Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) has once again been recognised as the world leader in materials handling, based on record-breaking sales in fiscal year 2007.   

Two major European publications ¨C Logistik Journal and DHF Magazine ¨C have again put TICO at the top of their latest world ranking lists. The ranking is based on TICO's annual turnover for the financial year from April 2006 to March 2007. During this period, TICO reported annual turnover of €5.2 billion for its materials handling equipment operations.  

TICO has been the global leader in Materials Handling since 2001. TICO's materials handling division, Toyota Material Handling Group (TMHG), is divided into four regional divisions, including Toyota Material Handling Europe (TMHE). TMHE is responsible for European market operations for the Toyota and BT product brands. 

Active in more than 30 European markets, TMHE has annual turnover of more than €1.5 billion. With European production centres in Ancenis (France); Bologna (Italy) and Mjölby (Sweden), TMHE has approximately 400 sales and service centres and 8,000 employees across Europe. 

In line with its focus on continuous improvement, TMHE has been reviewing European market needs in detail in order to find the best distribution structure for enhancing customer service and efficiency. As a result the company has merged Toyota and BT sales and service operations in a number of countries where it was decided that this would provide even better service and support to customers.  

Integrated marketing and sales companies in these countries will offer customers one-stop shopping for the full range of Toyota and BT products and services. 

Commenting on TICO's performance in the latest world ranking lists, Andrew Elliot, TMHE Executive Vice President Marketing, says: "Retaining the position of world leader in a very strong market is an outstanding achievement for Toyota Material Handling. We are proud of the contribution that our European organisation has made to our global success, and we look forward to continuing to build on our strong position in Europe." 

Andrew Elliot adds: "We are grateful that so many customers in Europe and around the world have chosen us as their materials handling partner. Our goal is to deliver innovative products and services which add value to our customers¡¯ businesses. We believe the developments which are taking place in our organisation will help us to serve even better the unique needs of our European customers." 

In May 2008, TMHE will take part in CeMAT 2008 in Hannover, Germany. CeMAT 2008 will mark the first time that the TMHE organisation will be on one stand for a major pan-European fair. At the Hannover event, TMHE will show its comprehensive range of Toyota and BT products and services, including several new product models. 

NOTE:

Toyota Material Handling Europe (TMHE) was established in 2005 to manage the Toyota and BT material handling operations in Europe. With more than 60 years in the business, TMHE offers a comprehensive portfolio of counterbalanced trucks and warehouse equipment bearing the Toyota and BT brands, along with supporting services. With headquarters in Brussels (Belgium), TMHE has operations in more than 30 European countries; European Offices in Ancenis (France), Bologna (Italy), Brussels and Mjölby (Sweden); and manufacturing plants in Ancenis, Bologna and Mjölby. TMHE is the European regional organisation of the Toyota Material Handling Group (TMHG), which is part of Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO).

TO WEBSITE  

Improvements Include New Look and Updated Product Offerings  

HOUSTON (February 18, 2008) ¨C Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks today unveiled a revamped customer Web site designed to be more user-friendly and showcase the company¡¯s selection of products.  

The refreshed site, www.mit-lift.com, features a new look and feel, enhanced navigation tools and valuable new business content, designed to highlight the outstanding value and long-term reliability associated with owning a Mitsubishi forklift truck.  

The new Mit-lift.com site provides an overview of the Mitsubishi forklift trucks brand and integrates its product offerings and support capabilities in a clear, easily navigated format. With enhanced graphics and content, the Web site reflects Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks commitment to providing quality-built forklifts designed to be reliable and ready to work when required. The new site will also feature video links to product demos and a customer testimonial.  

Manufactured in Houston, Texas to ISO 9001:2000 standards, Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks offers a full line of innovative lift trucks with models ranging from 2,500 to 33,000 pounds. Today's Mitsubishi forklift trucks continue to provide customers with innovative solutions for their material handling needs. For more information on the entire ready, reliable product line from Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks, please visit www.mit-lift.com or call 1-800-MIT-LIFT. 

Rocla Rus took part in the X-th Moscow International Logistic Forum which was held in Moscow on February 11-15, 2008. It is the first and one of global actions in the field of logistics and SCM in Russia and CIS countries. 

Moscow International Logistic Forum became a place for traditional annual meetings of professionals in the field of logistics, supply chain management, purchases, transportation, customs, insurance, warehousing, distribution, information technologies, and also owners and top-managers of the companies. Last achievements of logistical business, modern decisions in the field of logistics and SCM, practice and prospects of development of logistical systems are discussed at Forum. 

The purpose of the Forum - to provide the further development of logistic business in different companies according to the newest information and concrete experience in logistics and SCM. 

On the 13-th of February there were reports of Russian and foreign companies such as  FIEGE Eastern Europe Gmbh, Luno Group, IDS Scheer Russia and CIS, AXON-Consulting, §®2§® telematika, STS Logistics, National Logistic Company, Rocla Rus, FM Logistic Vostok, Solvo, Oracle CIS, Sevco etc. during the conference «Logistics and SCM: new challenges and decisions». 

Konstantin Titov, Rocla Rus Managing Director, presented report devoted AGV solutions. In particular new Automated Warehouse Truck was presented to the audience. 

His speech caused a big interest of the audience. With the shortage of skilled warehouse truck drivers both in Europe and in Russia a good way to keep the goods moving is to automate the material handling.

Kalmar Industries has won an order from the Port of Tacoma on the US West Coast for the supply of seven CSC 340 straddle carriers for the Port's on-dock intermodal rail operations. The units will be used to load and unload double stack container cars at Tacoma's extensive on-dock rail facility. Delivery of the machines is scheduled for October 2008. 

The straddle carriers, which have a 40-tonne single lift capability, will be engineered to stack containers 3-high. Additionally, they will feature Kalmar¡¯s proven 7th generation technology consisting of an enhanced CAN-bus PLC diagnostics system, fly-by-wire controls and directly PLC controlled engines, and a hydrodynamic drive system.

 Leif Wallin, President, Kalmar Americas, comments on the order:

 ¡°This new order further extends Kalmar¡¯s partnership with the Port of Tacoma, adding to the fleet of 26 Kalmar straddle carriers already employed at the port. 

¡°The new machines, which will replace five older straddle carriers, are ideally suited to the demanding operating conditions found at intermodal rail terminals. Their robustness and superior visibility have combined to make the Kalmar product the most reliable workhorse at terminals around the world.¡± 

Bryon Boerner, Electronics Technology Manager at the Port of Tacoma, says: ¡°Kalmar¡¯s straddle carriers have proved to be extremely reliable. The CSC machine has a robust frame that we feel stands up to the rough service of rail yards. Backed by excellent support from Kalmar¡¯s team in Tacoma, the straddle carriers are our labour partners¡¯ preferred machines.¡± 

Kalmar Industries has been supplying straddle carriers to the Port of Tacoma since 1986 and has built a very close working relationship with the port. This relationship has led to Kalmar and the port developing a number of industry firsts. Tacoma became the world¡¯s first on-dock rail operation using only straddle carriers, and Kalmar and the port authority jointly produced the world¡¯s first straddle carrier operator training video. As a leading operator of straddle cranes, the Port of Tacoma has trained operators from other ports across the US to work safely. 

Facilities at the Port of Tacoma include four dockside intermodal rail yards, operated by Tacoma Rail, a division of Tacoma Public Utilities, and served by the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific railroads. There are also excellent highway connections and ample land available for development. Strategically located on the West Coast of North America, the port handles more than 70 percent of the marine cargo moving between the 48 lower States and Alaska. 

Note to editors:

Press information can be found on Kalmar¡¯s website: www.kalmarind.com. Simply click on News Room to be taken to a list of recent press releases. A photograph to accompany this press release is also available on the Kalmar website, by clicking on Press Pictures. The caption for the photograph reads: 

¡°The Port of Tacoma has ordered seven 7th generation Kalmar CSC 340 straddle carriers for its on-dock rail operation, further extending the two parties¡¯ partnership spanning more than 20 years.¡± 

Kalmar is a global provider of container and heavy duty materials handling equipment, automation applications and related services. It is the world's leading supplier of cargo handling equipment to ports, terminals and intermodal facilities. 

Every fourth container or trailer transfer at terminals around the world is handled by a Kalmar machine. The company also supplies a wide range of machines to demanding industrial customers for applications as diverse as handling steel and paper to shunting road trailers at distribution hubs. 

Kalmar is also leading the way in port automation applications with its application of unmanned container handling technology, on-board smart features and remote maintenance products developed in co-operation with customers and partners. 

Kalmar's product range is complemented by a large range of value added services such as maintenance contracts and fleet management. Production plants are situated in Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Malaysia, China and the USA.  Kalmar's net sales were EUR 1.343 billion in 2007. 

Kalmar is part of Cargotec Corporation, the world's leading provider of cargo handling solutions, which are used in local transportation, terminals, ports, distribution centres, and ships. In 2007, Cargotec's net sales were EUR 3.018 billion. Cargotec's class B shares are listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

BT has added two new low-level order picker models to its comprehensive range of warehouse equipment.    

The Opus OSE180X and Opus OSE180XP are designed for first- and second-level picking in high-intensity operations. With a maximum load capacity of 1800kg, both models offer the same features, except that the Opus OSE180XP has a lifting platform for easier second-level picking. 

Order picking is extremely labour and personnel intensive, making safety and productivity particularly important issues for workers in this environment. With this in mind, both the Opus OSE180X and OSE180XP have been engineered for excellent ergonomics, speed and acceleration to maximise operator safety, comfort and productivity.

 E-man steering provides a logical, easy-to-use interface between operator and truck for safe, highly productive picking. This innovative design features a mini tiller arm with power-assisted steering for safe operation with one hand and excellent visibility when reversing. Adjustable sideways steering means the tiller arm can be positioned to the left or right-hand side of the truck, depending on the operator¡¯s preference.  

In addition, logical placement of driver controls makes it easy for operators to learn to operate the truck, while power-assisted steering allows the driver¡¯s arms to always remain within the profile of the truck, for added safety. Automatic speed reduction when cornering also reduces the risk of accidents. 

A low step-in height and fork elevation heights up to 800mm allows operators to work comfortably and efficiently for optimal productivity. Operators can adjust the fork height as they work to reduce stress to their knees and back. 

Regenerative braking, along with robust, reliable CAN-bus technology provide for maximum up-time, quick and easy maintenance and less wear on components. Excellent acceleration and top speeds of 7 km/h (at load capacity) and 12 km/h (unloaded) reduce the time between picking stations for enhanced efficiency and productivity. 

A narrow chassis width of 790mm makes this truck easy to manoeuvre in narrow aisles. With fork lengths up to 2850mm, the forks can be fitted to carry up to four roll cages or two Euro pallets, depending on specific customer needs.  

The Opus OSE180XP model is equipped with a platform lift to allow easy second-level picking. With a maximum lift height of 980mm, the platform lift enhances flexibility and productivity in second-level picking operations. Drivers can operate the Opus OSE180XP safely when the platform is raised, saving time and allowing for more ergonomic picking. 

Charlotta Björklund, Product Marketing Manager, Warehouse Equipment, said: ¡°Customers understand that order picker design is very important in order to achieve excellent productivity while running safe, driver-friendly operations. The Opus OSE180X and Opus OSE180XP order pickers are designed to protect personnel and goods, while allowing operators to work quickly, comfortably and efficiently.¡±  

Charlotta Björklund continues: ¡°At BT, we are committed to offering a comprehensive range of materials handling products and services. By expanding our Opus order picker range, we are able to offer customers two additional models that address their specific business needs.¡±  

The Opus OSE180X and Opus OSE180XP are part of BT¡¯s range of Opus low- and medium-level order pickers, which have load capacities ranging from 1000kg ¨C 2500kg.