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 | | | In a couple of weeks, we’ll be unveiling a new-look newsletter. The redesign, which has been under way for several months, marks the first radical change in the newsletter’s 10-year history. It employs some of the newest technology and also reflects changing reader habits. When we started, people accessed the internet using dial-up. Today, broadband is the norm, and internet access is not limited to the workplace. People access the web via their mobiles, their PDAs, netbooks and iPads. So our content has been adapted to suit those media as well. And while there will be plenty of changes, our team has worked hard to retain the feel and functionality that readers enjoy – so you’ll be able to concentrate on the message rather than the medium. Watch this space … |
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| | Global hydraulic equipment market to reach nearly USD40 billion
San Jose, CA, United States | Despite being tempered by the global recession, the world market for hydraulic equipment is expected to gain momentum over the next few years to reach USD38.9 billion by 2015.
Hydraulics is the technology that uses fluid power to generate mechanical power. Hydraulic equipment is used in a wide range of application markets including agriculture, military, construction, industrial machinery, oil and mining and automotives. In automotives, hydraulic systems are used in, among others, forklifts, aircrafts and cranes.
According to a comprehensive global report by Global Industry Analysts Inc, the erosion in market value for global hydraulic equipment for the past two years was caused by the slowdown on the construction and industrial machinery sector, which are among the most prominent end-use markets for hydraulic equipment.
“Sales of earthmoving and mining equipment have especially come under the yoke of the recession, with shortages in finances and budgetary constraints suppressing demand. Additionally, lethargy in construction activity in most parts of the world, particularly the industrialised nations, has tranquilised demand for most construction equipment like forklifts, construction cranes, road rollers and ground machines, all of which use mobile hydraulic components,” according to the report.
Demand for hydraulic components used in industrial machinery also declined with industries like textile, paper, beverage and plastics also bearing the brunt of the financial meltdown.
However, easing of lending restrictions and recovery in construction and mining industries in the post-recession period are expected to reinvigorate market demand.
The report points out that other factors expected to drive growth in the hydraulic equipment market include technology innovations and marketing strategies that target newer, emerging product markets. The US continues to remain the largest regional market for hydraulic equipment. The Asia Pacific, excluding Japan, is the fastest-growing regional market, poised to reach USD5.9 billion by 2012 and driven by industrialisation and infrastructure development.
Pumps and motors represent the largest product segment of the hydraulic equipment market, followed by valves. Major players in the hydraulics market include Bosch Rexroth Corp, Dongyang Mechatronics Corp, Eaton Corp, Kayaba Industry Company Ltd, Nabtesco Corp, Sauer-Danfoss Inc, Bailey International Corp, Iskra Avtoelektrika, Moog Inc, Toshiba Machine Co Ltd, Wipro Infrastructure Engineering Ltd, Parker Hannafin Corp, Commercial Hydraulics Inc, Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp and Yuken Kogyo Co Ltd.
The research report titled “Hydraulic Equipment: A Global Strategic Business Report” provides a comprehensive review of trends, issues, product developments, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities. It also provides market estimates and projections across the product segments including accumulators and filters, cylinders, power packs, pumps and motors, valves and other hydraulic equipment.
Global Industry Analysts Inc, founded in 1987 in California, employs over 800 people worldwide and publishes over 1,200 full-scale research reports each year. |  |
| | New Nissan representation in eastern Pennsylvania 
Morgantown, PA, United States | Taylor Northeast Inc (TNE) of Morgantown has added Nissan Forklift Corp North America in 11 Pennsylvania counties to its ongoing representation of Taylor Machine Works Inc.
TNE is part of the commonly owned Coraopolis, Pennsylvania-based H&K family of companies with roots in the forklift industry extending back to 1935.
“We needed a new dealership to keep growing,” says Kevin Koch, TNE sales manager. “The primary goal is to provide the highest possible level of customer service before, during and after the sale, while growing both the Nissan and Taylor Northeast brands in eastern Pennsylvania.”
The Nissan forklift line is complementary to the large-capacity Taylor Machine Works offerings.
Effective from 1 August, TNE’s Nissan representation covers Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe, Luzerne, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Pike, Susquehanna and Wayne counties.
CSI Enterprises Inc represented the Nissan brand in the region prior to 1 August, when CSI’s ownership changed. Now, the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based business operates as CSI Material Handling Inc (Forkliftaction.com News #474).
TNE was incorporated in February 1989 in Morgantown and opened a facility in Baltimore, Maryland in 1994. Now, TNE’s Morgantown branch employs 20 persons. The Baltimore branch has 12 employees and represents the Taylor and Hyundai brands of forklifts.
TNE stocks Cascade and Long Reach forklift attachments and JLG LiftPod aerial work platforms.
In addition, TNE entities sell and support complete lines of mobile railcar movers from Stewart & Stevenson LLC’s Rail King brand, tow tractors from A&G Mercury Trucks and sweepers, scarifiers and scrubbers—the Factory Cat, PowerBoss, Advance and American Lincoln lines—for industrial and commercial cleaning needs.
On 7 May, TNE sister company H&K Equipment Inc in Coraopolis acquired the ancillary Elwell-Parker, Autolift and Schreck materials handling brands from Hoist Liftruck Manufacturing Inc (Forkliftaction.com News #462). | |
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Machinery Action Group specialise in the sales and rental of heavy machinery for construction, mining and material handling industries. |  |
| | Forklift dealers blast county procurement
Yuma, AZ, United States | Two angry forklift dealers and a business group are up in arms over a Yuma County decision to snub local materials handling equipment suppliers.
The practice is seen as detrimental to the local economy, according to Geoff Nance, Mark Wright and Ken Rosevear.
“The county did this, (and) they are looking stupid,” says Nance, sales manager of the Yuma branch of Naumann-Hobbs Material Handling (NHMH).
“Shock and disbelief” is the reaction of Wright, manager of the Yuma store for Alta Lift Inc, a business of Quinn Group Inc.
“How could the (county) not be locally sensitive in this difficult economy?” ponders Rosevear, executive director of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce.
In early April at a meeting in Yuma, the county board of supervisors approved spending USD80,000 to provide materials handling equipment and accessories to the non-profit Yuma Community Food Bank. The funds came from a traditional US Department of Housing and Urban Development community development block grant for the county’s discretionary use.
The county went through a state Department of Administration-run purchasing cooperative to make the procurements from Arnold Machinery Company of Arizona in Laveen, Arizona. Arnold salesman Vic Villont handled the transaction.
The Arizona business unit near Phoenix is an operation of Salt Lake City, Utah-based Arnold Machinery Co. Arnold has 19 materials handling, construction and general implement facilities, serves all or parts of 15 states but does not have a location in Yuma.
The co-operative program with its pre-approval process is open to any in-state business and, typically, makes it convenient for a local government to make purchases from a list of qualified bidders without going through another extensive vetting. The co-operative forbids local preference unless a bidder offers special qualifications such as local parts and service.
While Arnold was on the state co-operative’s list, that was not the case for NHMH or Alta Lift. Both, however, are taking steps toward being included.
On 13 September after a suitable county ceremony, the Food Bank began using two new battery-powered Yale forklifts with lifting capacities of 3,550 lbs (1,598 kg) and a new battery-powered Yale pallet jack with a capacity of 4,000 lbs (1,800 kg). In addition, the Food Bank received extra forklift and pallet jack batteries, a forklift scale, a battery charger and a watering kit.
The Food Bank continues to use a Hyster forklift with capacity of 6,250 lbs (2,813 kg), but “we have retired one of our older pallet jacks,” says Jerry Garcia, the Food Bank’s co-ordinator of special events and public relations.
The county’s purchasing of the equipment and accessories from Arnold Machinery created a brouhaha in Yuma, and Nance, Wright and Rosevear have made their displeasure known to those within hearing distance and beyond.
On behalf of the Food Bank, “Mark and I did the legwork,” Nance says, and “we have had a huge push to buy here (and) buy local.”
Wright notes, “We spent three weeks with . . . the Food Bank conducting application survey(s), electrical specs of the building, charter/watering applications as well as electronic scale specs and loaner batteries.”
Wright comments about the local dealers’ efforts: “The pricing given directly to the Food Bank was under (USD)65,000. It seems we did all the work for the Food Bank, and Yuma County did not even consult or call Alta Yuma or Mr Nance at Naumann-Hobbs before awarding Arnold the deal.”
The chamber’s Rosevear says, “Our reaction was shock. This is not the first instance that Yuma County has awarded contracts without soliciting local vendors. The Yuma Chamber has campaigned through a Buy Locally program for the past few years. We feel that it is especially important during these tough economic times that local entities make every effort to keep these dollars circulating in our communities. This creates local jobs and keeps our tax dollars at home.”
Nance observes that the Arnold Machinery site in Laveen is more than 180 miles (288 km) from Yuma in south western Arizona and suggests that timely equipment maintenance at that distance might be problematical.
Terry Ross with the Yuma Sun drove home the economic issue in a 25 September opinion piece and encouraged Yuma County to help local firms get on the procurement list, perhaps through workshops or information sessions.
“Local government officials have to be ‘neutral’ in applying purchasing laws, but they shouldn't be neutral in wanting to actively look for lawful ways to help local businesses benefit from public purchases,” says Ross, director of the daily newspaper’s news and information centre.
Robert Pickels, Yuma County administrator, did not respond to an inquiry.
In addition to the Yuma branch, Phoenix-based NHMH has 13 sites in the US states of Arizona, California, Utah and Nevada and two locations in the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California. NHMH in Yuma represents the Clark, Crown, Mitsubishi and Jungheinrich brands.
In addition to the Yuma store, Alta Lift has five forklift locations in central California. Alta Lift in Yuma represents the Caterpillar brand. Parent firm Quinn Group is based in Selma, California.
About 1 mile (1.6 km) separates the East Gila Ridge Road locations of NHMH and Alta Lift facilities in Yuma. | |
| | Palletforce invests in technology upgrades and new fleet
Burton-upon-Trent, United Kingdom | UK pallet distributor Palletforce has invested over GBP1 million (USD1,590,341) to upgrade its fleet of 40 forklifts to boost efficiency at its central hub in Burton-upon-Trent.
A Palletforce spokeswoman tells Forkliftaction.com News that the company wanted to replace the existing three-year-old fleet with “the very latest and up to date” forklifts. CAT two tonne counterbalance forklifts were selected.
Last year, Palletforce spent GBP500,000 (USD795,183) developing specialist scanning and axle weighing technology that was fitted to each of its forklifts. The technology has now been fitted on its new fleet with additional upgrades including touchscreen and larger scanner memory.
Operations director Carl Worgan says Palletforce is always looking at how it can use technology to drive improvements and increase efficiency.
“The new weighing and scanning technology is something we created ourselves and has proved very successful. These new forklifts and scanner upgrades will further add to the speed and accuracy of our network,” Worgan says.
Worgan and his team took two years to develop the technology using software written to meet Palletforce’s requirements. It allows Palletforce to track and trace every pallet from the moment they enter the central hub. Staff barcode the pallets before delivering them to the hub.
Once at the hub, they are unloaded by the forklifts, which read the barcode and automatically weigh the pallet. A message then appears on the forklift’s display screens, telling the driver which of the 96 loading bays to transfer the pallet to.
Palletforce’s GBP30 million (USD47.7 million) central distribution hub was opened last year and acts as a nerve centre for the overnight delivery of palletised goods across the UK and Europe. | |
| | VersaCold wins rodeo, sponsors named for US Open
Spokane, WA and Springfield, OH, United States | Ron Cochran from Seattle, Washington facility of harbour services provider and project manager Foss Maritime Co won the top individual plaque and USD500 prize in the 13th annual Washington State forklift rodeo.
Participants in the statewide competition held on 29 September in Spokane went through a written examination, pre-flight equipment inspection and a demonstration of forklift operating skills.
Mike Weinman with a Seattle site of Boeing Co took the 2010 second individual place, receiving USD400 and a plaque, and Elton Gould with Columbia Crest Wine in Paterson, Washington captured the third individual recognition, receiving USD300 and a plaque.
Andrew Ibbotson, Randy Langwell and Corey Nelson won first place in the team category. They operate forklifts in Lynden, Washington at the VersaCold Cascade facility.
The 2010 second place team of Weinman, Ralph Albrecht and Joe Henry represents a Seattle plant of Boeing.
In the 2009 forklift rodeo, the Boeing team was the victor, and VersaCold was second.
The top five operators from each of the 2010 preliminary competitions in Richland, Spokane and Auburn participated as part of the governor’s 59th industrial safety and health conference. The governor’s industrial safety and health advisory board and the state’s department of labor and industries co-sponsor the conference.
Meanwhile, organisers of the 29-30 October US Forklift Rodeo & Safety Expo in Springfield have circulated the names of event sponsors and additional team entrants.
The sponsors provide funding and in-kind-service contributions.
Gold Nugget-level sponsors for the 16th annual event include the Springfield/Clark County Safety Council, the industry portal Forkliftaction.com, and materials handling equipment dealership KMH Systems Inc.
Silver Spur-level sponsors include Cascade Corp, the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Forklift Training Systems Inc, KTH Parts Industries Inc and Sentry Protection Inc.
Tin Star-level sponsors include Dole Food Co Inc fresh vegetables, EnerSys Inc, MH Network, Sweet Manufacturing Co and Yale Inc.
An Open Range-level sponsor is the multi-dealership Jeff Wyler Automobile Family.
Richard E Higgins, longtime event facilitator, reports the addition of teams from shoe and handbag retailer DSW Inc of Columbus, Ohio; metal stamping and four-slide house Kreider Corp of Springfield; and a sixth Kraft Foods Inc team, in this case representing a distribution centre in Addison, Illinois. These entrants are in addition to those previously reported (Forkliftaction.com News #480). Higgins is a senior safety trainer and territory manager in the Springfield branch of Forklift Training Systems.
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| | OSHA cites improper use of forklifts in combustible area
Miami, FL, United States | A federal regulator is issuing seven serious and two repeat safety citations and proposing penalties of USD72,000 against the Miami factory of Flexible Foam Products Inc.
Allegedly, the producer of polyurethane foam and foam products operated unapproved propane-powered forklifts in areas with a potential for a dust explosion or fire.
In addition, the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cites Flexible Foam for using forklifts with non-working lights.
Other citations involve failing to keep an area clean and free of dangerous accumulations of explosive and combustible foam dust and failing to install machine guards on cutting machines to protect workers from amputation hazards. Those repeat violations were uncovered during an inspection in May that followed a November 2009 inspection.
OSHA allows a company 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Flexible Foam has indicated an interest in scheduling an informal conference, according to the OSHA area office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The agency issued the citations 0n 27 September.
“Employers need to be aware that OSHA will be conducting follow-up inspections to ensure that past violations are being corrected,” says Darlene Fossum, area office director. “OSHA will not hesitate to take additional actions against employers who have demonstrated recalcitrance or indifference to following the law.”
Flexible Foam operates in 19 locations in 13 states and has about 700 employees. Flexible Foam and privately owned parent firm Ohio Decorated Products Inc are based in Spencerville, Ohio.
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| | Cargotec refurbishes Northport’s cranes
Klang, Malaysia | Cargotec has secured two contracts to refurbish and upgrade ship-to-shore cranes from Northport (Malaysia) Bhd operating at Port Klang, as part of plans to boost efficiency and capacity at its container terminal.
Eight cranes, capable of 48 metre (158 foot) outreach, will be completely refurbished with digital electrical system technology. Upgrades will be made to the cranes’ speed drives, control monitoring systems, motors, cables, brakes, festoon systems, operator cabins and load weighing systems. Two post-Panamax cranes will be raised in height to accommodate larger container ships.
Collin Swee, Cargotec Terminal Business Malaysia director, says that the crane refurbishment project will extend the lifetime of Northport’s quay cranes and offer improved return on its initial investment.
“These cranes are 10 to 15 years old but they are still in good structural condition. We expect their life expectancy will be extended by a minimum of one million cycles,” Swee says.
He explains that newer generation electrical and electronic components will significantly improve the reliability and uptime of the cranes and expects maintenance costs to be lower in the medium- to long-term.
“Each crane will benefit from a new crane maintenance management system for faster diagnosis of technical faults, in turn reducing mean time to repair,” Swee adds.
The cranes’ control systems will also be modified to allow twin-lift operations. Swee expects the upgrade to result in a 15% improvement in operational speed and efficiency. The 20-month retrofit project will see the cranes delivered progressively, with the first back in service by the end of the first quarter of 2011, and the last operational by the first quarter of the following year.
Northport’s quay cranes are not Kalmar-built, but Cargotec will use its STS engineering experience, expertise and resources to refurbish the other-branded cranes. The crane refurbishment projects are integral to Northport’s plans to meet new demand for handling capacity. In the first half of 2010, throughput grew 26% compared to the same period last year. The port expects to handle 3.5 million TEUs for 2010.
“The Asia Pacific region has experienced quantum growth in port terminal development in the last 15 years. There is a demand for a strong and competent technical service provider to assist these terminals in the upgrade and retrofit of their current equipment fleet,” Swee says.
Cargotec’s terminal business in Malaysia has also recently been contracted to undertake crane structural analysis at the ESCO Terminal, Laem Chabang in Thailand. In March 2010, it completed a crane refurbishment project in Manila, Philippines and in 2009, secured a refurbishment contract in Brunei.
Separately, Cargotec has received an order for 14 Kalmar Edrive straddle carriers from Générale de Manutention Portuaire, a joint venture between terminal operator DP World and shipping company CMA-CGM at the port of Le Havre in France. The value of the order was not disclosed. | |
| | Logis-tech visitor numbers affected by recession
Tokyo, Japan | Visitor numbers were down for Asia’s largest materials handling and logistics expo, Logis-tech Tokyo 2010.
Masahito Takeo from show organiser Japan Management Association tells Forkliftaction.com News that 126,467 people visited the trade show at Tokyo International Exhibition Centre on September 14-18 – down from 140,576 in 2008.
“Almost all exhibitors cut down their budgets because of the impact of the global financial crisis,” Takeo says. In total, 412 companies occupied 12,969sqm (139,597sqft) to showcase their products and services. Twenty-seven overseas companies occupied 30 booths. Only 1.5% of the show’s visitors were from overseas.
Logis-tech is the only trade show in Japan focusing on logistics management and distribution systems. It has been held biennially since 1994. The theme for the ninth expo was “Logistics innovation pioneers the future environmental harmony and globalisation”.
Toyoki Yamagishi, who organised TCM’s stand at Logis-tech, says a total of 100 staff from the forklift manufacturer participated in the four-day show: “About 6,000 people visited and watched our forklift demonstrations. Compared to other stands, our stand was one of the largest.”
TCM’s exhibition included a nickel-metal hydride battery truck, a forklift safety operation control system, the new FB45 electric forklift, the FRSB16 sit-down reach truck and an automatic guided vehicle.
Toyota spokesman Yawara Sakai says the company sent 30 staff to man its 230 sqm stand each day of the show and its exhibition included Toyota’s hybrid forklift, 7 series forklifts, 8.5 ton electric forklift and rapid battery charger.
“Our aim for Logis-tech was to showcase our products’ safety, efficiency and environmental-friendliness,” Sakai says.
Komatsu showcased Linde container handlers and large forklifts, a battery- hybrid forklift with new express charger and its new forklift with hydrostatic transmission, which it claims offers smooth acceleration, deceleration and handling. The latter was on public display for the first time.
Yoko Yoshimura from Nichiyu says the company exhibited its products in conjunction with MHI. The two companies have sales and marketing tie-ups. In 2009, Nichiyu and MHI established a joint venture company to consolidate their domestic marketing activities (Forkliftaction.com News #476).
The show is jointly organised by The Japan Society of Industrial Machinery Manufacturers, Japan Industrial Vehicles Association, Japan Pallet Association, Japan Material Handling Association, The Japan Institute of Material Handling, Japan Institute of Logistics Systems and Japan Management Association. | |
| | | Briefs | Pink forklift on display this month
South Plainfield, NJ, United States
US forklift supplier Barclay Brand Ferdon is supporting National Breast Cancer Awareness month by raising money and awareness, and displaying a pink Yale forklift on its front lawn throughout the month of October.
Barclay Brand Ferdon CEO Skip Russo says the company will match all donations made by employees to the American Cancer Society. The company is participating in the society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Woodbridge Centre on 17 October.
Barclay Brand Ferdon is a warehousing equipment and support services distributor in New Jersey and New York. It represents Yale forklifts.
United Rentals releases white paper
Greenwich, CT, United States
United Rentals Inc has released a white paper on clean construction regulations, titled “Clean Construction: A Guide for the Construction Industry and Policy Makers”.
The document serves as a guide for the construction industry and covers air quality and health concerns around diesel emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, direct site impacts to water quality/habitat, and community disturbance from noise, dust and traffic. It profiles policies that impact the way contractors and equipment owners conduct business, including California’s Off-Road Diesel Program and policies in New York, Illinois and Texas. It is also a resource for municipal, city and state governments considering diesel emission regulations.
“We value the opportunity to work with regulators to promote effective regulations that meet industry needs and incorporate lessons learned to date,” says Heidi Rawe, United Rental’s senior director of sustainability. The white paper can be downloaded free from www.unitedrentals.com.
Germans win again
Aschaffenburg, Germany
The reigning German champions have taken the “Best European Forklifting Nation” title at the StaplerCup in Aschaffenburg, Germany.
Michael Schubert, Tino Schröder and Waldemar Taach beat Czech Republic and Hungary in the forklift competition that was watched by about 10,000 spectators on Aschaffenburg’s Schlossplatz.
Ten countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Slovakia, the UK and Belgium sent their three best forklift operators to compete in the annual competition.
Since 2007, many European countries have held their own national forklift championships and sent their top three winners to Aschaffenburg to compete in the international championship, which runs concurrently with the final of the German national championship.
MMS Aviation upgrades forklift capability
Coshocton, OH, United States
Christian grant institution Tyndale House Foundation of Carol Stream, Illinois has provided USD5,000 for the faith-supported ministry MMS Aviation of Coshocton to purchase a model-year 2000 Daewoo forklift with lifting capacity of 4,000 lbs (1,800 kg). This unit replaces an early -1950s Motolift that MMS Aviation had found difficult to maintain because many repair parts were unavailable. MMS Aviation serves the mission-oriented aviation community. | |
| | | Product News | Toyota launches new compact forklift
Brussels, Belgium
Toyota Material Handling Europe has launched a new range of compact electric forklifts, with three models offering capacities of 2-3 tonnes.
Designed for all indoor materials handling applications, the Toyota 8FBCU forklifts are said to provide better performance than their predecessors due to higher drive and lifting speeds.
Product manager Dave Rylance says the main advantage of the 8FBCU is their compact size, allowing use in tighter work spaces than conventional forklifts.
Every 8FBCU counterbalance model features Toyota’s System of Active Stability that automatically takes corrective action when it senses the forklift or load becoming unstable.
New Linde series in North America
Summerville, SC, United States
Linde Material Handling North America has introduced the 1313 series of hydrostatic drive, cushion-tyre forklifts for demanding conditions. The four models in the series are LPG-powered and have capacities ranging from 5,000lbs to 6,500lbs (2,268kg to 2,948kg).
According to Linde, its hydrostatic drive system easily manages the adverse effects of ramps, dust, heat, humidity, pushing, shoving and bulldozing found in the demanding earth-moving, logging, construction and mining applications. The forklifts also feature a spacious cab with “luxury automobile equivalent legroom, excellent visibility of load and surroundings and cushioned steer axle for reducing road shock”.
Crown launches V-SCR charger
New Bremen, OH, United States
Crown Equipment has launched its new V-Force brand of V-SCR battery chargers, silicon-controlled rectifier battery chargers for industrial batteries.
Crown says the charger can work with any industrial battery and provides safe charging that extends the battery’s life. The charger features a five-second delay at start and the entire exterior of the cabinet is grounded. Protective timers monitor each stage of the charging cycle to prevent against overcharging. The system display includes lights to indicate when the battery is charging, when charging is 80% complete, when charging is complete, when equalised charging is selected, if a fault has occurred, and when the start delay timer is activated. | |
| | Terex city crane works fast on Times Square
Zweibrücken, Germany and New York, United States | North Shore Crane has supplied a Terex AC 40 City crane to replace the famous Virgin Record Store neon sign with a new sign for the flagship store of the Forever 21 clothing chain on Times Square.
As Times Square is one of New York City’s main attractions with busy traffic, the city’s Department of Transportation only permitted two, 11-foot wide lane closures, leaving limited access to the site and a tight overnight schedule for the sign installation.
The huge stainless steel and neon tube light set-up for Virgin Record Store was first removed before the new sign elements were installed. The latter comprised of giant LED screens, letters with flashing LEDS, a special canopy with more LED screens and a border that changes colour with the screen content.
To install the sign, the AC 40 City was driven straight into the site, making tight turns against the high curbs and worked rapidly, performing lifts of up to 5,600lbs (2,540kg) at 70-foot (21.3 metre) radius and 102-foot (31 metre) maximum boom length.
“Offering (more) compact size and better over-the-road speed compared to other cherry-picker models, the Terex AC 40 City meant that we could perform lifts efficiently, manoeuvre safely and save time by bringing the crane directly to the job site without special permits,” says Alex Robson, North Shore Crane’s project manager.
The Terex AC 40 City crane can lift up to 44 tons and offers a 31.2 metre (102 foot) maximum boom length for a 44.metre (145 foot) maximum tip height. | |
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Logistics leaders to speak at AusIntermodal
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, AusIntermodal 2010 has released the names of some of the speakers contributing to this year’s event, which takes place in Melbourne from 9-10 November.
These include Michael Deegan, CEO, Infrastructure Australia; Patrick Conlon MP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy, SA; Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia; Gary Liddle, CEO, VicRoads; Michael Kilgariff, CEO, Australian Logistics Council (ALC); David Marchant, CEO, Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC); Bryan Nye, CEO, Australasian Railway Association (ARA); Stephen Bradford, CEO, Port of Melbourne Corporation; Vincent Tremaine, CEO, Flinders Ports; Chris Leatt-Hayter, CEO, Fremantle Ports; Grant Gilfillan, CEO, Sydney Ports Corporation; Philip Bourne, general manager, Integrated Logistics Company (ILC); Chris Keast, director, Pacific National Intermodal; and John Begley, chairman, Australian Freight Council Network.
This year's agenda will focus on:
• Responding to market trends: An overview of today’s economy and how this is affecting freight logistics;
• National freight transport plans;
• Connecting Australia: The states’ initiatives for more co-ordinated transport networks;
• An overview of ports, road and rail projects;
• Supply chain initiatives, challenges and solutions;
• Managing landside logistics;
• Meeting the challenge of rising freight demands and industry priorities for productivity and growth;
• Regulation and compliance issues and assessing transport charges and taxes: How should transport services in Australia be charged to contribute to economic efficiency?;
• Current industry case studies;
• International case studies;
• Navigating towards a zero-emissions supply chain: Sustainable practices across transport networks; and
• Defining realistic social, environmental and economic targets. | |
| | End of an era for forklift doyen
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | Steve Harper, president of Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA), stepped down from his position last week to take early retirement.
His decision follows an injury that will require lengthy recuperation.
TMHA general manager - national corporate services, Nick Shepherd tells Forkliftaction.com News that current chairman Terry Unnai will take on the role of president in addition to his chairmanship.
General manager sales and marketing Steve Takacs has also been promoted to the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer of TMHA.
Harper spent 35 years associated with Toyota in Australia - 20 years with the Toyota automotive company and 15 years with TMHA.
According to Unnai, Harper was instrumental in the setting up of TMHA in Australia.
From 2003 to 2005, he played a key role in the acquisition of eight major businesses which formed Toyota Industries Corporation Australia (TICA) - now known as TMHA.
"The past seven years have been very challenging but very rewarding as we transitioned through all our acquisitions," says Harper.
The company currently enjoys market leadership (based on Australian Industrial Truck Association results) through the sales, hire and service of Toyota, BT and Raymond product in Australia.
"Steve's retirement from TMHA marks the end of an era and we extend our very best wishes to him and his wife Louise for a long and fulfilling retirement," concludes Unnai. | |
| | Pallet company expands network
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | Australian-based supply chain specialist Brambles has acquired Unitpool, a major independent provider of pooled containers and pallets used by airlines for USD35 million.
“The acquisition opens an exciting new sector for Brambles with appealing growth prospects. It is a key step for Brambles in establishing a specialist containers business that leverages its global logistics footprint,” says CEO Tom Gorman.
Swiss-based Unitpool manages a pool of 33,000 unit load devices (ULDs) through approximately 300 airport locations and a network of 40 accredited repair centres. Its customers include more than 20 passenger and cargo airlines including Etihad, AirAsia X, Cargolux and AirBridge Cargo. | |
| | Government moves to keep freight on rail
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | New South Wales Minister for Ports Eric Roozendaal has vowed to regulate freight prices in response to Port Botany stevedore Patrick increasing its fees by 67%.
Roozendaal says Patrick’s decision to lift rail prices on 1 September, 2010 from $15 to $25 per container follows the announcement in April 2010 by the NSW government of a penalty regime for road operations. Both stevedores and truck carriers now face penalties if they do not meet operating benchmarks.
He adds that Patrick was fully aware that stevedore lift charges for both road and rail operations are already incorporated into existing shipping line contracts with the respective port stevedore.
“The NSW government has a very clear commitment to moving 40% of freight by rail. I will not allow this to be compromised,” says Roozendaal.
“The prospect of having thousands of extra trucks on our roads, especially the M5, because of Patrick’s price rise is simply unacceptable.
“I will be regulating prices to ensure fairness – and to keep freight on rail.” | |
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