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 | | | The rise of Heli forklifts in the latest industry ranking is a further indication of China’s growing market muscle. Heli’s growth pushes it up the top 10 of the forklift ranking by a US logistics magazine, while it also made the top 20 (along with Hangcha) in last year’s European-produced listing. While other manufacturers have had to cope with shrinking markets, the Chinese players have been buoyed not only by their vibrant domestic market, but also by increased marketshare in their export destinations. And their success in the mature markets is no longer simply price-driven. Clearly, the Chinese are also delivering product innovation and quality to satisfy the needs of sophisticated buyers and, in the words of one expert, must be taken seriously. |
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Heli now in top 8 
Hefei, China | Anhui Forklift Group, which produces Heli forklifts, has been ranked eighth in the latest top 20 forklift suppliers list by US logistics magazine Modern Materials Handling.
Bruce Pelynio, CEO of Heli Americas, tells Forkliftaction.com News that Heli has continued to rise in the global standings from a ranking of above 20 in 2006. “I would anticipate a continued drive to move up in the rankings.”
He explains that Heli is continuing to expand and improve its global distribution network to enable it to service global accounts and expects these activities to further improve its global standing.
“The latest forecast is for Anhui Heli to produce in excess of 50,000 units in 2010,” Pelynio adds.
The group increased domestic sales by 23% year-on-year in 2009 and enlarged its market share in China by 5.2%. This compares to a 39% drop in global forklift sales volume and a 17% decline in China’s forklift sales.
Modern Materials Handling lists the top 10 forklift suppliers in terms of 2009 sales revenue in descending order as: Toyota (USD4.6 billion), KION (USD4.1 billion), Jungheinrich (USD2.3 billion), Crown Equipment (USD1.6 billion), NACCO Industries (USD1.5 billion), Mitsubishi/Caterpillar (USD920 million), Komatsu (USD750 million), Anhui Forklift Group (USD668 million), Nissan (USD624 million) and TCM (USD593 million).
Wolfgang Degenhard, editor of dhf-intralogistik, commenting in the German magazine’s 2008/09 ranking list, noted that China was no longer an emerging market but a “real industrial nation that must be taken seriously”.
In dhf’s last ranking list, which considered 2008 forklift sales figures, Hangcha, which sold EUR346 million (USD470 million) of forklifts was the highest ranked Chinese forklift supplier at 16th place, while Heli, which made EUR317 million (USD431 million) in forklift sales revenue, followed in 17th place (Forkliftaction.com News #449).
Forkliftaction.com News will publish dhf’s 2009/10 ranking list when it comes out in 2011. Modern Materials Handling produces a top 20 forklift supplier list, while dhf’s list includes nearly 40 companies. |  |
| | Wisconsin Lift, Cisco Equipment add lines
United States | Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp (WLTC) now represents Rico Equipment Inc, and Cisco Equipment has added the Clark Material Handling Co line.
The change at each dealership was effective from 1 September.
Rico Equipment of Medina, Ohio named WLTC as the manufacturer’s 13th preferred dealer. Rico makes engineered materials handling equipment and custom-built forklifts.
“We added the Rico line to satisfy customer requests,” says Dave Oldenburg, WLTC marketing manager.
Among its multiple offerings, WLTC represents the Caterpillar, Mitsubishi and Linde forklift brands and in April, added the Jungheinrich forklift line for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and eastern Wisconsin.
Brookfield, Wisconsin-based WLTC employs 310 staff and has several other distribution and full-service locations in Wisconsin. Focused operations include Wolter Material Handling, Wolter Power Systems and Contractor Equipment Services. WLTC acquired the assets of Witco Systems Inc on 29 July (Forkliftaction.com News #474).
In addition to forklifts, some locations of WLTC handle lines of aerial lift and construction equipment, pallet trucks, industrial cleaning equipment and industrial mobile robots such as automated guided vehicles.
“The addition of Rico’s line of the world's finest specialty lift trucks, along with our years of experience, excellent reputation and commitment to customers, will be a successful combination,” says Jerry Weidmann, WLTC president.
Rico Equipment employs 100 staff, occupies 150,000 sqft (13,500 sqm) and performs more than 98% of its design, development, fabrication and assembly work in-house for end-use customers, mostly in the automotive, military, paper, steel and manufacturing markets. Equipment lifting capacities range from 3,000-300,000 lbs (1,350-135,000 kg).
In addition to WLTC, other recent appointments of multiple-site preferred Rico dealers include Chillicothe, Illinois-based MH Equipment, Wixom, Michigan-based Alta Equipment Co and Wilmington, Massachusetts-based Northland Industrial Truck Co Inc.
Meanwhile, Cisco Equipment became an exclusive authorised Clark distributor in west Texas, south west Oklahoma and south east New Mexico.
Cisco supports Clark sales and service through its Lubbock, Texas facility and additional locations in Odessa, Midland and San Angelo, Texas and Artesia, New Mexico. The service area encompasses 84 counties in Texas, four in Oklahoma and three in New Mexico.
“The New Mexico market is new for us, and we opened the Artesia facility in November,” says Larry Smart, general manager of Cisco Equipment.
“Cisco Equipment has been a west Texas presence since 1978 and gives Clark a distributor with tremendous credibility and market knowledge,” says Scott Johnson, vice president of business development with Clark in Lexington, Kentucky. “Cisco gets Clark well positioned in a number of traditional lift truck accounts and also brings with it a number of incremental opportunities for our joint action.”
Cisco Equipment employs 88 and, in addition to Clark, also represents Nissan Forklift in the Odessa market.
Also, Cisco Equipment deals with aerial-work-platform and telescopic-material-handler equipment brands Genie from Terex Corp and JLG from Oshkosh Corp, agricultural and construction equipment brands New Holland, Case and Kobelco from CNH Global NV, and cranes from Link-Belt Construction Equipment Co.
The business was founded as Cisco Ford Equipment, originally representing the Ford tractor brand.
Odessa-based Cromeens Hollomon & Sibert Inc is the parent company for Cisco Equipment and other businesses, including activity in the Russian Federation. | |
 | | Reach your market through Forkliftaction.com – check our readership | "If it is in Forkliftaction.com, the materials handling community is talking about it" Howard Quick, Regional product support manager for Linde Material Handling - North America.
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| | CFTS accreditation reaches 300
Sunninghill, United Kingdom | With UK trade show IMHX a few weeks away, Consolidated Fork Truck Services (CFTS) has announced that over 300 companies are now accredited to deliver the UK’s only nationally agreed procedure for the Thorough Examination of forklifts.
CFTS chairman Simon Emery says this means that wherever a user’s operations are in the UK, there is a CFTS-accredited company nearby to ensure the forklifts’ compliance with the law.
Under current UK legislation, every forklift over 12 months old must have a current report of Thorough Examination. The forklift’s owner or user is responsible for this. Even if the forklift is on hire, the user has a duty to ensure that a Thorough Examination has been carried out in the correct timescales.
Emery claims that the CFTS Thorough Examination Scheme that was developed with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is widely acknowledged as the most comprehensive and robust inspection regime for forklifts.
“The reason is quite simple. CFTS criteria and procedures have been developed by the people who know most about forklifts: the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA) and the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) in conjunction with the HSE,” he explains.
“It is this in-depth understanding of the specialist needs of forklifts that sets this dedicated scheme apart. While other, more generalised programmes address the basic requirements of LOLER 98, the CFTS Thorough Examination procedure is exceptional in that it ensures full compliance with both PUWER 98 and LOLER 98 as they relate specifically to forklifts,” Emery adds.
Companies interested in CFTS-accredited Thorough Examination can use the www.thoroughexamination.org search facility. The newly created software requires visitors enter a postcode and search radius, and the search engine will deliver the full contact details of companies nearby.
A company search by name facility is also available for forklift owners and operators who want to confirm if their current Thorough Examination provider is accredited to CFTS. A short explanatory video on the scheme is also posted on the website. CFTS will be exhibiting at IMHX 2010, at stand 19L138. | |
| | | Europeans also locked out by diagnostic software | Is making forklift diagnostic software proprietary a form of price fixing?
Several weeks ago, Forkliftaction.com News North American bureau chief Roger Renstrom reported that some independent forklift service providers in the US are concerned about the rise of proprietary diagnostic software for forklifts, making it difficult for machines to be repaired independent of the manufacturer (Forkliftaction.com News #472).
The article prompted comments from a couple of industry members, managing small, independent companies in Europe.
A managing director of a forklift battery company says the issue “does not affect him at all” as he is not involved in repairing forklifts but “knows a lot of companies who are”.
“My understanding is that the OEM companies do not release software or, if they do, it’s prohibitively expensive and difficult to get. Some are worse than others. Software should be available to any service agent at a reasonable cost. All this does is lock the customer to the supplier and in my opinion is a form of price fixing,” he says.
A general manager of a small French independent forklift service company tells Forkliftaction.com News that “it is a well-known fact that most large forklift manufacturers do everything they can to keep their diagnostic software proprietary and away from third-party maintenance companies” like his.
“We differentiate from those large competitors by providing sales, maintenance and repair services across a whole range of [different brand] equipment. This approach is particularly valued by clients with a fleet of forklifts of diverse origin,” he says.
He explains that to overcome the lack of diagnostic information, his company has developed, over the years, an extensive library of tools based on manufacturers’ manuals, information shared with other small competitors and the help of some customers who are fed-up by the monopolistic approach of some manufacturers.
“However, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult as diagnostic programs are becoming more complex.
“We (are starting) to see some clients who require from the manufacturers the transfer of a minimum of diagnostic information to be able to do some maintenance on their own. The request becomes part of their purchasing bargaining agreements.
“I would welcome comments from some of my colleagues worldwide who face the same issues. Small guys like us help this industry stay competitive. We simply ask for fair practices,” he says.
To discuss this issue and other relevant industry topics, visit Forkliftaction.com’s Discussion Forums. | |
| | Eezehaul meets higher demand with larger facility
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom | Rising demand for Eezehaul’s storage and distribution services caused it to move to a facility almost three times the size of its old one.
“Our original warehouse was around 30,000 sqft (2,787 sqm),” explains Simon Duggan, Eezehaul’s commercial director. “We looked around for other sites that offered greater capacity, but purpose-built units of the size we wanted are relatively scarce in the South East (of England).”
The new 80,000 sqft (7,432 sqm) facility stands on five acres of land and is close to the M25/M23 motorway network. It has nine loading docks but additional office space, racking and other cosmetic changes were needed. While it had been originally designed and used as a distribution centre, the site had most recently been used as a car showroom and store.
Through an open-tender process, the Crawley-based company awarded Jungheinrich UK Ltd the contract to provide the facility’s racking and storage systems.
“We met Jungheinrich at a trade show where the company was exhibiting and were impressed by what they had to offer,” Duggan explains.
Jungheinrich redeveloped the facility to provide over 5,000 pallet locations. The top beam of the racking structure is 7.8 metres (25.6 feet) high and the aisles are 3.1 metres (10.1 feet) wide. The company had considered condensing the aisles to accommodate more space. However, Eezehaul undertakes case picking at ground level while full pallets are picked from the upper levels, so wider aisles were considered a better option for efficient and safe performance of those functions.
Eezehaul also needed to replace its diesel forklifts. As the new facility is close to a residential area, quiet-running electric forklifts were needed to work into the early hours of the morning without disrupting the neighbours. The company needed forklifts that could operate for two shifts on one battery charge.
“We have lots of forklift movements. For our pallet network activities, we unload double-deck trailers and cross-dock loads before loading pallets onto delivery vehicles. This work tends to peak in the early hours of the morning and again in the evening,” Duggan explains.
At other times during the day, the forklifts are used to de-stuff incoming containers and put loads away in the pallet racking.
Having worked with Jungheinrich on the design and build of its facility’s racking, Eezehaul approached the company for its materials handling equipment needs. After reviewing Eezehaul’s business model, Jungheinrich supplied a fleet of EFG electric counterbalance forklifts, refurbished ETV reach trucks from its “Ready to Go” range, and pallet trucks.
“The mix of counterbalance, reach and pallet trucks that we are operating has proved ideal but we have the option to acquire additional machines or increase our capacity with short term rental trucks as our throughput increases,” Duggan says.
Eezehaul is a partner in both the APC and TPN overnight pallet delivery networks and handles around 3000 shipments a day. They and also provide storage, picking, packing and despatch services to a growing range of clients. | |
| | Crown offers pneumatic-tyre IC forklift
New Bremen, OH, United States | Crown Equipment Corp has rolled out a Class V pneumatic-tyre forklift that claims to overcome frequent detriments stemming from use in heavy-duty outdoor applications.
Design of the Crown internal combustion C-5 Series pneumatic model aims to eliminate frequent maintenance, excessive downtime and shortened lifespan characteristics bedeviling forklifts operating in extremely dirty environments.
The pneumatic version represents mostly a product extension of the slightly shorter Class IV warehouse-oriented C-5 Series cushion-tyre model that Crown introduced in 2009. Again, the power comes from a codeveloped liquefied petroleum gas-fueled 2.4-litre engine from the John Deere Power Systems unit of Deere & Co. Both the cushion and pneumatic trucks have the same cooling features with the dual open-core radiator providing separate cooling for the engine and transmission.
Crown incorporated minor modifications. “As a new product (in 2009), there are some things you learn in the first year of production,” says Tim Quellhorst, Crown vice president of engineering. “We made some minor tweaks but no major changes.” Some elements of cushion-tyre pre-market testing “carried over into the pneumatic-tyred truck”.
The new model “does experience inclement weather, so we want the cab to be ready”, says Andy Smith, Crown C-5 Series product manager. “We made adjustments to the overhead guard” to provide protection from environmental elements.
Crown touts lower maintenance costs than competing forklifts. “If you service the trucks based on the manuals, the (annual) savings could be as much as USD4,500,” Smith says. “Competitors require as many as 600 tasks within 2,000 (operational) hours. Crown has 76 routine tasks. That is 524 fewer routine maintenance tasks.”
Crown says the self-adjusting power brake has fewer moving parts and a 90% larger brake pad surface than traditional drum brakes.
Extensive field testing has occurred. “We have a significant number of C-5 Series trucks onsite in a variety of customer locations,” Smith notes. “This allowed us to use cushion test sites to validate the component design of the pneumatic model. This means we have hundreds of thousands of hours logged and numerous customer locations. We have also conducted a number of tests over the last few years on the pneumatic model at multiple harsh outdoor environments.”
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| | Inaugural students start at GBP22M Academy
Rocester, United Kingdom | The first 120 pupils have arrived at the new GBP22 million (USD34.4 million) JCB Academy in Rocester, Staffordshire, four years after the construction company conceived the vision for a dedicated engineering school.
Sir Anthony Bamford, who is in his 35 years as JCB chairman, has championed the cause of British manufacturing and long voiced his concern over its decline and the dearth of young people with engineering skills emerging from the education system.
“The JCB Academy is one small step to achieving the aim [that the UK continues to be a nation of innovation]. The facilities here are second to none and offers students the opportunity to learn about manufacturing and engineering in away that is exciting and practical and aligned to the needs of employers,” Bamford says.
The Year 10 students who come from Staffordshire and Derbyshire will study a curriculum designed to produce the engineers and business leaders of the future. While the idea for the academy began in the summer 2006 with a Government feasibility study, it has been created in the Arkwright Mill dating from 1781 and has been equipped with over GBP1 million (USD1.5 million) of modern engineering equipment. The equipment includes the only plasma cutter (a common industry machine tool), to be based in a UK school.
Students will complete tasks set by the academy’s partners that include JCB, Toyota, Zytek Automotive, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Bombardier, Rexroth Bosch Group, Network Rail, National Grid, IET, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Parker Vansco, The Royal Academy of Engineering and Harper Adams University College.
The JCB Academy is the first school of its kind in the UK, educating 14- to 19-year-olds with a core focus on engineering. It is funded by the Department of Education but JCB, as main sponsor, contributed 10% of the capital and donated the mill in which it is based (Forkliftaction.com News #430).
Principal Jim Wade says demand for places has been high and urges those wishing to apply to attend open evenings at the academy on either 5,7 or 13 October.
Julie Pegg of Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, whose 14-year-old daughter Amy is part of the inaugural intake, says they attended an open evening early in the year. “We saw this as an excellent opportunity … The curriculum is imaginative, the location and the building is fantastic and it gives the students the chance to be really hands-on and practical in lessons.”
Pegg works in the Technical Publications at JCB Service.
“Amy is both excited and nervous. She has already made friends with other students who are starting [with her] via email and Facebook,” she adds.
Separately, JCB employee Alan Stanley has retired after 50 years with the company. Stanley joined JCB straight from school in August 1960, at age 15, and beats the previous record of 49 years and two months to become the JCB’s longest serving employee. Alan followed in his father Bertram’s footsteps when he joined JCB and was taken on as an apprentice electrician, staying with the company as it expanded from one factory in a former cheese factory in Rocester to 18 global plants. When he retired, he was a site engineer, part of the site services team responsible for the maintenance of JCB’s factories and premises. | |
| | | Briefs | Logitrans introduces stacker for tight spaces
Ribe, Denmark
Logitrans has developed the Logiflex SELF Mini in response to demand for a light and manoeuvrable fully-powered stacker.
With an overall height of 1,320mm (4.3 feet), the Logiflex SELF Mini enables a clear view above the truck. It has a compact design and needs very little space to manoeuvre. Equipped with AC-technology, it can manage lifting jobs to the heights of 920mm (3 feet) and 1,650mm (5.4 feet), and is also available with straddle legs. It is suitable for the light handling of goods in confined spaces.
Name change reflects company’s growth
Waregem, Belgium
TVH Forklifts Parts NV, the spare parts and accessories division of TVH, is now known as TVH Parts NV.
Over 40 years, the company has grown to more than a shop for forklift parts, hence the name change to emphasise its extensive range. The evolution of the company is also reflected in its new slogan – “TVH, more than just forklift parts”. TVH now supplies parts for equipment including aerial platforms, in-plant vehicles, telehandlers and electric pallet trucks.
Seminars for automated handling
Loughborough, United Kingdom
The Automated Material Handling Systems Association is holding an information event to help logistics professionals better understand automated handling.
The event will feature three seminars held at the Imago Burleigh Court Conference Centre in Loughborough, Leicestershire, on 3 November between 2-5pm.
Adam Fox from George Utz Ltd will cover new technologies for totes, pallets and containers and explain the benefits of bespoke solutions including barcoding and logo innovations. Autotech Controls Ltd managing director Andy Robinson will explain the pros and cons of modern control systems for automated handling equipment while Motivair Compressors Ltd’s Nick Hunt will speak on reducing carbon footprint through compressed air management. Email Graham Watts (secretary@amhsa.co.uk) to book a place. Attendance costs GBP55 (USD85) plus VAT. | |
| | | Movers & Shakers | Pittsburgh, PA, United States
TMI LLC has appointed Frank J Mummolo as its new president and CEO. Mummolo was the founder and managing director of MCA Consulting Services Inc. At TMI, Mummolo will set overall strategic direction to include leading the company into new markets, increasing marketshare in existing markets, overseeing the development of new products and ensuring the company’s market position. TMI produces and supplies products to improve work safety, cleanliness, comfort and efficiency, including swinging impact doors and dock accessories.
Pompano Beach, FL, United States
Dominic DeSantis has been appointed regional sales manager for Ring Power Lift Trucks. DeSantis joined Ring Power in July 2001 following a career with United Forklift. He has over nine years of materials handling experience. He has worked as a Princeton Piggyback specialist and most recently as a major accounts representative covering the North Broward and Palm Beach counties. | |
| | Forklift operator can turn feet backward
Salina, KS, United States | A forklift operator appears with his feet backward — a natural occurrence for him — in the newly published 2011 special edition of the non-fiction Ripley’s Believe It or Not! hardcover book.
Ray Gonzales works in Salina with Milton, Georgia-based Exide Technologies, a global lead-acid-battery manufacturer and stored-electrical-energy specialist.
An 11 September news report in the Salina Journal says unusually long ligaments in Gonzales’ hips allows him to achieve the weird feat.
Gonzales’ dexterity was featured in the Salina newspaper initially in November 2008, a Ripley’s newspaper comic strip in February 2009 and Ripley’s Human Body book in October 2009.
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| | Forklift dealer duped by stolen cheque
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | Forklift dealer Brian Talbot of Starline Forklifts is warning the industry to beware of stolen bank cheques after he was conned out of close to $30,000 last week.
A man, who claimed to be from Moree in New South Wales, contacted Talbot and said he was interested in purchasing two forklifts he’d viewed on the company’s website.
“He said his driver would be in Brisbane the following week to pick up the forklifts and pay for them,” Talbot tells Forkliftaction.com News.
The driver duly arrived with a semi-trailer truck, and presented Talbot with a bank guaranteed cheque totalling $28,600, the combined price of the two forklifts.
According to Talbot, the man filled out the paperwork, using the business details of a genuine company, and left with the forklifts. He then deposited the cheque, which was accepted by his bank, but was phoned the following day to be told that it had been dishonoured by CBA as it was a stolen cheque.
Talbot says he is still in discussion with the bank over the issue, and will be meeting with the ombudsman in due course.
One of the forklifts is a 7-ton Hyster forklift, model H150F, Serial# D6S-1537S.
According to Talbot, it is fairly unique in that it has a wide double-side shifting carriage – which means that it has one carriage in front of the other and has a very low mast and can only lift one container – not one on top of the other (which is the usual way to lift). The rego plate as shown in the photograph was removed prior to pick-up.
He asks the industry to be on the look out for it as well as the second forklift, a 2.5 ton Komatsu forklift, model FD25-14, Serial# 568606, Engine# 4D49E-57223.
“If you should hear anything of these forklifts, or anyone enquiring about parts for these forklifts, we would appreciate you contacting us straight away,” says Talbot.
Other details Talbot noticed include the accent of the man on the phone which was a South England accent, almost cockney. Talbot also does not believe the man was from Moree as the semi-trailer used was extremely old and had a flat tyre on the left hand side, which suggests he wasn’t going far. He is hoping police will be able to secure CCTV footage of the vehicle with the forklifts.
Steven Münchenberg, chief executive of the Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA), tells Forkliftaction.com News that bank cheques are like any other cheque – they have to be cleared before they are honoured by the bank. A cheque is cleared for the customer to withdraw funds when it is paid by the other bank. Cheque clearance takes three days as it is still a paper system.
“If an individual/merchant needs the funds quickly, a valid cheque can be cleared on the day it is presented at the bank if you ask for a ‘special clearance’ which often attracts a fee,” says Münchenberg.
Bank cheques also need to be cleared because they could still be dishonoured by the bank if the cheque is forged, has been materially altered, is reported lost or stolen or is subject to a court order restraining payment.
“If an individual is selling a car, for example, you could go to the bank with the purchaser of your car and ask for a special clearance. This means that a valid cheque can be cleared on the day it is presented. Fees apply for this service. Individuals also have the option of transferring funds into their bank accounts through internet banking, which can be quicker than waiting for cheque clearance,” he adds.
He says bank cheque fraud is rare. “The Australian Payments Clearing Association collects data on payments fraud, including cheques overall but not on bank cheque fraud specifically. The data over the last three-and–a-half years shows the number of incidents and the dollar value of cheque fraud overall is nearly half of what it was in mid-2006, when the survey first started.” | |
| | Forklift near-disaster prompts safety upgrade
Wodonga Victoria, Australia | Retail giant Woolworths and subsidiary company Woolstar have entered into a legal agreement with WorkSafe which requires them to carry out a range of safety improvements around forklifts and reach trucks.
The company agreed to the safety upgrades after a worker escaped injury only to be soaked in olive oil when boxes of bottles fell onto his specialised forklift.
The June 2008 incident at the Woolworths Wodonga distribution centre occurred when an unlicensed and unsupervised worker was operating a reach truck to move pallets.
Although the worker didn’t suffer physical injuries, olive oil had to be washed from his face and eyes.
The incident occurred when the worker tried to use the reach truck to return a pallet to its place in an eight metre-high rack.
As he did so, the reach truck’s mast hooked onto the pallet above the empty position, causing the load from the pallet he was raising to fall. Glass bottles of olive oil broke open on the roof of the truck, soaking him in oil.
“The worker operating the reach truck had only completed a day of basic training. He was shown how to use a truck by another storeperson – but after a few hours’ supervision, he was left to operate it on his own,” says manufacturing and logistics director, Ross Pilkington.
“Clearly, he shouldn’t have been operating a reach truck. It wasn’t safe for him or his fellow workers, and it was pure luck that no-one was injured.
“Woolworths and Woolstar have an obligation to make sure all trainee forklift operators are supervised by a licensed operator, and that trainees only operate equipment unsupervised when they’ve been deemed competent.”
The undertaking is allowed for as an alternative to prosecution under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, and is enforceable through the courts if its conditions are not met.
Activities to improve safety undertaken by Woolworths and Woolstar include the following:
• An independent review of health and safety systems at the distribution centre and an implementation plan for corrective actions;
• A physical hazards audit and a plan for corrective actions;
• A review of the Woolworths/Woolstar forklift licensing system;
• Publication of a Forklift Licensing Guidance Note by Woolworths/Woolstar, which will be presented to the Wodonga Chamber of Commerce;
• Publication of an article regarding the incident in Woolstar/Woolworths internal newsletter and an external industry newsletter/publication;
• Presentation of a free safety seminar at WorkSafe Week or equivalent, presenting a case study on the circumstances of the incident, and the measures taken since the incident;
• Installation of mast cameras on to all reach truck forklifts at all their supermarket distribution centres to improve visibility for operators.
Woolworths and Woolstar are also making donations totalling $90,000 to The Royal Children’s Hospital, the Wodonga Health Services Emergency Department and the Institute for Safety, Compensation, and Recovery Research (for a research project around manual handling of products in distribution centres). | |
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| | Multi-million dollar contract to increase port capacity
Port Walcott, Western Australia, Australia | Construction specialist John Holland has been awarded a $276 million marine contract which forms part of the early works for Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert Port B Project in Western Australia’s northwest.
The contract package involves the construction of a 920-metre jetty and two-berth wharf, new shiploading facilities and associated piping works. The project will increase capacity at the Cape Lambert port by 50 million tonnes per annum.
The new port will be located at the Cape Lambert iron ore facility at Port Walcott, approximately 40 kilometres east of Karratha in Western Australia. Construction will commence immediately with completion expected late in 2012. | |
| | Port manager awarded Churchill Fellowship
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | For the first time in the history of the prestigious Churchill Fellowship, someone from the port industry has been awarded the honour.
Port of Brisbane employee Jason Sprott will use his fellowship to research sustainable seaport design, development and operation in ports across Asia, Europe and North America.
Sprott says the project will benefit the Australian port industry by providing an international insight into precinct planning, building design, management of growth and interface with city areas, and new technologies being used in the logistics chain.
“This research will also influence the way the Port of Brisbane responds effectively to increased growth in the future, and will advance the company’s commitment to sustainable development,” he adds.
The Churchill Memorial Trust awards approximately 100 overseas research fellowships to Australians every year to honour the memory of Sir Winston Churchill. | |
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| | | MSE-Forks publishes slipsheet supplier list | Increasing numbers of companies are stepping over to palletless shipping methods due to the high costs of pallets. According to the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation, the wood used to make pallets has become significantly more expensive this last quarter and pallet manufacturers will be passing on these price increases to its customers. By doing away with pallets, especially for sea container shipments, major cost savings can be made.
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| | | First Combilift 4-Way Forklift for the Kingdom of Jordan | Steel Buildings Company (SBC) is the leading manufacturer of structural steel buildings in the northern Middle East, based in Amman, Jordan. It supplies a wide spectrum of products including Pre- Engineered, Multi-storey and Prefabricated buildings to its home and neighbouring countries, and is the first company in Jordan to take delivery of a Combilift 4-way forklift. Since the truck has been in operation, SBC has been able to make substantial savings on time, space and money in its materials handling operations according to General Manager Mr. Vatche Karmandarian.
Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. | |
| | | Somerset Capital…Leading the way in the field of industrial equipment financing….Today, Tomorrow, and into the Future | Established in 1984, Somerset Capital Group, Ltd. offers highly customized equipment leasing, asset based financing and asset management solutions to clients in the industrial market. Our experience and financial strength give us the flexibility to offer a variety of operating leases, capital leases and purchase-leaseback plans tailored to our customers specific needs.
Our experience and financial strength give us the flexibility to offer you a variety of operating leases, capital leases and purchase-leaseback plans tailored to your specific needs. In fact, many of our clients select Somerset specifically for our expertise in structuring competitively priced transactions ranging from $25,000 to more than $25 million.
Click here for the full text of this release, including pictures. | |
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| FleetNet - Secured Web Access 24/7 |  | Via our website, fleet managers have the ability to utilize a flexible reporting application to investigate breakdown transactions; both historical and current.
FleetNet America’s maintenance services are enhanced by the data analysis and information customers receive on their events and equipment. Permission based access to our website gives management the ability to see real-time data, as well as historical information, enabling them to make cost effective decisions at anytime. Electronic equipment files are stored and accessible when they are needed for DOT/OSHA reviews, selling equipment, etc.
Click here for more information on this product, including pictures. | |
| | | Introducing a Distribution Tractor concept |  | We wish to introduce to you our new Distribution Tractor concept and to a newcomer in our selection, for keeping your terminal operations on the move. Exceeding all standards for its class, the Kalmar TT612d Purpose-built Distribution Tractor has the potential to increase your productivity by 35%. In contrast to clumsy road trucks, the Distribution Tractor makes the trailer-handling faster and you gain better access to service points. Drive lines are optimal, and visibility wider. Make your trailer-handling three times faster!
Click here for more information on this product, including pictures. | |
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