A leading material handling publication has confirmed Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) as the global number one in material handling equipment.

TICO is the world's leading supplier of forklift trucks and the parent company of Toyota Material Handling Australia.

German trade magazine Logistik Journal in its October edition named TICO number one based on its worldwide calendar-year 2008 forklift truck sales of 4.775 billion Euros (approximately $AUS8 billion) Logistik has previously named TICO worldwide number one seven times, based on fiscal year results to March 31 each year.

In fact, TICO is a clear number one in terms of forklift sales and whole group sales world wide, according to Logistik.

TICO's nearest rival, Kion Group (Linde) had both 2008 forklift sales and worldwide group sales of 4.554 billion Euro, followed by Jungheinrich, with combined sales of 2.145 billion Euros.

In addition to the German magazine's rankings, TICO was number 31 in Fortune Magazine's 2008 list of the world's 50 Most Admired Companies and number 479 in the 2008 Fortune Global 500 list for the world's largest corporations.

TICO's total net sales in the 2008 calendar year exceeded 12 billion Euro for its five business divisions - automotive, logistics, textile machinery and 'others' - as well as material handling equipment.

The material handling division - Toyota Material Handling Group (TMHG) - has five regional organisations, covering Japan, China, North America, Europe and "International".

It is the market leader in Japan and North America (and Australia in counter-balance forklift trucks) with more than 20 per cent market share.

The president of Toyota Material Handling Australia, Steve Harper, says TICO laid down one of the key aspects of its 21st Century success were the acquisitions of BT and Raymond in 2000.

"Yet another number one ranking simply reaffirms Toyota's commitment to quality, safety, reliability and the environment - and that is there for all to see in our forklifts and warehouse equipment," he says.

"Another cornerstone of success has been TICO's industry leading investment in research and development." It has also developed the world's best manufacturing system, known as the Toyota Production System (TPS).

"Those are the keys to Toyota maintaining its industry-leading reputation for reliability, quality and safety."

Toyota has been exporting forklift trucks from Japan since 1958 and entered the Australian market in ten years later.

The company has led the Australian counter-balance forklift market continuously for 21 years. TMHA distributes the Toyota Industrial Equipment range of industrial equipment, along with the BT Lift Truck and Raymond Forklift ranges of warehouse equipment.

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

Celebrating more than 40 years of established operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based TMHU has been the No. 1 selling lift truck supplier in the U.S. since 2002 and currently offers a full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand. TMHU, as the sole United States distributor for Aichi, now offers a line-up of aerial work lifts, including scissor lifts, crawler and wheeled boom lifts designed specifically to meet a wide range of indoor and outdoor needs.

Built on a reputation of excellence, Toyota remains the industry leader due to its quality, durability and reliability. Quality is the hallmark of Toyota’s world-renowned Toyota Production System practiced at all Toyota manufacturing facilities, including Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM). Most of the Toyota lift trucks sold in the United States are manufactured at TIEM in Columbus, Ind.

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 and service, fleet servicing, and financing.