IRVINE, Calif. – Toyota, the number one selling lift truck supplier in the United States, announced that its Columbus, Ind. manufacturing plant, Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing, Inc. (TIEM), will begin manufacturing the company’s line of diesel tow tractors in May.

“Demand for Toyota’s tow tractors has grown steadily in the North American market in recent years. Manufacturing these products in the U.S.A. allows Toyota to better meet our customers’ needs,” said Shankar Basu, president and CEO of Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A. (TMHU) and a director of TIEM. “By manufacturing domestically, we are improving our speed of delivery for our customers, and helping them keep their operating efficiency as high as possible.”

The now 870,000 square-foot Columbus plant is undergoing a 20,000 square-foot expansion that will accommodate the addition of tow tractor manufacturing operations along with other equipment and production. It is the facility’s eleventh expansion since the plant opened in 1990. TIEM, the first plant in the U.S. to manufacture Toyota’s tow tractors, employs an estimated 900 employees, and also produces more than 100 lift trucks daily. TIEM also is responsible for the DC/AC Inverter assembly for the Toyota Tacoma.

“Placing the diesel tow tractor production at the Columbus plant allowed us to take advantage of several natural manufacturing synergies already in place,” continued Basu. “The welding of the tow tractor frames and the assembly process are consistent with our lift truck manufacturing processes. TIEM’s proven excellence in manufacturing will lend itself well to the superior production of diesel tow tractors as well.”

Toyota’s diesel tow tractors are available with 4,400- and 5,500-pound drawbar pull capacities. With a powerful 2.4 liter Toyota 1DZ-III diesel engine, these models provide the power to overcome the challenges of hauling large loads at high speed over long distances and up steep ramps and grades. Plus, with fast traveling speeds and a small turning radius, these high-performance tractors bring outstanding maneuverability to any worksite.

The new Toyota 1DZ-III diesel engine used in the 2TD20 and 2TD25 tow tractors has been certified to EPA’s Interim Tier IV standards, which results in 26 percent less particulate matter than today’s required Tier III levels.

TIEM’s Environmental Commitment

TIEM is the embodiment of Toyota’s environmental charter. In 2006, TIEM received the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. According to the Governor’s Award citation, TIEM successfully implemented and managed the environmental management system (EMS) to achieve a 33 percent reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions, 80 percent reduction in hazardous air pollutants (HAP) emissions, 40 percent reduction in energy consumption and a 65 percent reduction in natural gas consumption.

It also implemented recycling initiatives to make it a zero-landfill facility and has increased the amount of recycled items by 70 percent during the last three years. A water-treatment process at the facility has resulted in substantial reduction of pollutants in TIEM’s processed water. The water is cleaner than required by government standards.

In 2007, TIEM also gained a charter member position with the Indiana Environmental Stewardship Program. TIEM also is a member of the Indiana Partners for Pollution Prevention (P2) organization, a voluntary program for Indiana businesses to benchmark and share their success in environmental improvement.

Beyond its own initiatives, TIEM requires their top 65 suppliers, who account for more than 75 percent of the materials purchased locally, to be ISO 14001 certified or have an equivalent environmental management system. TIEM has been ISO 14001 certified since 1998.

About Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.

Celebrating more than 40 years of established operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc., (TMHU) has been the number-one selling lift truck supplier in the U.S. since 2002 and currently offers a full line of high-quality lift trucks and tow tractors sold under the Toyota brand. Built on a reputation of excellence, Toyota remains popular due to its quality, reliability and durability. Quality is the hallmark of Toyota’s world-renowned Toyota Production System practiced at all Toyota manufacturing facilities, including TIEM.

TIEM, and all Toyota manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada, comply with the ISO 14001 standard from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and have been honored for their environmental management systems and dedication to continuous improvement.

Toyota’s commitment to excellence in customer service extends nationwide. Sixty-eight authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers, with a total of 188 dealership locations throughout the United States, offer comprehensive customer service support, including one-stop shopping for both new and Certified Used lift trucks, parts, service and financing.