighing around 600kgs (1,323lbs), at an extended load centre of 1.8 metres (5.9 feet), at a time. The bags also need to be stacked four-high, presenting a unique challenge for Kalmar.
Kalmar area sales manager Steve James explains: “The drivers need to accurately position the forks into the lifting points on the bags. But when stacking above the first level, the fork pockets on the bags are out of view when using a standard forklift. The solution was to develop an elevating cab so the drivers can continue to look down onto the fork tips even when the mast is fully raised.”
The customised cab allows operators to elevate the cab by an additional 1.9 metres (6.2 feet), bringing its maximum height to just over 5 metres (16.4 feet). Kalmar’s site survey determined that to be the optimum position for visibility.
For enhanced health and safety, each forklift is equipped with a camera and monitor inside that allows the operator to see that there are no obstructions on the underside of the cab, should he or she want to lower the cab’s position. Longer forks were also developed with visible markings so operators can see the ideal position for lifting six bags of fertiliser at one go. The forklifts have 10-tonne capacities.
Kalmar claims the DCE range is highly fuel-efficient and presents lower running costs over the forklift’s lifetime. This is due partly to the CAN-bus electronic control system that allows the forklift’s operating parameters to be adjusted to suit the site.
A Kalmar option, the Optidrive system, automatically maintains engine revs at the optimum level and controls gear changes to ensure that the right amount of power is delivered to the transmission or hydraulic functions depending on travel and lifting speeds. This contributes to fuel savings, Kalmar says.
Ed Sharp, GrowHow’s production manager, says good customer service played a key role in awarding Kalmar the contract.
“Whilst we had to be sure that the trucks were up to the task, it was vitally important to us that we had a sound working relationship. Kalmar’s clear understanding of our needs coupled with their professional approach was a significant deciding factor,” he says.
Neither party will disclose the value of the order.
GrowHow was established at the end of 2007, following the merger of the UK activities of Yara International ASA and Terra Industries Inc. GrowHow’s Ince manufacturing site was established in 1965 and employs about 400 people. It occupies 55 hectares (136 acres) and produces around a million tonnes of fertiliser each year, supplying key market sectors of grass and arable farming. | |
 | | Publish your media release in Forkliftaction.com News | Forkliftaction.com news reaches over 150,000 mail boxes every week. This makes it the biggest materials handling publication. Forkliftaction.com’s online industry centre serves over 4,000,000 page views per month (+9,000,000 hits).
Take advantage of this wide audience to advertise your products or to strengthen your brand.
Forkliftaction.com offers an exciting range of opportunities, catering for both international and local advertising campaigns.
From media releases, product profiles, to display ads (banners): your advertisements can feature on our web pages as well as in the newsletter.
We can tailor a campaign that meets your objectives and budget. We provide web statistics, audience profiles and advertising schedules. You’ll find our products very competitive with print and internet equivalents.
Ask us about our special "Keep Going" packages and ensure your return on investment in your advertising.
For more information or a no obligation quote, email marketing@forkliftaction.com, phone +61 7 3369 9090 or fax +61 7 3369 9096. |  |
| | Forklift Rodeo crosses Atlantic
Springfield, OH, United States | Organisers of the inaugural Portuguese forklift rodeo are attempting to send their winning team to compete in the USA Open and have invited their US counterparts to send a team to their 2010 championships.
According to USA Open committee members, Forkliftaction.com’s coverage of the Ohio event inspired the launch event in Portugal.
Portuguese organiser António Oliveira of Inovergo describes the event as “a huge success”.
The event was won by a team from beverage company Sumol/Compal, trained by Oliveira’s company.
The competition attracted 53 competitors from nine companies, organised into 24 teams of two.
“Everything went smoothly, on time, no crisis, everybody happy and smiling,” says Oliveira.
The rodeo consisted of four tasks: a Basket Slalom, a Four Square, a Circle and the Hot Shot.
Oliveira says he is now looking for funding to get the winning team over to the US to compete in next year’s Ohio event.
Meanwhile, event founder Dick Higgins is assisting Matt McQuillan at Atlantic Lift in Baltimore, Maryland in conjunction with the Chesapeake Region Safety Council to organise a similar rodeo in a few months’ time.
“Dick is also planning to travel to Baltimore to see how they go and assist, and is preparing to study both Portugal and Baltimore Rodeos to learn more about running an international event,” says McQuillan. | |
| | Employers in Asia cut HR-related costs
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong | According to a survey of multinational corporations in Asia, hiring expectations for the second quarter of 2009 are continuing to fall and many employers are implementing HR-related cost-cutting measures.
The newly-released Hudson Report says China has the highest hiring expectations for the second quarter (Q2) of 2009, with 30% forecasting headcount growth, but the proportion of respondents expecting to cut staff has risen from 8% in Q1 of 2009 to 21% this quarter.
Meanwhile, hiring expectations in Hong Kong are the lowest since The Hudson Report began in 1998, having fallen to 14% this quarter.
Japan reports the steepest decline in hiring expectations compared to the previous quarter. Twenty-two per cent expect to increase hiring, down from 31% in Q1 2009.
Expectations in Singapore are falling, but not as sharply as in recent quarters – 20% say they will grow headcount in this quarter compared to 23% in Q1 2009.
About half of the employers surveyed in the four markets have cut HR-related costs in the last six months. Reducing headcount is the most widely implemented cost-cutting initiative, followed by lower bonus payments.
Employers continue to use a range of channels to recruit staff, with recruitment consultancies widely used across all markets.
Companies in all four markets are taking measures to maintain staff morale in the challenging economic conditions, with open communication between management and staff, and reinforcement messages from the CEO or senior management being the most popular.
The Hudson Report is a quarterly survey of forward-looking employer hiring expectations. In the latest report for Asia - Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and China (Beijing and Shanghai) - about 3,000 decision makers from multinational organisations in all major industry sectors were surveyed in February.
The report establishes itself as a key business and economic indicator based on the premise that employer hiring expectations reflect employers’ confidence in their markets.
For more information on the report, visit www.hudson.com or email hkresume@hudson.com. | |
| | Slowdown shorts UK battery maker
Bolton, United Kingdom | Blaming the global slowdown, Britain’s leading producer of traction batteries, CMP Batteries, looks set to close its Bolton battery factory, leading to 400 job losses. Better known to older generations as Chloride, the Bolton plant has been producing forklift batteries for over 30 years and its likely closure in the summer will come as a shock to its workforce.
Owned by the American giant, Exide Technologies, the company has begun a 90-day consultation period with staff about the site’s future during which the company will explain to staff the reasons for the potential closure and how it will be carried out. Exide was careful to explain that the decision was “by no means a reflection of our employees’ efforts or commitment to Exide,” said Franz-Josef Dette, president, industrial energy Europe.
The parent company says the site will continue to be used as a distribution centre for Exide’s European operations and a `number of administrative positions’ will be maintained.
The traction battery market is an accurate bellwether of the forklift market’s health, which in Britain did not begin to deteriorate until last Autumn. Another sign of strains emerging is the struggling IMHX show at the NEC next northern spring. Reports say that a significant number of large forklift companies have decided to pull out of the show. The organisers, however, remain confident that the number of exhibitors will remain at about the same level as the last show in 2007, with over 350 stands, and that visitor numbers will be similar at around 19,000. | |
| | Rush links positioning, RFID for forklifts
Lenexa, KS, United States | An industrial systems integration and business process consulting firm has bolstered its offering for the forklift industry.
Rush Tracking Systems has added an optical positioning solution (OPS) for speed, direction and location information for its VisiblEdge radio-frequency-identification (RFID) forklift truck packages.
The firm displayed VisiblEdge RFID-enabled forklifts with OPS capability in its booth at the RFID Journal’s Live 2009 trade event this week in Orlando, Florida.
“We have been working with several customers on OPS, but the primary client is Monsanto,” says Chuck Thompson, vice president of sales with Lenexa-based Rush. Agricultural industry giant Monsanto Co of St Louis, Missouri provides farmers with seeds, biotechnology trait products and herbicides.
“We are proposing the OPS for at least six clients right now,” Thompson notes. “All are manufacturers with the industries being machinery, agribusiness, pharmaceutical, paper, and food and beverage. The use cases are automated receiving, (work in process) tracking, automated shipping, inventory management (and) container management. We have tested the solution both in our lab as well as on site at Monsanto.”
Rush Tracking Systems has invested more than USD600,000 in developing and refining the VisiblEdge solution over three years, and “some of our ‘people’ on the team have been working on the lift truck solution for over six years,” Thompson says. “We have been exploring OPS for about six months (and) we feel (its) flexibility and value will make it our best seller.”
Rush will continue to offer floor RFID tags as the correct solution in some cases.
The firm began deploying VisiblEdge in mid-2007 and, as of October 2008, had sold 50 packages into five different end-uses (Forkliftaction.com News #381).
In recent months, the Rush team has focused on locking down the reliability of the data collection, building out the integration to RFID middleware and back-end ERP systems and perfecting the integration to the OPS.
“Shortly, we expect to be able to offer to our customers additional value-added fleet management functionality such as run-time data, utilisation data (loaded, unloaded, idle time on time etc), collision alarms (and) route optimisation,” Thompson notes. | |
| Sample of used equipment for sale: | Search 5699 listings in the Marketplace | |
| Cascade |
45E |
- |
United States |
USD 1200 |
Details |
| Hyster |
S100XL2BCS |
1999 |
United States |
USD 7500 |
Details |
| Mitsubishi |
FD25 |
2003 |
United Kingdom |
GBP 5500 |
Details |
| BT |
CB2000T |
1994 |
Germany |
EUR 2250 |
Details |
| Mitsubishi |
FGC15K-LP |
2003 |
Germany |
EUR 4500 |
Details |
| Hyster |
H155XL |
2000 |
United States |
USD 17500 |
Details |
| Linde |
E15 |
1999 |
Germany |
EUR 4700 |
Details |
| Hyster |
P2.0SD |
2004 |
New Zealand |
NZD 6500 |
Details |
| Baumann |
DX50-14-40 |
2002 |
Germany |
EUR 24900 |
Details |
| Hyster |
S80XMBCS |
2004 |
United States |
USD 6800 |
Details |
| Crown |
30RDTT253 |
- |
Australia |
AUD 18000 |
Details |
| Linde |
H25T03 |
2001 |
Germany |
EUR 6700 |
Details |
| Toyota |
42-7FGF15 |
2006 |
Germany |
EUR 11500 |
Details |
| Linde |
H40D |
2004 |
United States |
USD 27900 |
Details |
and thousands more...
Click here to include your used forklifts, stackers, telehandlers, container handlers, attachments etc. | |
| | A Royal visit at JCB world HQ
Rocester, United Kingdom | Prince William visited JCB’s world headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, last Friday to help the company celebrate the production of its 750,000th machine.
Students from local schools in Rocester and Denstone waved flags and greeted the royal visitor on his arrival.
He was then introduced to JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford, his son Jo Bamford, daughter Alice Bamford, JCB CEO Matthew Taylor and the managing director of JCB’s backhoe loader division, Paul Grys.
The Prince was shown JCB’s first product, a screw-tipping farm trailer, made by the company founder Joseph Cyril Bamford, which stands at the company’s reception area.
Then on a tour of the shopfloor, Prince William visited the fabrication area where components for JCB machines are made. He was introduced to the welding team leader, Mick Grantham, 53, of Uttoxeter, who has worked for JCB for nearly 30 years.
Next, Prince William was shown the JCB High Mobility Engineering Excavator (HMEE). Last year, the British Army invested GBP7 million (USD10.2 million) in a fleet of HMEEs for deployment in Afghanistan. JCB claims the HMEE is the world’s fastest backhoe loader, travelling at speeds of up to 60mph (97kmh) on paved roads and across open country.
After touring the offices, Prince William met specially invited employees in JCB’s main reception where the production of JCB’s 750,000th product, a 3CX backhoe loader, was officially marked.
Anthony Bamford thanked the Prince for “showing support in these tough times to JCB, its employees and to British industry”.
JCB has been manufacturing Loadall telehandlers since 1977. In 2006, JCB concluded GBP9 million (USD17.9 million) in investment to expand global manufacturing of its telehandlers. They are produced at its world headquarters in Rocester and also at its North American headquarters in Savannah, Georgia. | |
| | | Movers & Shakers | Olathe, KS, United States
Systems Material Handling (SMH) has appointed Ed Louis as regional manager of business development for the midwest region. Louis has over 20 years’ experience as a parts manager and as an aftermarket sales representative. He is based in the Chicagoland area.
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Jungheinrich (UK) Ltd has appointed Alan Kirk as product sales manager for racking. Kirk has over 30 years’ experience in the materials handling industry. He recently returned to the UK from Australia where he held senior positions with several global racking manufacturers. He will be responsible for developing sales of Jungheinrich’s racking, shelving and other storage products in the east of England. | |
| | | Briefs | Bac2 adds to ElectroPhen products
Southampton, United Kingdom
Fuel cell materials company Bac2 has introduced high temperature bipolar plates made from its ElectroPhen conductive polymer at the Hannover Fair in Germany last week.
The new plates are mechanically and electrically stable at over 200 degrees Centigrade. According to Bac2, high-temperature operation, typically between 180 and 200 degrees, is necessary to achieve efficiency in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells.
Clark’s philanthropy efforts recognised
Lexington, KY, United States
Clark Material Handling Company has been honoured by the United Way of the Bluegrass with the 2009 Central Kentucky Volunteer Award in the corporate category.
Clark has a team of employees who volunteer to oversee its corporate donations and philanthropy work. They are active in local causes that include Susan G Komen for the Cure, Habitat for Humanity, UM Home for Children, American Diabetes Association and United Way.
United Way of the Bluegrass is one of the many local offices of United Way of America, a US-wide non-profit organisation that raises funds to tackle local community issues.
Sky-Trax works with Rush Tracking
New Castle, DE, United States
Sky-Trax Inc is partnering with RFID business process consulting and systems integration company Rush Tracking Systems to bring warehousing solutions to the materials handling industry.
Sky-Trax and Rush Tracking Systems plan to integrate optical positioning technologies for RFID-enabled forklifts to provide flexible and high performance tracking and positioning solutions for manufacturing, warehouse and distribution operations.
JCB gets two more awards
ROCESTER, United Kingdom
JCB Group has received two more Queen’s Awards in the international trade category, bringing the total awards won by the group since 1969 to 25.
The group is thought to be the UK business with the most Queen’s Awards.
JCB Earthmovers of Cheadle, Staffordshire and JCB Heavy Products of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire received the awards recognising their substantial growths in exports.
Bank extending Manitex credit facility
Bridgeview, IL, United States
Comerica Bank intends to renew a credit facility for equipment manufacturer Manitex International Inc, according to a Manitex press release.
Publicly traded Bridgeview-based Manitex was notified about the pending extension of the maturity date on its current credit facility for US and Canadian revolving lines of credit and term loan to 1 April 2012 from 1 April 2010.
Comerica Bank, which notified Manitex on 28 April, is a business of Dallas, Texas-based commercial bank holding company Comerica Inc.
Manitex’s Liftking subsidiary manufactures Noble straight-mast rough terrain forklifts, Lowry high-capacity cushion tyred forklifts and Schaeff electric indoor forklifts. | |
| | Rothenberger starts safety training firm
Cumming, GA, United States | Veteran forklift safety trainer Joe Rothenberger has established North Georgia Forklift Certification LLC (NGFC) to conduct on-site sessions in six US south eastern states.
Rothenberger has more than 20 years of experience in the field and, for 8.5 years, was a corporate trainer in the same geographic region for Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Inc, which manufactures forklifts in Columbus, Indiana. Earlier, he was a staff trainer of forklift operators for major corporations at three large warehouses.
NGFC can provide outsourced training at manufacturing, warehouse, lumber and other company sites for new forklift or aerial lift operators or experienced workers needing three-year forklift recertification under compliance regulations of the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Rothenberger, president of NGFC in Cumming near Atlanta, says on-site training keeps the students in their work location and allows company officials to see what is being taught. A beginners’ course takes three days including final operating evaluation and is limited to three students. A course for more advanced operators takes six to eight hours and involves 10 to 14 persons.
Rothenberger perceives a need for competitively priced safety training, believes NGFC can offer flexibility to meet customer needs and alerts companies as their forklift operators’ three-year certification expiration approaches. If needed, a company can hire NGFC for a two-year recertification class at a lower price than the standard three-year session.
To reach potential customers, the firm is using ProForkliftTraining as its website identity “to make it easier for search engine” connections, Rothenberger notes.
NGFC’s service area includes the states of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.
In additional offerings, NGFC can provide Red Cross-certified training for cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills, medical first aid treatment and automated external defibrillator instruction.
All classes are available in English and Spanish. | |
| | WIN draws overseas buyers
Istanbul, Turkey | The recent World of Industry Part 1 (WIN 1) event in Istanbul, Turkey attracted international buyers who viewed exhibits in four separate trade shows for the machinery, welding, surface treatment and materials handling industries.
World of Industry is a trade event featuring several trade fairs at the TÜYAP Fair, Convention & Congress Centre in Istanbul. About 1,358 exhibitors from 30 countries displayed their products and services over 47,564sqm in the event’s two segments – WIN 1 and WIN 2. WIN 1 was held from February 5-8 while WIN 2 covering the automation, electronics, hydraulic and pneumatic industries was held from February 26 to March 1.
Organisers say 113,992 visitors from 70 countries visited the two events to view the exhibits and company presentations, and participate in conferences, seminars and discussion forums. During WIN 1, 43,645 visitors explored the products and services of 659 exhibitors.
International participation increased 12% this year, with 221 overseas exhibitors compared to 197 for WIN 2008. Country pavilions for South Korea, Egypt and Italy offered new business contacts and contributed to the global feel of the event.
WIN 1 drew buyers not only from neighbouring countries but also from all over Europe, the Middle East and America. Buyers from Albania, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, Mauritania and Russia received support from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Trade to visit the first segment of WIN.
One of the highlights of WIN 1 was the North Rhine-Westphalia Innovation Forum and Matchmaking Program organised by the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce.
Egypt was chosen as WIN’s “Eurasian Business Partner” this year because of its continued support for trade relations between Egypt and Turkey. Besides exhibitors, several “high-level delegations” came from Egypt to visit the trade show.
Guy Rogers from Intec Export Intelligence, United Kingdom was happy with WIN.
“The show was very well organised and very well attended, both in terms of exhibitor numbers and the level and quality of visitors.”
Dana Fischer from Klaus Fischer GmbH of Germany says visitors were interested: “As a new exhibitor of WIN, we are positively surprised about the interest of potential customers and suppliers of our product range. With the oil recycling system, we presented a product which highly interested the professional visitors from Turkey as well as neighbouring countries.”
Results from WIN 1 exhibitor surveys were positive, with 93% saying they were satisfied with the quantity of the visitors, 98% were satisfied with the quality of visitors and 92% stated they reached their targets.
WIN was jointly organised by Hannover-Messe International Istanbul and Bileşim Yayıncılık Fuarcılık ve Tanıtım Hizmetleri AŞ. VIPs who opened the show on February 5 included Nezih Kazankaya, board member of Hannover-Messe Bileşim Fuarcılık AŞ; Dr Martin Riester, technical manager of VDMA; Adnan Dalgakıran, president of Central Anatolia Machinery and Accessories Exports’ Union; Bahaa Aldin Hasan, parliament member of Syria; Mustafa Dirin, president of Machine Manufacturers Association; Mongy Aly Badr, commercial counselor of Egypt; Ahmad Ghalehbani, deputy minister of industries and mines of Iran; and Nurettin Özdebir, president of Ankara Chamber of Industry. | |
| | Joint venture planned for new Indian expo
Milwaukee, WI, United States | The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and Messe München GmbH (MMG) are jointly organising a trade show in Mumbai, India in February 2011.
Named “bC India – A bauma CONEXPO show”, the international trade fair will target the construction machinery, building material machinery, mining machinery and construction vehicle industries.
AEM and MMG have also signed an agreement to co-operate closely in organising international construction machinery trade fairs. They plan to establish a joint venture to manage bC India.
Eugen Egetenmeir, MMG’s deputy managing director, says there is considerable potential in the partnership. “Industry has given a positive response to the idea of an international trade fair for construction machinery in the growth market of India. Through the co-operation between Messe München and AEM, the new event is set to quickly establish itself as an international platform,” he says.
Dennis Slater, AEM president, agrees: “Our co-operation will bring a combined international expertise to the Indian marketplace for the benefit of bC India participants and the involved industry.”
Details about the Indian expo will be announced in the northern hemisphere summer.
MMG is a leading organiser of trade fairs with over 40 events for capital goods, consumer goods and new technologies. More than 30,000 exhibitors from over 100 countries and more than two million visitors from over 200 countries participate in fairs and exhibitions in Munich each year. MMG also organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. It has six subsidiaries in Europe and Asia and 65 foreign representatives covering 90 countries.
AEM is a North American-based international trade group representing the off-road equipment manufacturing industry. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it has offices in Washington, DC; Ottawa; Beijing and Brussels. It represents over 800 companies in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors. AEM owns and/or manages several exhibitions including CONEXPO-CON/AGG. | |
 | |
| | Schenker goes green on forklifts
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Logistics specialist Schenker Australia will expand its operations in July with a new environmentally friendly facility located at Melbourne’s international airport.
The new facility comprises an 11,000sqm warehouse area and 2,500sqm office space for 230 employees, bringing together staff that currently work in four different locations.
Equipped with state-of-the-art pallet handling equipment, temperature control and high security storage facilities, the hub is designed to cater for a wide range of services. With 300 daily truck runs, 2,000 tonnes of air freight and more than 150 containers per month, the facility will increase efficiencies in freight turnover significantly.
With a strong focus on environmental best practice, the company plans to exchange its LPG forklift fleet at the facility with 17 electric models, probably Nichiyu and Toyota brands.
The company has 25 facilities in Australia and utilises a total of 180 electric and LPG-type forklifts in its operations which span Australia and New Zealand. | |
| | Fines for forklift safety failures
Laverton North, Victoria, Australia | Two separate companies have been fined recently for safety incidents involving forklifts.
In February, logistics company Border Express was fined AUD$15,000 in the Magistrates Court for an incident which occurred at its Laverton North depot two years ago. In the incident, a sub-contracted employee was struck by a forklift while he was checking palletised goods on the warehouse floor. This led to serious neck injuries.
Last month, the director of seafood distributor Regal Seafoods was fined AUD3,000 over the unsafe use of a forklift in a high-risk environment in an incident which occurred in January 2008. A WorkSafe inspector observed a worker painting from a fully extended forklift operated by the director, which was fixed with a standard timber pallet on the tynes, estimated to be about 4.5m high.
The inspector issued a prohibition notice, prohibiting any painting of the corporate defendant’s buildings, noting the risk to health and safety being risk of sustaining injury from falling or sustaining electric shock (there were a number of electrical wires close to the area where the painting was taking place). | |
| | Logistics scholarship program opens
Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia | Applications are now open for a scholarship program designed to support and acknowledge university education in logistics and supply chain management.
Run by the Logistics Association of Australia in conjunction with Swisslog Australia, the program consists of undergraduate scholarships worth AUD2,500 each and postgraduate scholarships worth AUD5,000 each.
Each award includes membership of the LAA and will contribute to course-related costs. | |
| | Supply chain conference
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | Smart 2009 Conference, one of Australia’s leading supply chain management events, will be held from 10-11 June at the Sydney Convention Centre.
Among the guest speakers is Will Arnott, director of Supply Chain at Lexian Solutions, Australia, the company responsible for providing logistics and transport solutions for the Beijing Olympic Games.
Arnott’s presentation will focus on the logistical and technological requirements for major events, the complexities of working with a foreign culture and the ups and downs of a three year journey with the Beijing Organising Committee.
Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision, announced as opening speaker last week, will present a different perspective on supply chains, exploring the role of industry supply chains in driving economies and alleviating global poverty, as well as providing insight into the importance of partnerships between industry and NGOs.
Themed “Bridging the gap with innovation and new business strategy”, the conference program will help address current and future supply chain challenges in the areas of:
• Energy Security and Sustainability - including the growing gap between demand and supply of transport fuels, and the repercussions of targeted greenhouse gas emission levels;
• Infrastructure - such as the gaps between actual and required investment levels, and the need for new infrastructure to support new energy paradigms;
• The Human Factor - the current and growing skills crisis, and injury levels versus 'zero targets' in workplace safety; and
• Connected Supply Chains - specifically, the opportunities offered by connecting geographically dispersed global supply chains, and business strategies, technologies and systems needed to achieve and support future supply chain potential. | |
| | Project vital to Australia’s freight future
Canberra, ACT, Australia | Australia’s national road network carries 18% of the country’s freight and demand is predicted to grow significantly in the future.
As a result, the government has announced a AUD26.4 billion program of investment in the country’s road and rail infrastructure.
The six-year program will fund routine maintenance as well as upgrades to poorly designed and congested sections of the transport network.
Specifically, it will:
• Build more than 120 major road and 26 major rail projects or packages of work;
• Make available an extra $450 million in maintenance money;
• Provide additional assistance for local councils to maintain their local roads;
• Eliminate thousands of dangerous black spots;
• Install boom gates and other safety measures at over 250 high-risk level crossings; and
• Construct additional rest stops for heavy vehicles. | |
| | Industry development awards
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | Submissions close on 3 July for nominations for the 2009 transport and logistics industry development awards, with a new category, “T&L Experience Pays”, included this year.
This award is designed to provide an incentive and recognition for mature-age individuals working in the transport, supply chain and logistics industries.
Other award categories include the Queensland T&L Industry Futures Award and the T&L Future Leaders Award.
Winners will be announced on 27 August 2009 during the 10th annual Queensland Supply Chain & Logistics Conference. All finalists will be invited to attend the awards dinner. | |
 Send this newsletter to an associate
 |
| New ECH Series Empty Container Handler |  | The Hoist Empty Container Handler stacks a variety of ISO containers from 4- to 8-high using a standard empty container attachment or side-post attachment, both with two (2) ISO twistlocks. The attachments also extend/retract to lift 20-, 40- and 53- foot containers. Hoist Liftruck also incorporates their advanced CANbus technology to ensure safe handling with its twistlock safety system that ensures each twistlock is engaged and secured before the container can be moved.
Click here for more information on this product, including pictures. | |
|
|
Tip off Forkliftaction.comDo you know something our readers should know? Write to news@forkliftaction.com or provide information anonymously here.
|
Editorial Calendar 2009
|
January
Rough Terrain forklifts
February
Safety products in MH
March
Forklift Market in Canada
April
Tow trucks
May
Forklift Market in the United Kingdom
June
Fleet & Asset management
July
Narrow Aisle forklifts
August
Industrial tyres/wheels
September
Forklift batteries and power solutions
October
Side loaders
November
Explosion-proof forklifts
December
Forklift Market in India
|
|
Print version
