Is it true that all the industries have been influenced by the financial crisis? According to relative research, different industries are affected to different extent, among which foreign trade, real estate, finance and logistics suffered the most. However, due to the macro-control policy of the country to pull domestic demands, enterprises in the field of capital construction, energy and power on the other hand began to absorb talents to face investment in great value.

Undoubtedly, forklift industry also suffered significant impact. Chinese forklift industry grew fast in recent years as the export of forklifts had exceeded the increase of domestic demands. The surging financial crisis likes a basin of cold water, which has put out the developing fire of Chinese forklift industry.

In fact, the crisis always came with influences as well as potential opportunities. If the enterprises can grasp the opportunities and accumulate forces when facing crisis, they will burst out after the crisis to go farer at last.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industry (MHI) as one of the most important industrial group in Japan is an impressive example. After inspecting for a long time, MHI decided to march for Chinese forklift market against the adverse circumstance without any fear to the global economic crisis.

Chinaforklift.com (www.chinaforklift.com, English version: www.forkliftnet.com ) was informed by MHI Shanghai Co., Ltd. that MHI had made the decision to establish a sole-funded forklift manufacturing plant in Dalian in China with registered capital evaluated to be 37.50 million dollars. The new plant will be put into production by the end of 2009 and will manufacture 1-3T forklifts, which will the latest model keeping pace with the world first-class level. In the initial stage, the key parts will mainly be imported from Japan. In future, all the parts produced and purchased locally will provide to other overseas production bases, and then gradually expand forklift models and export to Russia and Southeastern Asian countries. 

Till then, except Nissan, all of the Top Ten Forklift Manufactures in the world have their own forklift manufacturing plants in China.

Despite the unconvincing economic environment, MHI’s decision is to handle the changes of global commercial atmosphere so as to realize the optimized network of production and purchase all over the world. Although forklifts weighed not so much in the industrial sales of MHI, Mitsubishi forklifts was always Top 5 among the industrial vehicle rankings in the world.

What MHI concerned is the future forklift market. If MHI can root steadily in the growing Chinese market with the most development potential in the world, the company will be more close to the market and become more competitive.

Currently, as economy in Europe and America decreases greatly, China also could not prevent the influences. Seeing from the long term aspect, this financial crisis would be a short transit during the development course of China. In the coming years, not only China continue the reform and sustainable development, but also the vast China market would be profitable for the neighborhood and even the whole world.

Under such a favorable background, MHI intended to set the 4^th production base in Dalian, China, beyond the Sagamihara Plant in Japan, MCFA in Houston, USA and MCFE in Amsterdam, Europe, which was undoubtedly a wise and win-win decision. 

About MHI

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks is recognized worldwide for innovative, operator-friendly material handling equipment. The North American headquarters for Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks, in Houston, Texas, encompasses more than 600,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The factory incorporates technologically advanced robotics, sophisticated communication technologies for supply chain management, and just-in-time delivery methods to ensure timely, cost-efficient delivery of the highest quality products. The Houston facility is ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 certified.

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks delivers products and services through a visionary culture that continuously strives for improvement using innovative, leading-edge methodologies for design, manufacturing and customer support. Controlled and measured processes integrate every aspect of production into a seamless, customer-driven, lean enterprise.

Mitsubishi forklift trucks are ready to work when you are and they deliver good value. Our forklift trucks and dealers deliver reliable performance each and every day.